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DRLC Newsletter |
Friday, March 18, 2011 |
DRLC Moves Forward in Class Action Lawsuit
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Wheelchair Struggles to Climb Steep Curb |
The City of Los Angeles is discriminating against hundreds of thousands of people with mobility disabilities by denying them meaningful access to the pedestrian rights-of-way. People with mobility disabilities must contend with broken and uneven pavement along the sidewalks; mid-block obstructions such as bus stop benches, shelters and light poles; and the lack of curb ramps at thousands of intersections throughout the city. The Disability Rights Legal Center won an important victory this week in its class action lawsuit to redress this systemic and pervasive discrimination by the city against residents with mobility disabilities. The Ninth Circuit denied the City of Los Angeles' request to appeal the district court's decision to grant plaintiffs' motion for class certification in Willits, et al. v. City of Los Angeles, CV-05782 CBM (RZ). Los Angeles' pedestrian rights-of-way comprise 10,000 miles of sidewalk and 40,000 intersections, making this perhaps the largest lawsuit of its kind in the United States. Schneider Wallace Cottrell Brayton Konecky LLP is DRLC's co-counsel in the case, which is in the discovery phase of litigation. |
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Paula Pearlman Speaks at Special Education Symposium
DRLC Executive Director, Paula Pearlman, presented at the American University, Washington College of Law, Special Education Advocacy Symposium in Washington, D.C. on February 24. She spoke about our efforts to improve the juvenile justice and special education systems through litigation. The DRLC's application of education rights in custodial settings was a novel approach to the application of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act for many of the participants. The conference was targeted at clinical faculty, non-clinical law faculty, and practitioners who represent parents and children in special education matters. Ms. Pearlman's presentation furthered the DRLC's core values of education and justice. |
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Hold Saturday Night July 23 for 'Casino Angeleno'
The Cancer Legal Resource Center's Casino Night event is back by popular demand! The CLRC will be hosting its "Casino Angeleno" summer event on Saturday, July 23, 2011. Set on the rooftop deck of the Petersen Automotive Museum, with the Hollywood Hills as a spectacular backdrop, guests will enjoy a starry, summer night of guilt-free gaming, music and prizes. Proceeds will benefit the CLRC. For sponsorship opportunities, click here to download the sponsorship packet, or contact Joanna Morales at joanna.morales@lls.edu. Event details will be posted at www.cancerlegalresourcenter.org in March |
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DRLC Presents Special Education Advocacy Academy on Saturday, March 26; RSVP by Wednesday, March 23
The March 26 academy will cover learning disabilities, special education law, Individual Education Programs (IEP's), Section 504, and DRLC services. Each academy is an interactive one-day course that includes question-and-answer sessions. Participants receive a free copy of our Education Advocacy Manual and a Certificate of Completion. Academies will be presented in English and Spanish (Espaņol). Proporcionamos servicios legales en Espaņol. The academy costs $10 but no one will be turned away because they cannot pay. Those who want to attend must RSVP by Wednesday, March 23. Space is limited to 20 participants per academy. To sign up (RSVP), request accommodations, or for more information, please contact us at: (213) 736-1447 - toll free number (866) 999-3752 - Video Relay Phone (866) 912-8193 or DRLC@lls.edu. The academy is held from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (snacks and lunch will be provided) at Founders Hall, Room 236, Disability Rights Legal Center, Loyola Law School, 919 Albany Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015. Parking is available in the Loyola Law School parking lot ($3 for the day), and on the street around the law school. Upcoming academies will be held Saturday, June 25 (RSVP by Wednesday, June 22); Saturday, August 6 (RSVP by Wednesday, August 3); Saturday, October 15 (RSVP by Wednesday, October 12). |
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DRLC Offers Free Legal Clinic in Orange County
| Dayle McIntosh Center |
To better serve residents of Orange County, Community Outreach Program staff will hold office hours on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Dayle McIntosh Center in Garden Grove. That means this month we will host office hours at the center on March 23. Come meet our staff and learn about laws protecting the civil rights of those with disabilities, and services available them, including health care, special education, government services and more. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Maggie Hui, Community Outreach Coordinator, at (213) 736-1408 or Maggie.hui@lls.edu. Video TDD (213) 736-8310; Video Relay Number (866) 912-8193. The Dayle McIntosh Center is located at 13272 Garden Grove Boulevard, Garden Grove, CA 92843-2205. |
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Donate
The online credit card donation feature is available on the Make a Donation page of the DRLC website. This quick and easy function can be used for general donations. .
Volunteer
Visit the How You Can Help page of our website to volunteer as a pro bono attorney on a disability rights case, work as a student law clerk or assist with intake and administrative responsibilities. |
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| Disability Rights Legal Center Staff Photo August 2010 |
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