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: 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”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 26, 2023 CONTACT: Edie Surtees, Communications Director 512-407-2739 esurtees@DRTx.org Disability Rights Texas Appoints Four New Members to Board of Directors AUSTIN—Disability Rights Texas (DRTx), the legal… Continue reading “Disability Rights Texas Appoints Four New Members to Board of Directors “
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 22, 2023 CONTACT: Texas Civil Rights Project – media@texascivilrightsproject.org Jenner & Block – crios@jenner.com AALDEF – ssia@aaldef.org ACLU of Texas — media@aclutx.org Disability Rights Texas –… Continue reading “Major victory in lawsuit against Texas anti-voter law “
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 1, 2023 CONTACT: Edie Surtees, Communications Director 512-407-2739 esurtees@drtx.org New Initiative Focuses on Vaccine Equity for Texans with Disabilities and Older Adults AUSTIN—Disability Rights Texas (DRTx)… Continue reading “DRTx Receives Funding from US Aging for Vaccine Equity Project in Texas”
ESAs will impact legal rights for student with disabilities and special education funding. Continue reading “Implications of Education Savings Accounts for Students with Disabilities”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 31, 2023 CONTACT: Edie Surtees, Communications Director 512-407-2739 esurtees@DRTx.org Laurel Goodroe, Communications and Development Specialist 832-681-8215 lgoodroe@drtx.org DRTx Statement on TEA Placement of AISD Under Conservatorship… Continue reading “TEA Places Austin ISD under Conversatorship Due to Failure to Comply with Special Education Law”
DRTx requested that TEA investigate and remedy Austin ISD’s broken system that denies its students with disabilities timely evaluations. Continue reading “DRTx Requests TEA Address Austin ISD’s Continued Violation of Federal and State Law”
A federal lawsuit was filed against the City of San Antonio for violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act because individuals with disabilities were denied equal, effective, and equitable access to the City’s emergency and disaster planning compared to individuals without disabilities. Continue reading “Lawsuit Filed Against San Antonio for Denying Access to Emergency and Disaster Planning”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 25, 2023 CONTACT: Edie Surtees, Disability Rights Texas, 512-407-2739, esurtees@DRTx.org Jolene Sanders, Coalition of Texans with Disabilities, 512-478-3366 x312, jsanders@txdisabilities.org Texas Parents Ask Lawmakers to Take… Continue reading “Texas Parents Ask Lawmakers to Take Action to End Harmful Student Restraint”