Thanks to the generous support of our donors, Disability Rights Advocates is pleased to make available on our website and in our offices the work of artists from the National Institute of Art & Disabilities (NIAD). NIAD provides an art program that promotes creativity, independence, dignity, and community integration for people with developmental and other disabilities.
DRA has settled a federal class action in the Northern District of California against the City and County of San Francisco for discrimination against homeless persons with mental and physical disabilities. After defeating the City’s motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim, DRA filed an amended complaint that added claims based on practical difficulties and barriers encountered by disabled homeless persons who attempt to obtain emergency shelter. Plaintiffs included the Western Regional Advocacy Project and the Coalition on Homelessness. In light of the continuing erosion of the number of shelter beds caused by severe budget reductions, DRA obtained the City’s agreement not to decrease the number of shelter spaces further for at least one calendar year. In addition, for example, the City must ensure that shelter staff receive training on the needs of disabled persons, provide accessible transportation to and from reservation centers and shelters for those who need it, and improve the shelter reservation system by instituting better tracking of problems such as dropped reservations. The settlement agreement was approved through the City’s legislative process and was granted final approval by the Court on August 13, 2010.
Notice of Proposed Settlement of Class Action Lawsuit
Read the Press Release in Word.
Read the Complaint in PDF.
