Reporters interested in leveraging the extensive disability rights expertise of our attorneys, advocates, or policy specialists are encouraged to contact our Communications Department at (512) 407-2739 or commdir@DRTx.org to schedule an interview at least 24 hours in advance. Please include your deadline for speaking with our staff in your voice mail or email.
Take a few minutes to learn about reporting on and writing about disability issues. For instance, statements like “people with disabilities” and “uses a wheelchair” are preferred instead of “the disabled” or “wheelchair bound.” For more information, see Communicating About People with Disabilities from the National Disability Rights Network and How to Report with Care On Disability from the New York Times.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 19, 2024 CONTACT: Edie Surtees, Communications Director 512-407-2739 esurtees@drtx.org School to dropout pipeline fueled by a common culprit Educators can improve student outcomes with planning tool… Continue reading “Report reveals schools failing to support students from alternative placements”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 4, 2024 CONTACT: Edie Surtees, Communications Director 512-407-2739 esurtees@DRTx.org Disability Rights Texas Appoints Four New Members to Its Board of Directors AUSTIN—Disability Rights Texas (DRTx),… Continue reading “Disability Rights Texas Appoints Four New Members to Its Board of Directors”
On September 4, 2024, the court approved a settlement agreement in a lawsuit filed against Austin ISD (AISD) in March 2021 by Disability Rights Texas (DRTx) and individual plaintiffs regarding… Continue reading “Court approves settlement agreement with Austin ISD”
On the evening of August 22, 2024, the Austin ISD (AISD) Board of Trustees approved a settlement agreement in a lawsuit filed in March 2021 by Disability Rights Texas (DRTx)… Continue reading “Joint Statement from Austin ISD and Disability Rights Texas”
The DOJ found that the Texas Juvenile Justice Department is violating the Constitution and federal law. Continue reading “DOJ Finds Children in “Unconstitutional Conditions” at Juvenile Facilities”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 13, 2024 CONTACT: Edie Surtees, Disability Rights Texas, 512-407-2739, esurtees@DRTx.org Shelby Jean, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, 817-339-5384, jeans@lanwt.org Clarissa Ayala, Lone Star Legal Aid, 832-627-8404,… Continue reading “Expanding access to legal services for low-income Texans”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 25, 2024 CONTACT: Edie Surtees, Disability Rights Texas, esurtees@DRTx.org, 512-407-2739 Willis Jacobson, National Center for Youth Law, wjacobson@youthlaw.org Laura Felix, Texas Appleseed, lfelix@texasappleseed.org, 512-473-2800 Savannah Tarbet,… Continue reading “TEA report confirms Corpus Christi ISD violates federal education law”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 12, 2024 CONTACT: Andy DiAntonio, Director of Communications National Health Law Program diantonio@healthlaw.org 703-615-0786 (text for fastest response) Lyndsay Niles, Managing Attorney Disability Rights DC at… Continue reading “ADA complaints filed against Texas and DC Medicaid”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 6, 2024 CONTACT: Edie Surtees, Disability Rights Texas, esurtees@DRTx.org, 512-407-2739 Laura Felix, Texas Appleseed, lfelix@texasappleseed.org, 512-473-2800 (ext. 106) Savannah Tarbet, Texas Civil Rights Project, media@texascivilrightsproject.org Willis… Continue reading “Federal complaints say students pushed out of school due to disability, race”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 8, 2024 CONTACT: Edie Surtees esurtees@DRTX.org 512-407-2739 DRTx Receives Children’s Health and Security Grant from Texas Access to Justice Foundation Funding Helps Students with Disabilities in… Continue reading “DRTx Receives Children’s Health and Security Grant from Texas Access to Justice Foundation”