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Tag Archives for: "disability rights"
 “Bridging Generations of Activists” – Reflections from the ERC’S Summer 2025 Macdonell/Gibson Intern
0
By Equal Rights Center
In Uncategorized
Posted December 11, 2025

“Bridging Generations of Activists” – Reflections from the ERC’S Summer 2025 Macdonell/Gibson Intern

ERC Intern Lucas Golluber reflects on how ERC’s founding story gives us useful perspective to navigate today’s obstacles.

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 On the ADA’s 35th Anniversary, Inaccessible Housing Remains a Profound Barrier for People with Disabilities
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By Equal Rights Center
In Accessibility, Civil Rights, Fair Housing, Uncategorized
Posted July 17, 2025

On the ADA’s 35th Anniversary, Inaccessible Housing Remains a Profound Barrier for People with Disabilities

People with disabilities face two main types of barriers when attempting to access housing: physical barriers and policy barriers.

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 Equal Rights Center Files Accessible Design and Construction Complaints Against Properties in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore
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By Equal Rights Center
In Civil Rights, Fair Housing, Press Release, Uncategorized
Posted February 5, 2025

Equal Rights Center Files Accessible Design and Construction Complaints Against Properties in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore

"It’s obscene that developers continue to shirk their responsibility to provide accessible housing, and I’m hopeful these actions will bring them into compliance."

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 Accessible housing is the law! Be on the lookout for violations.
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By Equal Rights Center
In Accessibility, Civil Rights, Fair Housing, Uncategorized
Posted January 6, 2025

Accessible housing is the law! Be on the lookout for violations.

This blog seeks to educate people with disabilities about the FHA’s requirements so they can identify and report possible violations.

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 Equal Rights Center and Uber Reach Agreement on Availability and Safety of Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles in D.C.
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By Equal Rights Center
In Accessibility, Civil Rights, Press Release, Uncategorized
Posted July 17, 2024

Equal Rights Center and Uber Reach Agreement on Availability and Safety of Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles in D.C.

"We are hopeful that the effort we’re announcing today with Uber will help better meet some of our community’s transportation needs."

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 Timeline of Events in ERC’s Disability Discrimination Lawsuit Against Uber
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By Equal Rights Center
In Accessibility, Civil Rights, Uncategorized
Posted July 16, 2024

Timeline of Events in ERC’s Disability Discrimination Lawsuit Against Uber

This page provides a general timeline of the ERC’s investigation and lawsuit against Uber.

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 Remembering ERC Leaders Rev. James Macdonell and Mr. James Gibson
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By Equal Rights Center
In Civil Rights, Fair Housing, Uncategorized
Posted September 7, 2023

Remembering ERC Leaders Rev. James Macdonell and Mr. James Gibson

Two civil rights advocates were at the forefront of the 1999 merger that formed the Equal Rights Center and were instrumental in the ERC’s subsequent successes: Reverend James Macdonell and Mr. [...]

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 Equal Rights Center Archive
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By Equal Rights Center
In Civil Rights, Fair Housing, Uncategorized
Posted September 6, 2023

Equal Rights Center Archive

This timeline charts the ERC's rich history. The project extends the archive we began in 2023 to honor the late Rev. Jim Macdonell and Jim Gibson, two ERC founders.

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 Equal Rights Center Joins Other Leading Civil Rights Organizations in Civil Rights Testing Related Amicus Effort
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By Equal Rights Center
In Accessibility, Civil Rights, Fair Housing, Uncategorized
Posted August 10, 2023

Equal Rights Center Joins Other Leading Civil Rights Organizations in Civil Rights Testing Related Amicus Effort

Yesterday, the ERC joined the Legal Defense Fund (LDF) and seven other civil rights organizations to file an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court case Acheson Hotels, LLC vs Laufer.

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 “The ADA gave us a remarkable opportunity” – Reflections on the Americans with Disabilities Act’s 33rd Anniversary
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By Equal Rights Center
In Accessibility, Civil Rights, Fair Housing, Uncategorized
Posted July 26, 2023

“The ADA gave us a remarkable opportunity” – Reflections on the Americans with Disabilities Act’s 33rd Anniversary

As we celebrate the 33rd anniversary of the ADA becoming law, Rod Boggs and Rabbi Bruce Kahn reflected on the ERC's historic and ongoing work to increase access for people with disabilities.

