Disability Law United

#Disability #airtravel #transportation #accessibility #disabilityrights #disabilityjustice

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Make no mistake: This rule would have protected consumers with disabilities and forced airlines to provide a safe and dignified standard. Now, those protections have been weakened or removed. This is a step backwards for accessibility and for disability justice.

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Today, the current administration announced they won't be enforcing significant parts of that rule, making air travel less accessible and more difficult to navigate for the more than 5 million American consumers who rely on mobility devices like wheelchairs on a daily basis.

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On a light grey background, a graphic of a commercial airplane is centered below a headline that reads, "Sweeping Protections for Airline Passengers with Disabilities." The word 'sweeping' is crossed out in bright red, and the word 'fewer' is written above instead. A subheading reads, "USDOT Will not enforce Biden-era rules requiring new consumer protections for disabled passengers using wheelchairs." Small text and an arrow invite the audience to swipe to read more. The DLU logo is centered at the bottom.

On a light grey background, text reads, "The U.S. Department of Transportation announced today that it will not enforce specific parts of a Biden-era rule that had ensured new protections for people with disabilities in commercial air travel to ensure that they could fly safely and with dignity." Smaller text then outlines key requirements of the rule which would have required airlines to provide specific accommodations for passengers traveling with mobility aids. The final paragraph notes that after a lawsuit filed by several major airlines, the Trump administration will not enforce requirements for airlines to notify passengers about their rights in writing when they are checking wheelchairs or scooters, nor will these air carriers be liable for mishandled wheelchairs, or for reimbursing passengers who use a wheelchair for the cost difference between flights if their wheelchair does not fit in the cabin of an aircraft. The DLU logo is centered at the bottom of the graphic.

On a light grey background, text reads, "We know that flying commercially in the U.S. can be fraught with fear and anxiety for people with disabilities. One public survey found that 1 in 10 people with a disability do not fly due to fear of bodily harm, damage to their wheelchair, or aircraft inaccessibility. Roughly 5.5 million Americans rely on assistive devices like wheelchairs for their mobility on a daily basis, making them crucial for individual autonomy and independence, and preserving dignity. Yet many people have historically found air travel to be a barrier, with DOT data showing that at least 1 in every 100 wheelchairs or scooters transported on domestic flights will be lost, delayed in its return, or otherwise damaged." Below, larger, all-caps text reads, "This rule would have protected consumers with disabilities and forced airlines to provide a safe and dignified standard. Now, those protections have been weakened or removed." Red ink underlines the last few words for emphasis. The DLU logo is centered at the bottom of the graphic.

You may remember this graphic, which we originally shared back in December, celebrating a new rule that required airlines to adhere to new protections for people with disabilities in commercial air travel, ensuring they can fly safely and with dignity.

Thank you to the Sturm College of Law for co-sponsoring this event! We're excited to host the in-person component on campus in September. Learn more at buff.ly/SmycBJ4

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#Disability #CLE #SupremeCourt #SCOTUS #law #civilrights

Registration will open on July 31st at 9am Eastern. Discounts are available for students and non-profit staff, and need-based scholarships will be offered thanks to our generous event sponsors! If you have need for a discount or a full scholarship, please don't let cost be an impediment.

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They'll also look ahead at the 2025-26 term, other relevant cases, and offer thoughts on how to frame cases in a manner that both preserves and advances, where possible, the rights of people with disabilities established under federal disability laws.

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Join our fantastic speakers Seth Packrone & Stuart Seaborn for "Disability & the Supreme Court in the Age of Trump: Assessing Risks & Opportunities" to learn more about recent U.S. Supreme Court opinions & other activity at the court affecting disability law jurisprudence & litigation strategy.

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The pillars of the U.S. Supreme Court building can be seen in the background under a purple-blue filter. In the foreground, large white text announces Disability Law United's 2025 Fall CLE, "Disability & the Supreme Court in the Age of Trump: Assessing Risks & Opportunities." Smaller text in white and gold indicates the event will take place on September 30th, 2025 from 1-4pm Eastern both in-person in Denver and online via Zoom, concurrently. The viewer is invited to Save the Date. Registration opens July 31st at 9am Eastern time. The DLU logo is included in the top right corner of the image.

