1. NDRN Welcome Address WA 2017 Conference on Ending Homelessness
L. Dara Baldwin, MPA
Senior Public Policy Analyst
May 10, 2017

2. Welcome Address Outline for Discussion (Slides 1-11)
NDRN – Information and History
Disability Rights – overview of history & “avenues” of work
Disability Rights – “AA”
Intersectionality in Disability Rights
Working with 45th Administration & 115th Congress
*Other Slides – information on disability rights laws used in Housing advocacy and ending Homelessness for persons with disabilities
NDRN- WA 2017 Conference on Ending Homelessness - Welcome Address - LDB May 2017

3. Welcome Address
National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) -
The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) is the nonprofit membership organization for the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Systems and the Client Assistance Programs (CAP) for individuals with disabilities. Collectively, the Network is the largest provider of legally based advocacy services to people with disabilities in the United States
Civil Rights lawyers for people with disabilities (PWD) & enforcement agency in the sates
NDRN- WA 2017 Conference on Ending Homelessness - Welcome Address - LDB May 2017

4. Welcome Address
Federally funded program – Labor/HHS – DHHS - Administration on Community Living (ACL)
57 P&A’s – 1 in every state = 50; 1 in every territory = 6; and 1 specifically for the Native American community
Eight programs – to assist with civil and human rights of PWD – PADDS; CAP; PAIMI; PAIR; PAAT; PABBS; PATBI & PAVA
NDRN- WA 2017 Conference on Ending Homelessness - Welcome Address - LDB May 2017

5. Welcome Address
Disability Rights – History – fascinating (see resources slide for readings etc.)
Two “avenues” to this work
1. Paternalistic – we have to take care of PWD
2. Civil and Human Rights - PWD can and should live in the community provided with supports and give opportunities to decent employment, housing and all aspects of life
NDRN- WA 2017 Conference on Ending Homelessness - Welcome Address - LDB May 2017

6. Welcome Address
Maryland Disability Law Center lawsuit against Baltimore County that resulted in a March 2016 settlement providing housing remedies.
The settlement includes the development of 1,000 affordable rental homes, including 100 units fully accessible for families with disabilities.
NDRN- WA 2017 Conference on Ending Homelessness - Welcome Address - LDB May 2017

7. Welcome Address
Recent sent to us by a partner in this work:
I’m very pleased that this short video on our case is now available on YouTube:
Litigation under ADA and Section 504 secured the largest ever affordable housing accessibility result (either settlement or judgment),
4,000 units of UFAS-compliant rental housing
Michael Allen of Relman, Dane & Colfax, PLLC
NDRN- WA 2017 Conference on Ending Homelessness - Welcome Address - LDB May 2017

8. A court-appointed monitor
LA –Case Cont’d
State-of-the-art affirmative marketing, management and tenant selection policies to ensure that accessible units actually go to people with disabilities, and that they get the accommodations and modifications required by federal law
A court-appointed monitor
  Damages of $4.5 million to three non-profit advocacy groups
Let me know if you have questions. 
Michael Allen of Relman, Dane & Colfax, PLLC
NDRN- WA 2017 Conference on Ending Homelessness - Welcome Address - LDB May 2017

9. Welcome Address NDRN & P&A network use intersectionality in their work
People with disabilities are ALL parts of life and so we use this in our work (race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, socio economic status etc.)
P&A serve all as long as they have a disability – housing – multiple cases around the country
NDRN- WA 2017 Conference on Ending Homelessness - Welcome Address - LDB May 2017

10. Welcome Address
Intersectionality – A7 & A15 (Race, class & homelessness & disability)
Continuum of Care –Housing
Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) (A26)
Immigrant & Refugee Community
Veterans with disabilities
Mental Health Diagnosis
NDRN- WA 2017 Conference on Ending Homelessness - Welcome Address - LDB May 2017

11. Welcome Address Working with 45th Administration & 115th Congress
A Time of Hope and Work
Protecting what we have – getting ready for next steps
Moving forward – times change
NDRN- WA 2017 Conference on Ending Homelessness - Welcome Address - LDB May 2017

