Every Tuesday morning at DRO, all of our attorneys and advocates meet with our intake specialists to review the calls we received during the past week and decide what cases we can accept.  The volume of requests is so great that we only open cases for a very small percentage of those who ask for our services.  This is a difficult process for our staff because we hear so many problems but can only take action for a few individuals.  As you might expect, some problems take a lot of time, effort and money to address -- for example, through litigation.  Some problems can be solved fairly easily.  But sometimes it's hard to tell, at the outset, which is which.

A couple of weeks ago, our intake specialist George Schall told us that he had received a complaint that taxi cabs were regularly blocking access to curb cuts at the Portland train station during busy hours.  Our attorneys felt that this was a clear violation of the ADA but that addressing it with  formal legal legal action would be a very big undertaking.  Everyone's plates were  overflowing with cases, leaving little room initiate a major piece of federal litigation. 

Being a creative and resourceful group, however, they decided to make a few phone calls in hopes that the problem could be resolved without legal action.

In fact, it could. And it was. 

By the end of the day, authorities from the city and the train station had provided us with guarantees that they would police the sidewalks to assure that the curb cuts remained accessible and inform cab companies that they would be barred from the station area if they continued to block access.

Problem solved.

What I've just described triggered a few thoughts.  It was great that we could get this result so quickly for our client.  Being able to do so speaks well for our skill and reputation in the community.  But our lawyers were hesitant to take the case in the first place because of already heavy work loads. 

That's a shame.

I receive complaints from time to time that DRO does not handle enough cases or file enough lawsuits to "make a statement" even though the cases would have no chance of winning.  I respond that we offer a free service to every Oregonian with disabilities and, by golly, lots of folks with legal problems like the sound of a free service: they call us.  I note that we have not received a boost in our federal funding for five years and that the state has never provided us with support. I also share the fact that our staff members work here because they are dedicated to our mission. 

Attorney salaries in the Oregon Attorney General's office are twice (yes, twice) what we pay.  I will gladly put the skills and experience of our lawyers up against them at any time. 

So, I am glad we were able to get results for our client and for others who need to get to the train station.  I am glad that we have skilled intake specialists, advocates, attorneys and support staff.  And I am glad that we work to use our resources wisely to get the most results we can for our clients. 

But I also wish we could do more.

If, like me, you would like DRO to do more, remember that we gratefully accept donations.  And as the story above illustrates, we use our resources efficiently and effectively.  Donations in support of DRO's work are sound investments in promoting the rights of people with disabilities.

Thanks, in advance.