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Maryellen McDonald Receives Stetson College of Law’s William Reece Smith Jr. Public Service Award
Maryellen McDonald, executive director of Disability Rights Florida, is the latest recipient of the William Reece Smith Jr. Public Service Award. In 1990, this prestigious award was established by Stetson University’s College of Law to honor outstanding contributions to public service, the justice system, and the community. In her acceptance…
Disability Rights Florida Files Lawsuit against Florida Department of Corrections
Disability Rights Florida, Florida’s federally-funded Protection and Advocacy organization for individuals with disabilities, has filed a federal lawsuit against the Florida Department of Corrections (FDOC) over its systemic failure to comply with federal measures intended to protect individuals with disabilities incarcerated throughout the state. The suit, filed with the assistance…
2015 Annual Report
Disability Rights Florida is pleased to announce the release of our 2015 Annual Report (PDF). Please take a look inside and learn about some of our successes from 2015, including: Client success stories Investigations into Dade Correctional Institution Extended School Year (ESY) improvements and training Greyhound bus station evaluations Staff…
UPDATE: Medicaid Managed Care Program Lawsuit
A United States District Judge denied a motion by the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) to dismiss a federal claim filed against the agency alleging that AHCA’s flawed implementation and oversight of its Long-Term Care Managed Care Waiver (LTC) Program places enrollees at risk of unnecessary institutionalization, in violation…
Peter Sleasman and Kristen Lentz Join Staff
We are pleased to welcome Peter Sleasman and Kristen Lentz to the Disability Rights Florida team. Mr. Sleasman earned his law degree from the University of Florida. Since 2007, he served as an attorney for the Florida Institutional Legal Services Project. Prior to that, Mr. Sleasman worked for Southern Legal…
Disability Advocates Pursue Action Against Jacksonville Zoning Restrictions
An area zoning ordinance discriminates against those with mental illness, claims a federal lawsuit filed last week by Disability Rights Florida, the state’s designated protection and advocacy organization for individuals with disabilities. The suit alleges that the City of Jacksonville has erected and enforced zoning restrictions which, in effect, unconstitutionally…
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month
October 2015 marks the 70th Anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). Celebrated each October, NDEAM educates and raises awareness of disability employment issues. NDEAM is also a time to celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of workers with disabilities. In 1945 Congress declared the first week in October, “National…
Motorist With Multiple Sclerosis Sues to End Discriminatory Medical Review
On August 14th, Disability Rights Florida filed suit in federal court against the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles on behalf of a licensed motorist with multiple sclerosis, alleging discrimination by the Department in its medical review of motorists with disabilities. While visiting her local driver’s license office…
Settlement Could Offer More Options for People with Mental Illness
The state Department of Children and Families has agreed to settle a lawsuit brought by Disability Rights Florida and move toward providing more options for people who are mentally ill to live in their communities instead of in state mental hospitals. The advocacy group sued the department on the grounds…
Floridian with Visual Impairment Seeks Adoption of Rules to Assist with Food Stamp Applications
Kathryn Cosson, a 52-year old Food Stamp recipient with a visual disability from Walton County, has filed a formal petition with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) today asking the agency to promulgate and make public important policies benefitting individuals with disabilities. At the heart of this petition is…