Business Details
33 Years
experience
Your Trusted Disability Rights Legal Advocates
Founded in 1993, Disability Rights Advocates (DRA) is a national nonprofit legal center dedicated to advancing the rights of individuals with disabilities through high-impact litigation, education, and advocacy. Our team of experienced attorneys, many of whom have disabilities themselves, specializes in dismantling systemic barriers across education, employment, healthcare, transportation, and public access. With offices in Berkeley, New York, and Chicago, we represent clients nationwide in class-action cases that have secured landmark victories for accessibility and inclusion.Our work is guided by a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring marginalized communitiesparticularly people of color with disabilitiesare empowered. Recognized with over 25 awards, including California Lawyer of the Year and Super Lawyer honors, we operate with transparency, ethical rigor, and a client-first approach, never charging fees for representation. Our strategic focus on litigation, combined with capacity-building initiatives, has transformed systems affecting millions of people with disabilities over three decades.
Services
High-impact litigation
Education programs
Advocacy initiatives
Capacity-building
Details
- Year established: 1993
Highlights and features
- We have over 30 years of experience in disability rights litigation nationwide.
- Our team includes attorneys with disabilities who understand client challenges.
- We've won 25+ prestigious awards for our disability rights work.
- We operate with full transparency and never charge clients for representation.
- Our work has transformed systems affecting millions of people with disabilities.
What people say
Life-changing victories
Dedicated legal experts
Systemic change leaders
Services
High-impact litigation
We pursue class-action lawsuits to dismantle systemic barriers for people with disabilities. Our litigation strategy targets widespread civil rights violations in healthcare, education, transportation, and public access. With 30+ years of experience, we've secured landmark rulings that benefit millions nationwide.
Education programs
We provide continuing education through workshops, technical assistance, and resources. Our programs empower disability advocates, legal professionals, and communities with tools to combat discrimination and promote inclusion across various sectors.
Advocacy initiatives
We engage in regulatory advocacy and amicus briefs to shape disability rights policies. Our efforts focus on improving laws related to emergency preparedness, voting access, and digital accessibility to create more inclusive systems.
Capacity-building
We train and collaborate with civil rights attorneys nationwide. Through fellowships and co-counseling, we strengthen the disability rights movement by sharing expertise and resources with emerging advocates and organizations.
Questions
What areas does Disability Rights Advocates cover?
We operate nationwide with offices in Berkeley, New York, and Chicago, serving clients across all 50 states.
Do you charge clients for legal representation?
No, we never charge clients for our services. Our work is funded through donations and grants.
How can I get help with a disability rights issue?
Contact us through our website or office numbers to discuss potential cases involving systemic discrimination against people with disabilities.
What types of cases do you handle?
We focus on class-action cases addressing widespread discrimination in healthcare, education, transportation, public access, and digital accessibility.
How is DRA funded?
We rely on a mix of contributed revenue (donations) and earned revenue to support our pro bono legal work.
Do you offer internships or fellowships?
Yes, our Wolinsky Fellowship Program provides two-year positions for emerging public interest attorneys focused on disability rights.