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Mr. Rod Boggs

Mr. Roderick V.O. Boggs was the Executive Director of the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for 45 years, from 1971 to 2016. As Executive Director, Mr. Boggs supported the founding of the Fair Housing Council of Greater Washington, Fair Employment Council of Greater Washington, and Disability Rights Council of Greater Washington (which eventually merged to become to Equal Rights Center) with the purpose of using civil rights testing to inform and support the WLC’s efforts. Mr. Boggs oversaw the WLC through many successful collaborations with the ERC and its predecessor organizations and has left a lasting imprint on the civil rights landscape in D.C. and across the country.

Rev. James “Jim” Macdonell (1932-2022)

In 1960, Reverend James “Jim” Macdonell founded Saint Mark Presbyterian Church in Rockville, MD, as its minister, declaring himself and the congregation in service of the civil rights movement. One of his proudest moments was participating with other faith leaders in the 1963 Voting Rights March in Selma, AL, led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In 1983, Rev. Macdonell co-founded the Fair Housing Council of Greater Washington and served as President of the organization’s Board of Directors for the next 30 years through its transition into the Equal Rights Center.

Rev. Dr. John Peterson (1934-2011)

Reverend Dr. John O. Peterson served as pastor at Alfred Street Baptist Church in the District from 1964 to 2006. When he moved to the area in 1964, Rev. Dr. Peterson experienced housing discrimination firsthand when he tried to buy a house in Alexandria, VA. He was forced to buy in D.C. instead, and the experience shaped his lifelong commitment to civil rights. In addition to co-founding the Fair Housing Council of Greater Washington, Rev. Dr. Peterson also served in the Alexandria branch of the NAACP, the Northern Virginia Urban League, and the Alexandria School Board.

Rev. Msgr. Ralph Kuehner (1924-2017)

Reverend Monsignor Ralph Kuehner served on the Fair Housing Council’s Board of Directors from its founding in 1983 until 2009. He was a seminary Scripture teacher for 17 years before he moved to the D.C. area, where he worked as a parish priest and then directed various offices for the Archdiocese of Washington. In addition to his work with the Fair Housing Council, Rev. Msgr. Kuehner co-founded SOME (So Others Might Eat), Victory Housing, Community Ministry of Montgomery County, and the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington.

Rabbi Bruce Kahn

Rabbi Bruce Kahn served in the US Navy Chaplain Corps for 28 years and as a congregational rabbi for 25, first at Congregation Or Ami in Richmond, VA, and then Temple Shalom in Chevy Chase, MD, until 2001. After co-founding the Fair Housing Council in 1983, Rabbi Kahn served on its Board of Directors until 2004, when he took over as Executive Director of the Equal Rights Center. He led the organization for nearly five years before returning to the Board of Directors. Now retired, Rabbi Kahn continues to practice a deep commitment to civil rights and volunteers rabbinically for Temple Shalom.

Rev. Dr. David Eaton (1932-1992)

A D.C. native, Reverend Dr. David Eaton became the first African American minister of All Souls Church, Unitarian, in the District in 1969. He served for 23 years and established a spirited religious community dedicated to diversity, inclusivity, and supporting the civil rights movement. In 1964, Rev. Dr. Eaton co-founded the Washington Institute for Employment Training and later helped develop a low-income housing community in D.C.’s Columbia Heights neighborhood. Aside from the church and his position as a founding board member of the Fair Housing Council, he was a close advisor to D.C. Mayor Marion Barry and served as President of the D.C. School Board.

Rev. Dr. Cameron Wells Byrd

In 1978, Reverend Dr. Byrd was called to serve as an assistant minister at People’s Congregational United Church of Christ in Washington, D.C. As a founding board member for the Fair Housing Council, he advocated for equal access to housing and Fair Housing Act enforcement. His dedication to faith, civil rights, and mentorship also led him to the classroom, where he taught future faith leaders at the Howard University School of Divinity.