About Our Programs & Projects
Cancer Legal Resource Center
[ Click here for complete info ]
The Cancer Legal Resource Center (CLRC) is a community-based joint program of the Disability Rights Legal Center and Loyola Law School. The CLRC provides free and confidential information and resources on cancer-related legal issues to people with cancer, their families, friends, employers, health care professionals, and others coping with cancer.
The CLRC has a national toll free Telephone Assistance Line (866-THE-CLRC) where callers can receive information about relevant laws and resources for their particular situation. The CLRC volunteer panel of attorneys and other professionals provide more in-depth information and counsel to CLRC callers.
The CLRC has extensive resources on a broad range of cancer-related legal issues, including health insurance, employment, government benefits, estate planning, advance health care directives, family law, and consumer assistance.
CLRC staff members speak at workshops and outreach programs in the cancer community, including cancer support groups and in-service trainings for health care professionals. The CLRC regularly hosts informational booths at health fairs and other events in the cancer community. If you would like a CLRC staff person to attend your next event, please call us at (866) 843-2572.
Disability Mediation Center
The Disability Mediation Center provides expert mediation to assist parties to resolve their disability-related disputes. Many disputes, including reasonable accommodations, access, and housing issues are appropriate for mediation.
[ Click here for complete info ]
Participation in our dispute resolution processes is voluntary and the parties are free to withdraw at any time. All statements made and any documents produced during the mediation, conciliation or facilitation process are confidential and are not admissible in any civil proceeding unless all participants consent to disclosure (California Evidence Code §1152.5).
As neutral intermediaries, our staff will not provide legal advice or representation of any kind to either party to the dispute. But the DMC will, upon request, provide referrals to attorneys, legal service providers and government agencies, and will also furnish legal information that is readily available in government pamphlets and similar materials.
Community Outreach Program
[ Click here for complete info ]
The Community Outreach program provides Basic and Advanced Self-Advocacy Trainings. We also provide custom trainings on disability bias, disability rights and responsibilities, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and others. We also participate in outreach activities to ensure that people know about the services provided by the Disability Rights Legal Center and other disability resources.
We created the statewide - RespectABILITY Disability Action & Advocacy Conference, which brings together nearly 500 people with disabilities and disability rights advocates from throughout California. The Conference participants discuss the major issues facing the California disability community, set the Disability Rights agenda, and collaborate on strategies. The next RespectABILITY Conference will be held on October 12th & 13th, 2007 in Los Angeles. The DRLC is now working with other organizations to organize the Respect-ABILITY Coalition. To learn more about the Disability Rights Agenda, or how to join the RespectABILITY Coalition call, (213) 736-8365.
The month of October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. As part of NDEAM, the Disability Rights Legal Center participates and acts as the local coordinator for National Disability Mentoring Day which is commemorated on the third Wednesday in October each year. Disability Mentoring Day promotes career development for students and job seekers with disabilities through job shadowing and hands-on career exploration. DRLC helps coordinate this annual event which brings students with disabilities from all over Los Angeles together with businesspeople, private, nonprofit, governmental and educational organizations for a day of learning. For more information on how to participate in Disability Mentoring Day as a mentee or mentor please call, (213) 736-8365.
Inland Empire Program
[ Click here for complete info ]
The Inland Empire is one of the fastest growing areas in California and covers nearly 30,000 square miles. Yet legal services are dismayingly scarce for low-income people with disabilities. Therefore, the Disability Rights Legal Center has expanded its offices to serve San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. We are accepting special education and civil rights cases in those counties.
Civil Rights Litigation Project
[ Click here for complete info ]
The Civil Rights Litigation Project provides representation for low-income individuals with disabilities facing discrimination.
We concentrate on cases that will establish important legal principles or benefit large groups of people with disabilities. We provide legal services without charge to its clients.
