TEXAS CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT<\/p>\n
Michael
\nTigar Human Rights Center
\n1405 Montopolis Drive Austin, Texas 78741
\n(512) 474-5073 (phone) (512) 474-0726 (fax)<\/p>\n
Contact: Joseph Berra
\n512-474-5073<\/p>\n
Press Release
\nAugust 2, 2011
\nFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/p>\n
TCRP FILES LEGAL ACTION TO EXPAND ACCESS TO DRIVER\u2019S EDUCATION FOR PEOPLE<\/strong> The Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP) filed a lawsuit today in federal court Under state law, Texans under the age of 25 must take a driver\u2019s education The Plaintiff in this suit, age 21, cannot obtain a driver\u2019s license as a \u201cUnder the ADA, TEA cannot contract away its responsibility,\u201d said TCRP This case was filed by TCRP in conjunction with lawsuits filed across the For more information, please contact Joseph Berra or Trish Kelly at TCRP, at TEXAS CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT Michael Tigar Human Rights Center 1405 Montopolis Drive Austin, Texas 78741 (512) 474-5073 (phone) (512) 474-0726 (fax) Contact: Joseph Berra 512-474-5073 Press Release August 2, 2011 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TCRP FILES LEGAL ACTION TO EXPAND ACCESS…<\/p>\n
\n WITH HEARING DISABILITIES<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nto expand access to driver\u2019s education for people with disabilities. The
\nsuit was filed in federal court against the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and
\nABC Driving School of Austin, Texas. \u201cTEA should know by now what
\nconstitutes effective communication in the educational context, but they
\nrefuse to provide interpreters for people with hearing disabilities,\u201d said
\nJoseph Berra, attorney for TCRP. \u201cTEA is effectively denying hearing
\nimpaired individuals access to a driver\u2019s license and full participation in
\nsociety.\u201d<\/p>\n
\ncourse from a school licensed and approved by TEA. However, contrary to the
\nAmericans with Disabilities Act (ADA), TEA has refused to require its
\nlicensed schools to accommodate individuals with hearing disabilities by
\nproviding them with a sign language interpreter. This policy effectively
\nbars Texans with hearing disabilities under the age of 25 from obtaining a
\nTexas driver\u2019s license.<\/p>\n
\nresult of TEA\u2019s discriminatory policy. Over the course of a year, she
\ncontacted multiple TEA-licensed schools and was unable to find a single
\nlicensed school that would accommodate her disability as required by the
\nlaw. As a result of her inability to obtain a license, she consistently
\nlacks reliable transportation and has been unable to obtain employment and
\nunable to continue her college education.<\/p>\n
\nDirector Jim Harrington. \u201cTEA needs to require licensed schools to provide
\ninterpreters or create a program of access to driver\u2019s education for people
\nwith hearing disabilities.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nstate last week in commemoration of the 21st anniversary of the ADA. For 21
\nyears the ADA has ensured fundamental civil rights to people with
\ndisabilities, and these lawsuits seek to make full enjoyment of those rights
\na reality.<\/p>\n
\n(512) 474-5073 x108<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"