About Disability rights advocates
Disability Rights Advocates: Protecting and Advancing the Civil Rights of People with Disabilities
Disability Rights Advocates (DRA) is a national and international organization that is committed to protecting and advancing the civil rights of people with disabilities. The organization was founded in 1993 by a group of disability rights advocates who recognized the need for legal advocacy on behalf of people with disabilities.
DRA's mission is to ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to all aspects of society, including education, employment, transportation, housing, healthcare, and public accommodations. The organization works tirelessly to eliminate discrimination against people with disabilities and to promote their full participation in society.
One of DRA's core values is its commitment to being run by and for people with disabilities. This means that the organization's leadership includes individuals who have personal experience living with a disability. This unique perspective allows DRA to better understand the challenges faced by people with disabilities and develop effective strategies for addressing them.
Over the years, DRA has achieved numerous victories on behalf of people with disabilities. Some notable examples include:
- In 2019, DRA reached a settlement agreement in a lawsuit against Uber Technologies Inc., which required Uber to take steps to ensure that its transportation services are accessible to riders who use wheelchairs.
- In 2018, DRA secured an important victory in a lawsuit against Stanford University over its failure to provide adequate captioning for online course content.
- In 2017, DRA reached a settlement agreement in a lawsuit against Delta Air Lines Inc., which required Delta to improve accessibility features on its website and mobile app.
These are just a few examples of the many successes that DRA has achieved over the years. The organization continues to be at the forefront of disability rights advocacy both nationally and internationally.
One key aspect of DRA's work is its focus on impact litigation. Impact litigation involves bringing lawsuits or other legal actions that seek systemic change rather than just individual relief. By pursuing impact litigation cases, DRA aims not only to help individual clients but also create broader changes that benefit all people with disabilities.
In addition to impact litigation work, DRA engages in policy advocacy at both state and federal levels. The organization works closely with lawmakers and policymakers on issues related to disability rights legislation such as ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act).
Another important aspect of Disability Rights Advocates' work is community outreach & education programs aimed at raising awareness about disability issues among various stakeholders such as employers or educators etc.. These programs help educate communities about their obligations under laws like ADA so they can better serve individuals living within those communities who may have different needs due their physical or mental conditions.
Overall Disability Rights Advocates plays an essential role in ensuring equal access & opportunities for persons living within our society regardless if they live life differently than others due their physical or mental conditions . Through its tireless efforts towards achieving justice through legal action & policy advocacy alongwith community outreach & education programs , it continues making significant strides towards creating more inclusive societies where everyone can thrive irrespective any differences they may have from others around them!