Disability Rights Project

Elaine Gardner, Project Director
Colette Luke, Paralegal

In 1992, the Washington Lawyers' Committee created the Disability Rights Project to address discrimination against persons with disabilities and to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other local and federal disability rights laws. Working with the Equal Rights Center (ERC) (formerly the Disability Rights Council of Greater Washington (DRC)), the Project has undertaken major litigation focusing on access to public accommodations and public services, including transportation, health care services, voting, government services, restaurants, hotels, retail stores, grocery stores, movie theaters, financial institutions, emergency evacuation procedures, as well as prisoners' rights and other services. Many of these cases have settled for substantial injunctive relief and damages for claimants and the ERC.

If you live in the Washington metropolitan area, and believe that you have been discriminated against because of a disability, please complete the intake questionnaire online or print the questionnaire, complete it, and mail it to: Washington Lawyers' Committee, 11 Dupont Circle NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036, Attn: Disability Rights Project. Or, e-mail your questions to the Disability Rights Project at disability@washlaw.org.

If you are a D.C. area attorney interested in learning more about the Disability Rights Project, or in volunteering for the Washington Lawyers' Committee, please e-mail the Project at disability@washlaw.orgor call 202-319-1000.

To find out whether you are eligible to participate in a pending disability rights case, see group lawsuits and class actions.


Online Resources

Frequently Asked Questions