Tag Archives: Americans with Disabilities Act
Have Dog – Will Travel
How to travel with your service or emotional support animal For many, travelling without their service animals or emotional support animal is not an option. However, in many cases, the concern and fear of being denied access is enough to keep some from traveling with their animal. Basic Facts: There is no certification, registration,… Read More »
Litigation: Accommodations for High Stakes Testing
By: Matthew Dietz Academic success is often measured by a score on a test. A test score can make the difference in being accepted into a desired school or in obtaining a professional license. However, a learning disability of a mental illness or disorder, or other disability, can derail a person’s career or learning… Read More »
My Summer at DIG
By: MacKenzie Ruroede As a legal intern for Disability Independence Group (DIG), I was introduced to many legal issues that are incurred by individuals with hearing impairments, significant illnesses, and service and emotional support animals. I also worked on cases of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender. Many of the issues faced… Read More »
A Service Animal…What Does Florida Say?
By: Sharon Langer Florida actually has a little known statute that defines a service animal differently than the Federal ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) does. While the ADA limits service animals to dogs and, in a special separate provision, miniature horses, the Florida law seems to be broader using the words “SERVICE ANIMALS”…not… Read More »
My Summer at DIG
By: Kristin Westerhorstmann Much like racism or sexism, discrimination based on a disability often falls within the common, yet mistaken, school of thought that these issues simply do not exist anymore, or at the very least, happen rarely. I am a law student getting ready to enter my second year at the University of… Read More »
11th Circuit Decision in Bhogaita v. Altamonte Heights Condominum
[PUBLISH] IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT _ Nos. 13-12625; 13-13914 _ D. C. Docket No. 6:11-cv-01637-GAP-DAB AJIT BHOGAITA, Plaintiff – Appellee, versus ALTAMONTE HEIGHTS CONDOMINIUM ASSN., INC., Defendant – Appellant. _ Appeals from the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida _ (August 27,… Read More »
Settlement between the Law School Admission Council and the Department of Justice will set the Benchmark for testing accommodations
On May 20, 2014, the Department of Justice announced a settlement with the administrators of the LSAT, the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC), for alleged violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act for denying disability accommodations for test-takers. For the past twenty years, testing agencies, schools, and the Florida Bar have applied different… Read More »
BROWARD CHILDREN’S CENTER, Inc.
For over 43 years, Broward Children’s Center, Inc. has been a haven for children and young adults with disabilities in Pompano Beach, Florida. Founded in 1971, the program serves children with varied disabilities from all walks of life, which include autism, disabilities from birth, accidents, shaken baby syndrome, lightning strikes and other traumatic… Read More »
2014 Disability Policy Seminar
On April 7-9, 2014, I had the privilege to attend the 2014 Disability Policy Seminar in Washington, D.C. and participate in advocacy efforts to make an impact on disability policy. The Disability Policy Seminar is an event that brings together advocates for individuals with disabilities with public policy experts and focuses on major federal… Read More »
Ms. Wheelchair FL Update
On April 4th and 5th I had the pleasure of participating in the Ms. Wheelchair Florida competition. Ms. Wheelchair Florida, Inc. advocates for all people with disabilities and strives to bring awareness to all people with disabilities and the importance of inclusion in communities, employment, education, and housing. I decided to compete because I felt… Read More »
DIG Internship Progam
DIG has established a successful internship program for both undergraduate students and law students at our local universities. This past semester we hosted two interns. Tiffany Blackmon, from FIU College of Law, assisted with federal litigation, helped us establish our ADA Mediation Project. We file complaints on behalf of persons with disabilities who have… Read More »
Litigation – Vindicating a right to an administrative option – McGuire v. Peabody Hotel
Florida now recognizes that when a person is not treated equal because of his or her disability,– this is discrimination, and is actionable under the Florida Civil Rights Act. In 1968, at the age of seven years old, Kevin McGuire, was hit by a drunk driver and was paralyzed from the neck down. By 1970,… Read More »
The View from a DIG Intern
As a law student interning with DIG, I spoke with a client recently and I was frustrated to learn that there are attorneys who disregard their duty to communicate with clients who are deaf. When someone is already in a difficult situation, it’s hard to believe that a lawyer would make the situation even… Read More »
Americans with Disabilities Act Lawsuits – Frequently Asked Questions
By: Matt Dietz Every year, across the United States, thousands of lawsuits are filed that compel compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, most to ensure that persons with mobility disabilities could have equal use and enjoyment of businesses in our community. While these lawsuits are often the key to community access for persons… Read More »
VICTORY for the Fischers and Sorenson the Dog
On Thursday, March 13, 2014, Judge Robert Scola vindicated the Deborah Fischer’s right to use a service animal, Sorenson the Dog, in her home because of her obvious need of this trained animal. See Order – Omnibus DE 283. In this case, her condominum association sued Mr. and Mrs. Fischer in Federal Court to… Read More »
Teacher with Multiple Sclerosis denied Service Dog in her own home.
Deborah Fisher lives with her husband Larry at Sabal Palm Condominiums in Broward County, Florida. Deb has lived at Sabal Palms for the past twelve years. She lives with Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis. Deb’s multiple sclerosis affects her ability to walk and her fine motor skills. It progressed from walking with a limp,… Read More »
A six year old’s fight to have his seizure dog at school.
Disability Independence Group filed a federal lawsuit against the Broward School Board, alleging the district discriminated against Anthony Merchante, a first grader, for imposing too many barriers to bringing his service dog to his elementary school. Anthony Marchante lives with cerebral palsy and is highly prone to seizures. His medium-sized terrier service dog,… Read More »
Institutionalization of Medically Complex Children
A.R. v. Dudek – the efforts to give children with disabilities the care they need. Florida has been home for approximately three thousand children with severe disabilities who require constant nursing care or supervision on a 24-hour per day basis to stay alive. These disabilities could be the result of a trauma, such as… Read More »
Why
“Why?” is the most common question asked when I said that I was going to change my practice into a non-profit disability rights advocacy center. My reasons are each and every person with a disability that I have represented over the past eighteen years. With every single person, the issue was not about money,… Read More »
