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Letter from the Acting President & CEO
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Image: Portrait of Rebecca Williford
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Dear DRA Family,
Fall is almost here, and I look forward to you all joining us for DRA’s virtual gala on October 6. I’m truly excited about our program featuring special guests including Leadership Action Awardee Daniel Brown, Edith Prentiss Awardee Karla Gilbride, Ally Awardee Billy Porter, and a panel of civil rights warriors discussing the importance of intersectional legal work to bring about lasting social change.
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This gala is free for anyone to attend, so please invite your friends and colleagues—help us share DRA’s stories with your network!
Speaking of DRA’s stories, our tireless legal work on behalf of people with disabilities across the country continues at a rapid pace. In this newsletter’s Impact Report you’ll read about out continued work to bring about voting access as November elections approach and our case in Tennessee on behalf of d/Deaf prisoners.
Our ongoing work is fueled by our talented legal team and their deep passion for disability justice. And we are hiring! DRA offers hybrid work options, competitive compensation, and exceptional benefits. If you or someone you know is interested in joining our merry band of disability rights warriors, please review and share our jobs page with your networks.
Finally, if you live in or around New York City, I’d love to see you at the Disability Pride Parade on Sunday, October 2. DRA will have a booth, and I will be there so please stop by to say “hello!"
I remain humbled to lead DRA at this pivotal time and deeply grateful to all of you for all of the ways you support our mission and our work.
Onward!
Rebecca Williford, Acting President & CEO
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DRA's October 6th Gala is Fast Approaching!
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Image: "2022 Disability Rights Advocates Gala, Featuring Billy Porter, Thursday October 6th, 4pm PDT/7pm EDT" + Portrait of Billy Porter
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You don’t want to miss DRA’s October 6th gala program emceed by Amna Nawaz and featuring awardees Billy Porter, Daniel Brown, and Karla Gilbride.
You can register to attend the FREE virtual program on our gala website today. Special thanks to all our generous gala sponsors who fuel our high-impact litigation, education, and advocacy efforts. There’s still time to join this growing list! Click here to become a sponsor or make a gala contribution today.
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We are seeking diverse, talented, driven individuals to join our team in creating a world free from discrimination, where people with disabilities are valued members of their communities with equal access to opportunity. We are hiring for the following positions:
- Staff Attorney
- Senior Staff Attorney
- Supervising Attorney
- Litigation Assistant / Paralegal
- Summer Law Clerk (2023)
Click Here to learn more about our open positions, how to apply, and share with your networks!
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Images: Portraits (clockwise) of Rae Schindler, Joshua Peterson, Josh Rosenthal, and Melissa Riess
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DRA is excited to welcome our new and returning staff! We asked everyone, “Why did you join (or rejoin) DRA?” and here’s what they had to say:
- “I joined DRA because it's important, meaningful work that positively impacts the lives of millions of people with disabilities.” -Rae Schindler, Development Assistant & Board Liaison
- “At DRA, I had the opportunity to empower our community and work towards sustainable, system-level change. DRA taught me that structural change is possible, and that impact can be achievable and measurable. After six years, I am both excited and privileged to be re-joining the DRA team!” -Joshua Peterson, Paralegal
- “From voting rights, to education, to housing, to accessible transportation, to the rights of people held behind bars, and so much more, DRA is a leader in fighting for the rights of people with disabilities. I’m thrilled to be joining such a talented group of advocates who accomplish so much.” -Josh Rosenthal, Senior Staff Attorney
- “My time away from DRA made me realize how much I appreciated being a part of the community of passionate and talented advocates both at DRA and with whom DRA works. I wanted to come back to continue contributing to the amazing but difficult work that community is doing.” -Melissa Riess, Senior Staff Attorney
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Introducing DRA's New Fellows
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Images: Portraits of Amelia Evard and Jameelah Najieb
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DRA has a long-standing commitment to educating the next generation of public interest attorneys via our fellowship program. We are proud to announce that two new fellows have joined DRA this week! Here’s what they had to say about why they decided to join the DRA team:
- “I joined DRA because, based on my experience both with my own disability and in the education sphere, I am passionate about disability justice work and its capacity to make change on a systemic level, as well as in the lives of individuals.” -Amelia Evard, Wolinsky Fellow
- “I am eager to join DRA because of the organization’s frontline advocacy in civil rights and disability justice. I am inspired by DRA’s fierce commitment to bettering law and policy for all people with disabilities, as well as the organization’s wide focus on various areas of law. I am excited to join the DRA team and join in the fight to protect the rights of people with disabilities.” -Jameelah Najieb, Abascal Fellow
A special thank you to each of you who has contributed to support our Wolinsky Fellowship Program! Your donations have made it possible for DRA hire Amelia as a Fellow and we look forward to carrying on the tradition of great Wolinsky Fellows for many years ahead.
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Deaf Individuals in TDOC Custody Regularly Denied Effective Communication Despite Legal Requirements, Lawsuit Seeks to Rectify
In July, DRA joined a lawsuit challenging Tennessee Department of Corrections’ failure to provide effective communication to people who are Deaf and hard of hearing. The lawsuit seeks to ensure equal access to programs and services, including providing sign language interpreters and videophones.
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Federal Judge Finds That Indiana’s Absentee Voting Program Discriminates against Voters with Disabilities
In September, in response to a lawsuit filed by DRA, a federal court struck down Indiana’s rule that absentee voters with print disabilities may only vote by appointment with a “traveling board” of officials. As a result of this ruling, voters with vision and print disabilities in Indiana will be able to ask the person of their choice to help them complete a paper absentee ballot in the November 2022 general election.
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