Save the Date! 📆 DLU's 2025 Fall CLE will take place on September 30th, both in-person in Denver, Colorado and online via Zoom.

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people with disabilities have rights, and if immigration officials continue to violate these legal protections, we will enforce them.” You can read the full press release and the court order at buff.ly/hIFDqjU

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#Disability #Immigration #disabilityrights #immigrantrights #civilrights

“The fact that the government needed a federal court order to comply with basic civil rights law is deeply troubling,” Laura Murchie, DLU staff attorney, said of the case. “DHS, which includes both ICE and CBP, is not above the law. Asylum seekers have rights,

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and while our client was quietly released from custody following the court order, we'll continue to keep a watchful eye on immigration proceedings.

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Their disregard for our client’s rights under federal disability law has exposed ongoing civil rights violations in the immigration detention system, particularly for people with disabilities. We're proud to have worked with the fantastic team at @thedrlc.bsky.social on this case,

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This court order represents a win for disability and immigrant rights. Our client was detained for months at the Otay Mesa Detention Center, where ICE officials failed to provide him with an interpreter, rendering him unable to meaningfully participate in his own proceedings.

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On a teal background, a white text box with black, bold text reads "In win for disability and immigrant rights, Dear Mongolian asylum seeker released from ICE custody following federal court order requiring disability accommodations." The date July 24th, 2025 is included on a line below. At the bottom of the image, the logos for Disability Rights Legal Center and Disability Law United are centered on a white field. A black swipe arrow invites the viewer to Read More by swiping over or moving to the next image.

On a teal background, a white text box with black, bold text reads "A Deaf, non-verbal man from Mongolia, Avirmed fled to the U.S. to seek asylum after he was the target of brutal attacks because of his disability. These beatings left him with a traumatic brain injury, seizures and memory loss. He had been detained at the Otay Mesa Detention Center since February. But despite repeated attempts by his legal team to secure disability accommodations in detention, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) failed to provide a qualified Mongolian Sign Language (MSL) interpreter." White pen lines depicting barbed wire are drawn across the top of the image. A black swipe arrow invites the viewer to move to the next image.

On a teal background, a white text box with black text reads "Avirmed spent months unable to effectively communicate with immigration officials about his asylum claim or his medical and mental condition. Instead of providing a qualified Mongolian Sign Language (MSL) interpreter, immigration officials relied on tools like Google Translate. ICE’s disregard for Avirmed’s rights under federal law resulted in dangerous and at times absurd miscommunications, including misidentifying his sister, a U.S. citizen residing in the U.S., as his daughter." White pen lines depicting barbed wire are drawn across the top of the image. A black swipe arrow invites the viewer to move to the next image.

On a teal background, a white text box with black text reads "On July 16, 2025, Judge Dana Sabraw of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California issued a preliminary injunction ordering the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide a qualified MSL interpreter for all future proceedings, redo mental health and credible fear evaluations that were previously conducted without interpretation, reschedule his competency hearing following proper assessments, remove the flawed earlier evaluations from the record, allow additional time for daily video calls with legal counsel and an MSL interpreter and ensure Avirmed’s sister is present for all future proceedings." White pen lines depicting barbed wire are drawn across the top of the image. A black swipe arrow invites the viewer to move to the next image.

✊ LEGAL VICTORY: A Deaf, non-verbal asylum seeker from Mongolia has been released from ICE custody following a federal court order requiring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide accommodations to our client.

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#Disability #Immigration #disabilityrights #OtayMesa

To express your interest in applying & learn more, send an email to board@dlunited.org with the subject line, “Interest in Joining the Board,” & we’ll be in touch.

We hope you’ll consider joining us!

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#Disability #Accessibility #disabilityjustice #disabilityrights #civilrights

A strong candidate for our board will have a passion for advancing disability justice at the intersections of accessibility, environment, carceral reform, & immigration, & is ready to collaborate in efforts to organize money & members in support of our bold legal strategy.

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organizing money & people to fund & move our work, & more. If you’re ready to work with passionate people & mobilize your local community to bring about change, & you have skills to share, we encourage you to apply.

