Disability Rights Advocates

At the celebration we will present awards to Janni Lehrer-Stein and Proskauer, toast DRA’s successes of the past year, and fortify ourselves for the work ahead. We hope you will join us for delicious drinks and appetizers, riveting presentations, and sweeping views.

"San Francisco Celebration, December 2" + DRA logo

"San Francisco Celebration Honorees" + Portrait of Janni Lehrer-Stein + "Janni Lehrer-Stein" + Proskauer logo + "Proskauer"+ DRA logo

DRA’s #SanFrancisco Celebration is just around the corner!

If you missed our exciting 2025 Celebrations in Chicago and New York, you can still join us for our final event of the year on December 2 at @mofollp.bsky.social.

Purchase tickets or sponsor the event today! dralegal.org/annual-gala/...

Gala 2025 - San Francisco - Disability Rights Advocates Honorees Janni Lehrer-Stein Nationally recognized disability rights advocate, retired attorney, and nonprofit leader. Former DRA Board Member and current Advisory Board member. Learn more about Janni ...

If you couldn’t make it to New York, you still have one last chance to celebrate with us this year at our 2025 #SanFrancisco Celebration on December 2nd.

Learn more about tickets and sponsorship opportunities: dralegal.org/annual-gala/...

We hope you enjoyed seeing our special guests Former Secretary of State and US Senator from New York Secretary Hillary Clinton and actor Danny Woodburn, plus James Ian's incredible musical performance. And congratulations again to our 2025 award recipients Janni Lehrer-Stein and Proskauer Rose LLP!

Former Secretary of State and US Senator from New York Hillary Rodham Clinton presenting the Edith Prentiss Award to DRA Advisory Board Member Janni Lehrer-Stein on stage.

Special guest Danny Woodburn on stage to kick off the event.

DRA Board Member James Ian singing into a microphone on stage.

DRA Advisory Board Member Xian Horn, DRA Board Member Emily Ladau, and DRA President & CEO Rebecca Williford smiling together.

We are so grateful to everyone who joined us for DRA's 2025 #NewYork Celebration. Your presence made the night truly special, and together we lifted up the importance of #DisabilityRights and the power of legal advocacy.

All proceeds fund our high-impact casework. Donate today: dralegal.org/donate/

"New York Celebration. Nov 12" + DRA logo

"Special Guest" + Portrait of Danny Woodburn + "Danny Woodburn, Award-winning journeyman actor, director, and producer"

"Special Guest" + Portrait of Hillary Rodham Clinton + "Hillary Rodham Clinton, Former Secretary of State and US Senator from New York"

"Honorees" + Portrait of Janni Lehrer-Stein + "Janni Lehrer-Stein" + Proskauer logo + "Proskauer" + "Featured Guests" + Portrait of Emily Ladau + "Emily Ladau" + Portrait of James Ian + "James Ian"

Breaking news! Award-winning journeyman actor, director, & producer Danny Woodburn will be joining DRA’s 2025 NY Celebration next week!

Join us on Wed Nov 12 at City Winery West Side for an unforgettable program.

Get your tickets or sponsor the event today! dralegal.org/annual-gala/...

“As a first-generation immigrant and first-generation law school student, I am so excited to become a first-generation lawyer!" Raika said. "To be able to practice law is an honor and a privilege, and at DRA, I will use my privilege to amplify the voices of the disability community.”

Raika Kim smiling and holding her Illinois State Bar license

We are thrilled to announce that DRA's incredible Wolinsky Fellow Raika Kim is now officially an attorney!

Today she was admitted to the Illinois State Bar and we are so proud of her. Congratulations!

Portrait of Hillary Rodham Clinton + "Breaking News! A Special Guest Is Joining Our New York Celebration. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Former Secretary of State and US Senator from New York"

We are thrilled to announce that @hillaryclinton.bsky.social will be joining DRA's 2025 NYC Celebration on Nov 12!

The Former Secretary of State and US Senator from New York will be presenting the Edith Prentiss Award to Janni Lehrer-Stein.

Purchase tickets or sponsor: dralegal.org/annual-gala/...

DRA Advisory Board member Michele Lee and DRA team members Rebecca Williford, Rachel Weisberg, and Raika Kim smiling in front of the DRA banner and DRA’s exhibitor table at the Disability:IN Chicagoland Summit.

As #NDEAM comes to a close, DRA is proud to partner with Disability:IN Chicagoland in today’s Disability Inclusion Opportunity Summit as we work to improve #accessibility throughout Chicago & the Midwest.

Featured speakers include DRA's Rachel Weisberg and Rebecca Williford. #DisabilityInclusion

"DRA Fall Newsletter"

Check out DRA's fall newsletter! dralegal.org/newsletter/f...

-Important updates from DRA's President & CEO
-Announcements about our upcoming celebrations in NYC on Nov 12 and SF on Dec 2
-A conversation with our newest board member Jennifer Reddien
-Recent case developments and victories

"It was a powerful reminder of the strength, pride, and solidarity within the disability community and all who stand with it," said DRA HR & Operations Manager Lisa Pope.

"It was invigorating to be part of such an energetic, unified, and purposeful atmosphere and to show that DRA is actively present in this mission," said DRA President & CEO Rebecca Williford.

Image 1: DRA's Rebecca Williford at the DRA booth

Image 2: DRA clients from Disabled In Action of Metropolitan New York marching in the parade

Image 3: DRA clients from Bronx Independent Living Services marching in the parade

Collage image of 3 pictures: Image 1: DRA's Rebecca Williford at the DRA booth. Image 2: DRA clients from Disabled In Action of Metropolitan New York marching in the parade. Image 3: DRA clients from Bronx Independent Living Services marching in the parade.

