Eve Hill was quoted as a legal authority in The New York Times about possible discrimination against people with disabilities in scientific research grants as a result of President Trump’s executive order.
The New York Times reported that a postdoctoral researcher learned that his application for a National Institute of Health (NIH) grant, studying the neuroscience of pain, was on the cusp of being thrown out because he applied in the diversity pool and not the general pool.
Eve told The Times that this may violate certain legal protections for people with disabilities, although there is no precedent in court.
“They’ve provided this category to overcome past discrimination,” she said to the publication. “By not then considering them in the general award, they are exacerbating that discrimination.”
Many people in the sciences are left reeling about the future of programs and research supporting people with disabilities as a result of President Trump’s executive order.
Despite this confusion, Eve contends it is critical that people continue their advocacy work and continue pushing for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility across all workspaces.
“One thing is clear: the fight for accessibility is far from over. Advocates must remain informed, vigilant and prepared to hold both public and private entities accountable.” Eve wrote in a recent blog article on Trump’s Executive Order declaring Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (“DEI”) efforts “illegal.”
Eve Hill is one of the nation’s leading civil rights lawyers, known especially for her work with clients with disabilities and LGBTQ+ clients. She has been recognized by Law360 as one of just 12 “Titans of the Plaintiffs’ Bar” for 2023, as well as by Lawdragon as one of the 500 Leading Lawyers in America (2022, 2023 and 2024). Her wide-ranging experience complements Brown, Goldstein & Levy’s decades of dedication to high-impact disability rights cases and its advocacy on behalf of individuals with disabilities and their families. Eve also leads Inclusivity, BGL’s Strategic Consulting Group, which works with organizations to promote the education, engagement, and employment of people with disabilities. Learn more about Eve’s disability rights practice here.
To read the full story from The New York Times, click here.
Founded in 1982, Brown, Goldstein & Levy is a law firm based in Baltimore, Maryland, with an office in Washington, D.C. The firm is nationally recognized in a wide variety of practice areas, including complex civil and commercial litigation, civil rights, health care, family law, and criminal defense. Above all else, Brown, Goldstein & Levy is a client-centered law firm that brings decades of experience and passionate, effective advocacy to your fight for justice.