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The DLU Board plays an important role in guiding the organization & its direction. Our board members across the US work to ensure equitable access for all, by helping to plan educational & advocacy events, overseeing fiscal responsibility, contributing to litigation strategies & decisions,

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Large gold text on a dark purple background invites the viewer to JOIN THE BOARD. Smaller white text explains that the DLU Board of Directors is expanding this fall, and asks interested individuals to email board@dlunited.org to express their interest. An image of a darker-skinned hand holds a smartphone with the DLU logo emblazoned on its case.

Calling all disability justice advocates! We want YOU 👈 for the DLU Board.

We’re pleased to announce the planned expansion of our board & the launch of our open call for new board members, to join the Disability Law United Board of Directors in the fall.

Deaf Mongolian immigrant held by ICE in California for 4 months with no access to interpreter A disabled immigrant’s detention underscores the shift in asylum policies at the Mexico border since President Trump took office

After months in ICE detention without anyone who could communicate with him in Mongolian Sign Language, a Deaf asylum seeker has finally been granted a voice in court, thanks to DRLC and @dlunited.bsky.social.

calmatters.org/justice/2025...

Read the full case update on our website at buff.ly/r68Zt8k

#Disability #disabilityrights #immigration #accessibility

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Along with co-counsel at Disability Rights Legal Center, we will continue to fight for his rights. ICE must be held accountable for the myriad ways in which they continue to violate disability laws – and the rights of people with disabilities seeking asylum.

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without having been provided necessary accommodations for his disability, and without a formal hearing on his asylum claim.

Unfortunately, our client remains in ICE custody at the notorious Otay Mesa, California detention facility.

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Against a background photo depicting blue skies over a brick building and barbed wire fencing, large white text on a dark grey background reads, "DLU & DRLC Prevent Immediate Deportation of Disabled, Deaf Asylum Seeker, Force ICE to Provide Accommodations." The headline is dated Tuesday, July 15th. The Disability Law United logo is included in the upper left corner.

In a win against ICE and their continued discrimination against people with disabilities in detention, Disability Law United and co-counsel Disability Rights Legal Center (DRLC) have prevented a Deaf immigrant from Mongolia from being immediately deported

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Disability Law United believes constitutional protections - and statutory rights - apply to and must be enforced for all. We will battle on - and we will win.

Read the full statement on our website at buff.ly/qCv7Mt5

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#Disability #SCOTUS #civilrights #disabilityjustice

However, we also know this decision will not stop defenders of justice from challenging unlawful actions, nor from continuing to be successful.

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Headlines from NPR, the New York Times and AP appear on torn scraps of paper, all addressing the June 27th Supreme Court ruling on nationwide injunctions. In the background, a black-and-white photograph of the U.S. Supreme Court Building is superimposed over an American flag. A pull quote from Disability Law United fills the bottom two-thirds of the graphic, reading, "“This ruling creates a national patchwork of unequal rights... only [for] those who have the time, resources, and ability to seek redress through the courts. DLU believes constitutional protections - and statutory rights - apply to and must be enforced for all. We will battle on, and we will win.” The DLU logo is included at center-bottom.

An Organizational Statement from Disability Law United:

Today's 6-3 Supreme Court ruling in Trump v. CASA limits the ability of the lower courts to check presidential power, effectively creating a national patchwork of unequal rights.

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A screengrab of a news article reads "Portland is offering another 10,000 free air conditioners to boost climate resilience." Below the header is a pull quote from the article, which reads, "Last year, the Oregon Department of Energy study found many of the state’s most vulnerable residents lack the necessary equipment to stay cool in their homes during hot summers. The study also found that residents in Multnomah County are more likely to be exposed to extreme heat and have limited capacity to adapt to it." The article is from OPB, whose logo is included in the top left corner. The image also contains collaged photos of Portland, Oregon's waterfront and skyline as well as the famous Portland, Oregon sign.

People with disabilities are often especially vulnerable during climate disasters. As temperatures warm globally, the risk to our communities also rises. We're glad to see cities like Portland taking steps to build #climateresilience.

Read the article from @opb.org at buff.ly/Y8jKc84

#Disability

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You can make a personally meaningful gift at bit.ly/4kOcOH7 or learn more at www.disabilitylawunited.org.

#disability #immigration #worldrefugeeday