DRA Summer 2022 Newsletter

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Image: "Disability Rights Advocates: 2022 Summer Newsletter"

In this Issue

Letter from the Acting President & CEO

Dear Friends,

It’s been just about two months since I assumed the role of Acting President and CEO of DRA, and I remain deeply grateful for the opportunity to lead such an incredible, hard-working team, especially as the power of our court system is laid bare and the need for disability rights advocacy grows exponentially throughout the country.

As this issue’s Impact Report demonstrates, recent months have brought significant progress in our work to advance equity for people with disabilities. Key among these is an historic settlement resolving two lawsuits that will require the New York MTA to make its subway system accessible to people with disabilities who cannot use stairs. The settlement will require that the MTA make more than 95% of its stations accessible—and provide people with mobility disabilities much-needed access to such a critical part of life in New York City. We’re also pleased to have reached a landmark agreement with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) that will ensure its programming for credentialing and continuing education programs are accessible to Deaf HR professionals.

These settlements—while major achievements—represent only a fraction of the work we’ve been doing as of late. Indeed, since taking the helm, I’ve come to more fully appreciate the pace at which we’re now working compared to the pre-pandemic era. Our attorneys are busy! And the virtual workplace allows us to make more court appearances each day than ever before, creating both opportunities and challenges for our committed staff members.

On that note, we’re hiring for a variety of positions and encourage you to share information about our job openings with your professional networks. These openings include attorney positions at all levels, including a Supervising Attorney in our New York office.

Looking ahead, planning for our annual gala (scheduled for October 6, 2022), is well underway. This year’s hybrid event will highlight disability rights as a core component of the broader civil rights movement focused on achieving full equality for all. Thank you to those who have already sponsored the event—and for those who have not, there is no time like the present!

As our gala will showcase, our success at DRA hinges on the efforts of not only our own staff, but also our many clients and partners. In that spirit, thank you for your ongoing support as we continue our quest for a more equitable and inclusive future.

Thank You,

Rebecca Williford signature

Image: Portrait of Rebecca Williford

Image: Rebecca Williford signature

DRA's 2022 Virtual Gala

Image: "Save the Date: 2022 Disability Rights Advocates Gala, Featuring Amna Nawaz, October 6" + Portrait of Amna Nawaz

Save Thursday October 6 for DRA’s 2022 Virtual Gala: Advocating from the Heart, Raising All Boats.

This year’s gala will feature emcee Amna Nawaz, Chief Correspondent for the PBS Newshour, with a focus on intersectionality and how disability rights are truly a part of the civil rights movement.

Thanks to our growing list of generous sponsors! If you would like to sponsor, register to attend or donate to DRA’s October 6th gala, visit our gala web page today. And stay tuned for more exciting event updates coming soon.

DRA Partner Highlight

Image: Bank of America logo

Volunteers from Bank of America joined DRA in researching court decisions awarding attorneys’ fees in civil rights cases in New York federal courts in support of an effort to advocate for higher fee awards for civil rights attorneys. Their research will be used to ensure that DRA attorneys, as well as other attorneys who represent civil rights plaintiffs in New York City, will be fairly compensated for their work.

Read More about the Project Here

Introducing DRA's Interns

DRA’s passionate new interns are working hard to advance DRA’s disability justice mission. We are excited to have them aboard! Learn more about Marisa Leib-Neri, Yi Li, Cassaddee Sicherer, and Nathan Weiser.

Images: Portraits of DRA summer interns Marisa Leib-Neri, Yi Li, Cassaddee Sicherer, and Nathan Weiser.

Impact Report

Large group photo of DRA clients, staff, and allies (many in wheelchairs) along with NYC MTA officials taken after the June press conference announcing the settlement agreement for NYC subway elevator access

Image: Large group photo of DRA clients, staff, and allies (many in wheelchairs) along with NYC MTA officials taken after the June press conference announcing the settlement agreement for NYC subway elevator access

Court Grants Final Approval of Settlement that Reforms Special Education Services in New Jersey Prisons, Negotiated Relief Now Takes Effect

The New Jersey Department of Corrections will drastically improve the provision of special education services for young adults with disabilities in its prisons, according to a class action settlement approved by a federal court in March. The settlement mandates policy reform that will result in improved methods for identifying young adults with disabilities in detention who need special education, more robust services for those students, and better classroom conditions, among other reforms.

Court Certifies Class Action Challenging the City of Chicago’s Failure to Provide Accessible Pedestrian Signals for Blind Pedestrians

In March, a federal court granted class certification in the lawsuit that DRA filed in 2019 against the City of Chicago challenging the systemic lack of accessible pedestrian signals (APS) at intersections all over the city. Less than one half of one percent of all of Chicago’s 2,672 signalized intersections provides APS for blind pedestrians.

Federal Judge Strikes Down Indiana’s Mandatory Absentee Voter Traveling Board as Discriminating against Voters with Disabilities

In March, a federal court struck down Indiana’s rule that absentee voters who could not independently mark their own ballot may vote by mail only by appointment with a “traveling board” of officials. As a result of this ruling, voters with vision and print disabilities were able to ask the person of their choice to help them complete a paper absentee ballot in the May 2022 primary election.

Litigation against New York State Board of Elections Resolved, New York to Create Statewide Accessible Absentee Ballot Program

In April, a federal court approved and ordered the terms of a settlement agreement with the New York State Board of Elections to create a statewide accessible absentee voting program that allows blind and disabled voters to privately and independently fill out a remote, accessible vote-by-mail ballot online and mail or return it to their county board of elections. Under the settlement, the NYSBOE must also create a statewide portal that voters can use to request an accessible absentee ballot.

Disability Advocates and MTA Reach Historic Settlement to Make the NYC Subway Accessible to People Who Need Stair-Free Access

In June, DRA reached an historic settlement agreement with NYC’s MTA that will make at least 95% of the subway’s 364 currently inaccessible stations accessible for people with mobility disabilities by 2055. This is a landmark achievement because only 113 stations (25%) have been made accessible since the subway was built in 1904.

World’s Largest Human Resource Association Agrees to Drastically Increase the Accessibility of Their Services for Deaf HR Professionals

In June, DRA reached a settlement agreement with Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) that will vastly increase the accessibility of services and certifications for Deaf HR professionals. SHRM will now provide accommodations including sign language interpreters, captioning, and timely transcripts.

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Disability Rights Advocates

2001 Center Street, Fourth Floor

Berkeley, CA 94704

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