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THE RHODE ISLAND ACLU AND
THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

1984: Smith v. Robinson -- Appearance in U.S. Supreme Court arguing that attorney’s fees should be awarded under federal law in successful special education lawsuits; when the Court disagreed, Congress enacted a law overturning the Court ruling.

1984: Puerto Rican Political Action Committee v. DiStefano -- Successful federal lawsuit challenging a complex state “verification procedure” for newly registered voters, including a blind plaintiff.

1989: Gannon v. Rhode Island Department of Transportation -- Favorably settled lawsuit on behalf of a person arbitrarily denied a handicapped parking plate by the Department of Transportation.

1993: Cook v. Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals -- Successful federal lawsuit challenging the state’s denial of employment to a person solely on the basis of her obesity.

1993: In re: Petition and Questionnaire for Admission to the Rhode Island Bar -- In response to an ACLU request, the R.I. Supreme Court agreed to amend questions on the Bar application form relating to an applicant’s disabilities.

1994: Andrews v. RI Interscholastic League -- A restraining order was issued in federal court on behalf of a student with learning disabilities who had been barred from playing football.

1995: D’Aprile v. Fleet Services Corporation -- Successful “friend of the court” brief challenging the dismissal of a handicap discrimination case solely because the complainant had obtained disability benefits.

1996: League of Women Voters of R.I. v. R.I. State Board of Elections -- Favorably settled federal lawsuit requiring the state to take immediate action to fully comply with provisions of the National Voter Registration Act, including requiring the availability of voter registration services at state-funded agencies providing assistance to people with disabilities.

1997: Borges v. State of Rhode Island -- Favorably settled federal lawsuit challenging Registry of Motor Vehicles’ summary revocation of plaintiff’s commercial driver’s license after he advised the agency he had diabetes.

1997: Hodgens v. General Dynamics Corporation -- “Friend of the court” brief challenging a court ruling that an employee whose medical condition was controlled by medication could not be considered “disabled” under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

1998: Gray v. Registry of Motor Vehicles -- Successful appeal on behalf of a person arbitrarily denied a chauffeur’s license based on a 14-year-old fainting incident.