Our cases challenge discriminatory practices by government agencies, businesses, and educational institutions. Examples include, inaccessible newly constructed or altered buildings, refusal to provide sign language interpreters or alternative format materials, inaccessible government programs, discriminatory insurance and health care systems, inaccessible transportation services, and policies that exclude people with disabilities. To file a disability discrimination claim call, (213) 736-1334.
Education Advocacy Project
[ Click here for complete info ]
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires schools to identify, assess, and provide special education services to children with learning disabilities. In order to receive these services, parents must advocate for their children against very resistant school districts. Low-income, minority, and non-English-speaking parents are typically not in a position to advocate for their children's education- they don't have the time (working), they don't have the energy, they don't have the knowledge, and they don't have the skills.
The Education Advocacy Project represents families of students with disabilities in special education proceedings, including Individual Education Plans (IEP's) meeting, mediation due process hearings, and government complaints. We also provide monthly Education Advocacy Workshops to teach people about special education and an Education Advocacy Manual, a step-by-step guide to assist parents in advocating for their children.
Options Counseling
[ Click here for complete info ]
Options Counseling serves as the front door to the Disability Rights Legal Center. The Options Counseling method of intake reflects our deep conviction that many options outside of litigation are available to individuals with disability related disputes. Options Counseling works hand-in-hand with the Disability Mediation Center, Education Advocacy Project, and Civil Rights Litigation Project to conduct intake. The aim of Options Counseling is to assist and empower those involved in conflicts to evaluate the options available to resolve their disputes. The service focuses on informing callers of all their options - including litigation, mediation, and self-help - helping the callers decide which options to pursue, and identifying appropriate resources and referrals. We also offer Ask-A-Lawyer events at local Independent Living Centers.
Lawyer Referral Service
[ Click here for complete info ]
We operate a State Bar certified Lawyer Referral Service, which refers callers with disability-related cases to experienced private attorneys in Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura counties. The service provides four subject-matter panels: Labor and Employment, Access to Public Accommodations and Commercial Facilities, Administrative Law, and Higher Education.
Pro Bono Program
[ Click here for complete info ]
Each year, the DRLC receives thousands of requests for legal assistance from people with disabilities-more than 5,400 such requests last year. While our committed staff and student externs work to capacity providing legal assistance, the need for our services far exceeds our resources. As a result, we rely heavily on our pro bono partners.
Volunteer attorneys have historically played two important roles in the work of the DRLC:
1) Most of the cases accepted by the DRLC's Civil Rights Litigation Project are either class actions or cases whose resolution will benefit large numbers of people. In order to pursue such matters, we partner with volunteer attorneys at major law firms that have the financial and staff resources necessary for complex cases. Over the years, this kind of collaboration has had an outstanding record of achievement in cases of major impact.
2) On the other hand, the majority of people with disabilities who contact us have smaller, more personal legal issues. In order to meet these needs, the Pro Bono Project identifies, cultivates, and maintains critical relationships with attorneys throughout Los Angeles who are willing to accept these types of pro bono referrals and undertake small litigation cases, brief service (e.g., letter writing, advice, and negotiation without litigation), and individual special education advocacy.
The Pro Bono Project began in 2004. During its inaugural year, we were able to develop a comprehensive program methodology that includes recruitment, Special Education Training, and on-going support. Thanks to the efforts of Audrey Kraus, our Pro Bono Coordinator, forty-two attorneys agreed to accept special education referrals from the Learning Rights Project, and eight firms agreed to co-counsel with us on high impact civil rights litigation.
We are currently planning to expand the Volunteer Attorney Project in two ways:
1) Increasing pro bono outreach, training, and opportunities to attorneys in the Inland Empire and San Diego, where the DRLC is expanding services.
2) Developing programs targeted to corporate in-house counsel, who often are limited in their pro bono activities because of conflicts of interest, and lack of litigation experience. Our Education Advocacy Project offers pro bono opportunities that avoid these potential barriers and provide opportunities to assist clients in meaningful ways.