Founded in 1979, DREDF advances the civil and human rights of people with disabilities through legal advocacy, training, education, and public policy and legislative development.

DREDF's early efforts focused on: Following the passage of the ADA, DREDF focused on preserving the new law and shaping its implementation by providing nationwide training and technical assistance,[4] as well as writing and publishing a legal series that presented ADA legislative history and commentary[5][6][7] in a series of cases, DREDF won the right of children with disabilities requiring healthcare assistance (such as diabetes and asthma) to receive such assistance in pre-school and recreational settings.

Other ADA litigation has also opened doors to movie theaters, hotels, banking services, and gas stations.

Continuing its commitment to IDEA implementation, DREDF achieves a series of litigation victories that establish a national precedent for the full inclusion of children with disabilities in regular classes in Holland v. Sacramento City School District[8] and establishes educational rights for children with disabilities in East Palo Alto, California.

Other litigation[9][10] succeeds in requiring the U.S. Social Security Administration to provide all notices to beneficiaries in alternative formats.