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| 👁 Image | |
| Abbreviation | DREDF |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1979 |
| Website | dredf.org |
The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) is a national cross-disability civil rights law and policy center directed by individuals with disabilities and parents who have children with disabilities. Founded in 1979, DREDF attempts to advance the civil and human rights of people with disabilities through legal advocacy, training, education, and public policy and legislative development. It has offices in Berkeley, California and Washington, DC.
The directing attorney is Arlene B. Mayerson.[1]
History
[edit]1980s
[edit]DREDF's early efforts focused on:
- Alliances with national civil rights leadership
- Preventing the Reagan administration's Task Force on Regulatory Relief's[2][3] attempts to deregulate Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
1990s
[edit]Following the passage of the ADA, DREDF focused on preserving the law and shaping its implementation by providing nationwide training and technical assistance,[4] as well as writing and publishing a legal series that presented ADA legislative history and commentary.[5][6][7] In a series of cases, DREDF won the right of children with disabilities who require healthcare assistance (such as diabetes and asthma) to receive such assistance in pre-school and recreational settings.
In an effort to promote community integration, DREDF works with community and legal groups to challenge the institutionalization of disabled residents at San Francisco's Laguna Honda Hospital and to create community-based alternatives. Other ADA litigation has opened movie theaters, hotels, banking services, and gas stations to disabled individuals.
DREDF represented Members of Congress in cases involving the definition of disability under the ADA. Continuing its commitment to IDEA implementation, DREDF secured court judgments that established a national precedent for the full inclusion of children with disabilities in regular classes in Holland v. Sacramento City School District[8] and established educational rights for children with disabilities in East Palo Alto, California. As interest in disability rights gained international momentum, disability rights leaders from 17 countries invited legal and policy staff to consult and collaborate on strategies for advancing policy in their countries.
2000s
[edit]Other litigation[9][10] succeeded in requiring the U.S. Social Security Administration to provide all notices to beneficiaries in alternative formats.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ Stefani, Kim (November 29, 2019). "National Association of the Deaf Reaches Settlement with Harvard to Make Online Resources More Accessible". The Hearing Review. ProQuest 2319828953. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
- ^ Burke, Thomas F. (2002). Lawyers, Lawsuits, and Legal Rights. Berkeley Los Angeles London: University of California Press. p. 72.
- ^ Babcock, Charles R. (March 2, 1982). "Handicapped Policy Undergoing a Rewrite". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ The ADA, An Implementation Guide. Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund. January 1993. Retrieved 1 February 2015 – via Amazon.
- ^ Arlene, Mayerson. "Disability Rights Law: Roots, Present Challenges, and Future Collaboration" (PDF). dredf.org. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
- ^ Arlene, Mayerson (1994). Americans With Disabilities Act Annotated: Legislative History, Regulations & Commentary. Clark Boardman Callaghan. ISBN 9994517287.
- ^ "DREDF Publications and Articles". dredf.org. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
- ^ "14 F.3d 1398". law.resource.org. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
- ^ "American Council of the Blind v. Astrue". The Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse. University of Michigan Law School. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
- ^ Melanie Brunson (26 March 2012). "A Reminder to Social Security Beneficiaries: You Have New Rights in the New Year". The American Council of the Blind. Retrieved 1 February 2015.[dead link]
- ^ "Special Notice Option For The Blind Or Visually Impaired". Official Social Security Website. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
