Disability groups urge confirmation of Judge Sotomayor based on her extensive disability rights record

The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law news release:

Washington, DC -- A coalition of national disability advocacy organizations July 7 announced support for the confirmation of Judge Sonia Sotomayor as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court based on her extensive experience in, and careful approach to, deciding disability rights cases.

"Judge Sotomayor has repeatedly demonstrated a thorough understanding and a deep respect for the laws that protect the rights of Americans with physical and mental disabilities, like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). We have every reason to believe she will continue this stellar record when confirmed to the Supreme Court," said Robert Bernstein, Ph.D., executive director of the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law.

In a letter of support sent to members of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, national disability organizations cited Judge Sotomayor's meticulous consideration of the facts and the law in deciding whether plaintiffs are protected by disability rights laws, and in deciding whether such individuals have suffered discrimination. The letter also cites Judge Sotomayor's life experience as a person with insulin-treated diabetes as a reason to believe that she will fairly protect the rights of all Americans, including people with disabilities.

"We ask the members of the Judiciary Committee and the rest of the Senate to consider Judge Sotomayor's remarkable record on disability rights - a bipartisan issue that affects each and every American. Judge Sotomayor's expertise with respect to disability rights should be carefully considered during the confirmation process," said Jim Ward, CEO of ADA Watch and the National Coalition for Disability Rights.

"In our coalition's support of Judge Sotomayor, we add the support of millions of Americans with disabilities. It is in their - and all Americans' - interest that we confirm a Justice with an extensive understanding of the consequences of the Supreme Court's interpretation of these laws for the civil rights of all Americans," said Andrew Imparato, President and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities.

The coalition includes the Alexander Graham Bell Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, American Association on Health & Disability, American Association of People with Disabilities, American Diabetes Association, ADA Watch/National Coalition for Disability Rights, Autism Society of America, Burton Blatt Institute, Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, Empowerment for the Arts International, Epilepsy Foundation, Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, National Association of the Physically Handicapped, National Association of Social Workers, National Association of State Head Injury Administrators, National Center for Environmental Health Strategies, Inc., National Center for Learning Disabilities, National Council on Independent Living, National Disability Institute, National Disability Rights Network, National Down Syndrome Society, National Spinal Cord Injury Association, United Church of Christ Disabilities Ministries Board of Directors, and the United Spinal Association.