Yesterday's Disability Pride Parade NYC was a truly uplifting event!

We had many visitors stop by our booth to learn about DRA and it was wonderful to see so many of our clients, community members, and partner organizations coming together.

#DisabilityPride #DisabilityRights

A federal court has granted final approval to a class action settlement that will ensure the Hunters Point Library in #Queens is accessible to visitors with mobility #disabilities.

Check out @gothamist.com coverage: gothamist.com/news/queens-...

#DisabilityRights #DisabilityInclusion

As a result of DRA's lawsuit American Council of the Blind of New York v. City of New York, #NYC has installed thousands of #accessible pedestrian signals (APS) across the City and will install thousands more over the next decade.

Accessible pedestrian signal device on a street pole + "Accessible Pedestrian Signals Town Hall. Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) are devices generally affixed to pedestrian signal poles to assist blind or low vision pedestrians in crossing the street. APS are wired to a pedestrian signal and send audible and vibrotactile indications when pedestrians push a button installed at the crosswalk." + Same info from the post language + QR code + Logos for NYCDOT and NYC Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities

@nycdot.bsky.social is hosting the second of two town hall sessions in 2025 on #accessible pedestrian signals (APS) to collect public feedback & provide an opportunity for Q&A.

Submit questions ahead of time to APS@dot.nyc.gov.

Tue Oct 21, 5:30-7:30pm
Join with this link: on.nyc.gov/nycdotaps

DRA attorney Madeleine Reichman and DRA client Tanya Jackson standing together inside the Central Islip location of the Eastern District Court of NY after the final approval hearing in Jackson v. QBPL

Last week a federal court granted final approval to a class action settlement that will ensure the Hunters Point Library in #Queens is accessible to visitors with mobility #disabilities.

After the hearing, we snapped this pic of DRA attorney Madeleine Reichman and our amazing client Tanya Jackson.

DRA and @cidnyinc.bsky.social filed this lawsuit after Queens Borough Public Library unveiled the inaccessible #library in 2019. With this victory, visitors with mobility #disabilities will be able to visit, benefit from, and enjoy the library to the same extent as non-disabled visitors.

Class Settlement Approved Ensuring Access for People with Disabilities to Queens Public Library Branch - Disability Rights Advocates October 14, 2025—Queens, New York—On October 9, 2025, Magistrate Judge Steven Tiscione granted final approval to a class action settlement of a case filed against the Queens Borough Public Library, th...

LEGAL VICTORY: Last week a federal court granted final approval to a class action settlement that will ensure the Hunters Point Library in #Queens is #accessible to visitors with mobility disabilities.

dralegal.org/press/hunter...

#DisabilityRights #DisabilityInclusion #LibrariesAreForEveryone

"NYC Disability Pride Parade. Sunday, October 19, 2025, 11am. Madison Square Park to Union Square Park." + NYC buildings seen from above

DRA is so excited for the Disability Pride Parade NYC on Sunday October 19! Come by our table to say hello and share your #DisabilityPride as we come together in community!

Learn more: www.nycdisabilitypride.org

Last week a federal court granted final approval to a class action settlement for our case against California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) & three counties for failing to provide Medi-Cal notices in #accessible formats such as Braille

Daily Journal: www.dailyjournal.com/article/3879...

This victory would not have been possible without our clients and co-counsel at California Council of the Blind, Disability Rights California, and @dredf.bsky.social

Medi-Cal is California's #Medicaid program. The settlement requires significant changes to ensure DCHS is able to provide effective communication to Blind individuals.

#DisabilityRights #DisabilityInclusion #Healthcare

Groundbreaking Class Settlement Approved Ensuring Access to Notices for Blind Medi-Cal Recipients and Applicants - Disability Rights Advocates October 6, 2025—San Francisco, California—On October 3, 2025, District Court Judge Maxine M. Chesney granted final approval to a class action settlement of a case filed in San Francisco Federal Court ...

LEGAL VICTORY: On Friday a federal court granted final approval to a class settlement for our case against California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) & three counties for failing to provide Medi-Cal notices in #accessible formats such as Braille.

Press release dralegal.org/press/medi-c...

This victory would not have been possible without our incredible clients at Bronx Independent Living Services and Disabled In Action of Metropolitan New York.

Learn more about the case: dralegal.org/case/bils-v-...

#DisabilityRights #DisabilityInclusion #Transportation

The ruling cast a spotlight on the MTA’s practice of not installing elevators when it renovates stations. The #NewYorkCity subway system is the least accessible major transit system in the country. Less than 25% of stations have elevators, making entire neighborhoods inaccessible.

After 8 years of hard-fought litigation, last year a federal court approved a class settlement improving access at the Middletown Road Station. This settlement followed a 2019 order that renovations made by the MTA at this station in the #Bronx triggered accessibility obligations regardless of cost.

North Bronx Subway Station to Get Elevators, Nearly a Decade After ADA Lawsuit Improvements to the Middletown Road stop are part of a system-wide push to increase accessibility, paid for in part by congestion pricing.

Today marks the groundbreaking of the New York MTA's Middletown Road subway #accessibility project!

When this project is completed, New Yorkers with #disabilities will be able to use the station equally and independently.

Check out coverage from @thecity.nyc: www.thecity.nyc/2025/10/03/n...