12. Welcome Address History:
Architectural Barrier Act of 1968 – this created ramps, curb cuts & accessibility. PWD could get into the restaurant but could still be denied service.
Rehabilitation Act of 1974 – Section 504 – any entity receiving federal funding can not discriminate against PWD
Air Carrier Access Act of 1986 – guaranteed PWD would receive consistent and nondiscriminatory when traveling by air
NDRN- WA 2017 Conference on Ending Homelessness - Welcome Address - LDB May 2017

13. Welcome Address
ADA Title II and Title III in addition to the civil rights act
Title II: This title prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by “public entities,” which  are programs, services and activities operated by state and local governments. The public entity must make sure its  programs, services and activities are accessible to individuals with disabilities.
Title III: This title prohibits private places of public accommodation from discriminating against individuals with disabilities.
ADA National Network:
NDRN- WA 2017 Conference on Ending Homelessness - Welcome Address - LDB May 2017

14. Welcome Address The FAIR HOUSING ACT
Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act) prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental and financing of dwellings based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin.
Title VIII was amended in 1988 (effective March 12, 1989) by the Fair Housing Amendments Act, which: expanded the coverage of the Fair Housing Act to prohibit discrimination based on disability or on familial status (presence of child under age of 18, and pregnant women)
HUD - website
NDRN- WA 2017 Conference on Ending Homelessness - Welcome Address - LDB May 2017

15. Welcome Address FHA Cont’d
established new administrative enforcement mechanisms with HUD attorneys bringing actions before administrative law judges on behalf of victims of housing discrimination; and  
revised and expanded Justice Department jurisdiction to bring suit on behalf of victims in Federal district courts.
In connection with prohibitions on discrimination against individuals with disabilities, the Act contains design and construction accessibility provisions for certain new multifamily dwellings developed for first occupancy on or after March 13
HUD - website
NDRN- WA 2017 Conference on Ending Homelessness - Welcome Address - LDB May 2017

16. Welcome Address
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) –This is a wide- ranging civil rights law that is intended to protect against discrimination based on disability; amended in 2008 (ADAA)
There are Five Titles to the ADA – there are no specific statutes on Transportation or Housing as there were laws implemented prior to ADA that covered discrimination (Fair Housing Act)
Civil Rights Act of 1964 – did not include disability in the list of protected classes – like age, pregnancy - disability was added later
Premise of the ADA – Community Integration – the inclusion of PWD in every aspect of life
NDRN- WA 2017 Conference on Ending Homelessness - Welcome Address - LDB May 2017

17. Welcome Address ADA/FHA
Title II of the ADA prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities in all services, programs, and activities made available by State and local governments. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has coordination authority for the ADA in accordance with Executive Order
HUD is the designated agency for all programs, services and regulatory activities relating to State and local public housing, and housing assistance and referrals. In addition, HUD has jurisdiction over a State or local government activity when HUD has jurisdiction under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
HUD - website
NDRN- WA 2017 Conference on Ending Homelessness - Welcome Address - LDB May 2017

18. Welcome Address Resources:
ADA training: ADA Network: ADA Basics Building Blocks – series:
No Pity by Joe Shapiro (Book on the history of the disability rights movement)
“Lives Worth Living” Movie about the disability rights movement -
NDRN –Our history:
Words matter – People First Language first-language
Words matter - Guidelines for Reporting and Writing about People with Disabilities and-writing-about-disabilities.html
NDRN- WA 2017 Conference on Ending Homelessness - Welcome Address - LDB May 2017

19. Welcome Address
Contact information:
L. Dara Baldwin, MPA
Senior Public Policy Analyst
National Disability Rights Network (NDRN)
Phone: ext. 102
Website:
Facebook: NDRNAdvocates
NDRN- WA 2017 Conference on Ending Homelessness - Welcome Address - LDB May 2017