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Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund

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Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund
AbbreviationDREDF
Formation1979
Websitedredf.org

The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF), located in Berkeley, California, and Washington, DC, US, 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 advances the civil and human rights of people with disabilities through legal advocacy, training, education, and public policy and legislative development.

The directing attorney is Arlene B. Mayerson.[1] The Berkeley office is located in the Ed Roberts Campus.

The 1980s

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DREDF's early efforts focused on:

The 1990s

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Following the passage of the ADA, DREDF focused on preserving the new 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 requiring 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 continued institutionalization of disabled residents at San Francisco's Laguna Honda Hospital and to create community-based alternatives. Other ADA litigation has also opened doors to movie theaters, hotels, banking services, and gas stations. DREDF represents Members of Congress in a trilogy of cases involving the definition of disability under the ADA. Continuing its commitment to IDEA implementation, DREDF achieves a series of litigation victories that establish a national precedent for the full inclusion of children with disabilities in regular classes in Holland v. Sacramento City School District[8] and establishes educational rights for children with disabilities in East Palo Alto, California. As interest in disability rights gains international momentum, disability rights leaders from 17 countries invite legal and policy staff to consult and collaborate on strategies for advancing policy in their countries.

The 2000s and beyond

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Other litigation[9][10] succeeds in requiring the U.S. Social Security Administration to provide all notices to beneficiaries in alternative formats.[11]

References

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  1. ^ 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 – via ProQuest.
  2. ^ Burke, Thomas F. (2002). Lawyers, Lawsuits, and Legal Rights. Berkeley Los Angeles London: University of California Press. p. 72.
  3. ^ Babcock, Charles R. (March 2, 1982). "Handicapped Policy Undergoing a Rewrite". Washington Post. Archived from the original on January 28, 2015. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  4. ^ The ADA, An Implementation Guide. Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund. January 1993. Retrieved 1 February 2015 – via Amazon.
  5. ^ Arlene, Mayerson. "Disability Rights Law: Roots, Present Challenges, and Future Collaboration" (PDF). dredf.org. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  6. ^ Arlene, Mayerson (1994). Americans With Disabilities Act Annotated: Legislative History, Regulations & Commentary. Clark Boardman Callaghan. ISBN 9994517287.
  7. ^ "DREDF Publications and Articles". dredf.org. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  8. ^ "14 F.3d 1398". law.resource.org. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  9. ^ "American Council of the Blind v. Astrue". The Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse. University of Michigan Law School. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  10. ^ "A REMINDER TO SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFICIARIES: YOU HAVE NEW RIGHTS IN THE NEW YEAR by Melanie Brunson". The American Council of the Blind. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  11. ^ "Special Notice Option For The Blind Or Visually Impaired". Official Social Security Website. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
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