Mission

 

The Rights Task Force advocates on a wide variety of matters involving the human and civil rights of individuals with disabilities through an equity lens. The Task Force's vision is driven by a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice, as well as the four key goals for people with disabilities set forth in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self- sufficiency.  Through our work, we are committed to assuring that the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the ADA, and other civil rights protections set forth in law and court decisions are interpreted and enforced in a robust manner to secure the equal rights and opportunities of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) disabled people, LGBTQ+ disabled people, people living with HIV, and all other individuals with disabilities. The Task Force is committed to advocating for the human and civil rights of people with disabilities with multiple statuses or who are multiply marginalized. 

Co-chairs

• Claudia Center
  Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund
  510-644-2555 ext. 5231
  ccenter@dredf.org

• Stephen Lieberman
  United Spinal Association
  202-556-2076 x 7104 phone 
  slieberman@unitedspinal.org

• Carlean Ponder
  The Arc
  202-534-3728
  ponder@thearc.org

• Morgan Whitlatch
  Center for Public Representation
  202-596-6116
  mwhitlatch@cpr-ma.org

Save the ADA

Rights Task Force Priorities for 2019

CCD Rights Task Force 2018 Code of Participation

CCD Rights Task Force Addressing Poverty - Key Principles

ACTIVITIES

Rights Task Force Joint Technology-Rights Statement for Senate Aging Committee Hearing on Section 508 On behalf of the undersigned members of the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Technology & Telecommunications and Rights Task Forces, we write to thank the Committee for holding today’s hearing on the critical issue of ensuring that federal agencies are held accountable for achieving digital accessibility under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (an outcome that should have been achieved years ago). (July 28,  2022) - Download [ PDF ] Rights Task Force Joint Technology-Rights Task Force Letter on Section 508 Recommendations The purpose of this letter is to request that the Administration take all necessary and sufficient steps to ensure that federal agencies are held accountable for achieving digital accessibility (an outcome that should have been achieved years ago). To accomplish this goal, we ask that there be real consequences for those agencies that continue to renege on their legal obligations under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and fail to meet the clear expectations in E.O. 14035 to ensure digital accessibility. (July 8,  2022) - Download [ PDF ] Rights Task Force CCD Technology Rights Letter to Administration re Section 508 Implementation On behalf of the undersigned members of the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) Technology & Telecommunications1 and Rights2 Task Forces, we write to express our support for the Administration’s efforts to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) in the federal workforce. The purpose of this letter is to request that the Administration take all necessary and sufficient steps to ensure that federal agencies are held accountable for achieving digital accessibility (an outcome that should have been achieved years ago). (July 8,  2022) - Download [ PDF ] Rights Task Force Re: Disability Committee Letter on Section 504 Regulations Thank you for your letter, dated April 26, 2022, to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Becerra, on behalf of Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD), urging HHS to issue updated regulations on Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Your letter was forwarded to the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) for reply. (June 23,  2022) - Download [ PDF ] Rights Task Force CCD 504 Letter The undersigned members of the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities write to urge you to issue updated regulations on Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) is the largest coalition of national organizations working together to advocate for federal public policy that ensures the self-determination, independence, empowerment, integration and inclusion of children and adults with disabilities in all aspects of society. (April 27,  2022) - Download [ PDF ] Rights Task Force CCD Public Charge Comment The undersigned members of the Rights, Health, and Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Task Forces of the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD) submit the following comments in response to the above-captioned Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. We commend the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for rescinding the 2019 Public Charge rule, and for considering impacted communities’ comments to the proposed rule. (April 25,  2022) - Download [ PDF ] Rights Task Force CCD Web Accessibility Letter to Senators The CCD Technology & Telecommunications and Rights Task Forces write to request that you urge DOJ to immediately pursue regulatory and additional subregulatory initiatives under Titles II and III of the ADA to ensure that state and local governments and public accommodations procure, design, maintain, and use websites, mobile apps, online systems, and other forms of ICT that are accessible to and usable by people with disabilities. (March 23,  2022) - Download [ PDF ] Rights Task Force CCD Web Accessibility Letter to DOJ The CCD Technology & Telecommunications and Rights Task Forces write to urge DOJ to immediately pursue regulatory and additional subregulatory initiatives under Titles II and III of the ADA to ensure that state and local governments and public accommodations procure, design, maintain, and use websites, mobile apps, online systems, and other forms of ICT that are accessible to and usable by people with disabilities. (March 23,  2022) - Download [ PDF ] Rights Task Force CCD House ACAAA Support Letter 2022 The undersigned members of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) Transportation and Rights Task Forces write to support the Air Carrier Access Amendments Act of 2021 (H.R. 1696). CCD is the largest coalition of national organizations working together to advocate for Federal public policy that ensures the self-determination, independence, empowerment, integration and inclusion of children and adults with disabilities in all aspects of society free from racism, ableism, sexism, and xenophobia, as well as LGBTQ+ based discrimination and religious intolerance. (March 23,  2022) - Download [ PDF ] Rights Task Force CCD Senate ACAAA Support Letter 2022 The undersigned members of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) Transportation and Rights Task Forces write to support the Air Carrier Access Amendments Act of 2021 (S. 642). CCD is the largest coalition of national organizations working together to advocate for Federal public policy that ensures the selfdetermination, independence, empowerment, integration and inclusion of children and adults with disabilities in all aspects of society free from racism, ableism, sexism, and xenophobia, as well as LGBTQ+ based discrimination and religious intolerance. (March 23,  2022) - Download [ PDF ]