Federal ADA Access Case: Stephenson v. Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission

⚖️ Why This Case Matters

When I filed this case, it wasn’t about personal vindication — it was about access.

Access to justice. Access to due process. Access to equal participation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission (VWC) is an independent state agency that impacts thousands of disabled workers each year. Yet, like many “independent” bodies, it operates without meaningful oversight when it comes to ADA compliance.

My federal injunction case challenges that.

It asks a simple question:

Can a state agency claim independence from accountability while denying people with disabilities safe participation in its proceedings?

🧩 The Case Files

To make the story transparent and accessible, the Phoenix Advocacy Network (PAN) archive now includes the three key filings that define the progression of this federal ADA access case:

Together, these filings form a complete and comprehensible record of the case’s trajectory for journalists, advocates, and the public.

🔍 Why Transparency Matters

For too long, independent commissions have operated behind closed doors — impacting workers’ lives with little oversight or accountability.

By publishing these filings, PAN makes the process visible.

Because sunlight isn’t defamation — it’s documentation.

🕊️ The Bigger Picture

This case is about far more than one physician or one claim. It’s about ensuring state agencies comply with federal civil rights law.

Every worker, every clinician, every patient with a disability deserves safe and equal participation in the systems that govern them.

Accessibility isn’t optional. It’s a civil right.

✊🏾 Follow the Phoenix Advocacy Network

📂 Explore the full case filings:

• Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief (Aug 2025)

• Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss (Sept 2025)

• Notice of Clarification (Oct 2025)

💬 Share your story: If you’ve been denied accommodations or access in a state-run process, your voice matters here.

📣 Support ADA accountability: Help ensure that the right to be heard includes everyone.