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: July 25, 2025 CONTACT: Edie Surtees, Communications Director esurtees@DRTx.org 512-407-2739 Disability Rights Texas Responds to July 24th Executive Order AUSTIN—Disability Rights Texas (DRTx) strongly opposes the July… Continue reading “Unhoused People with Disabilities Don’t Need More Policing, They Need Services”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 19, 2025 Court Issues Landmark Disability Decision for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Texas’ Nursing Facilities SAN ANTONIO—A Texas federal judge has ruled that… Continue reading “Court Issues Landmark Disability Decision for People with Disabilities in Texas Nursing Facilities”
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: 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: 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”
DRTx filed a complaint that says ECISD has failed to meet federally mandated timelines for evaluating as many as 500 students with disabilities. Continue reading “Nearly 500 Ector County ISD students may not be receiving appropriate education”