Author: Phoenix Advocacy Network

Oct. 20, 2025 / PRZen / DALLAS — Dr. Sharisse Stephenson, a neurologist and disability-rights advocate, is calling on states across the country to strengthen ADA compliance in independent commissions — beginning with Virginia, where no published policies or ADA coordinators exist in commissions such as Virginia Workers’ Compensation.

“The ADA requires every public entity to have a coordinator and a published process. Independent commissions should be no exception.” — Dr. Sharisse Stephenson

“Virginia’s courts have a defined process and a named ADA coordinator,” said Dr. Stephenson. “But in many independent commissions, there’s no published policy, no coordinator, and no clear way to request accommodations.”

Similar gaps in ADA implementation exist in other states. “These commissions function as part of the state, but without the same transparency or accountability,” Dr. Stephenson said.

The ADA’s Civic Mandate Under Title II

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), enacted in 1990, is the nation’s landmark civil-rights law for people with disabilities.

Title II covers all state and local governments — every agency, commission, and department.

As the U.S. Department of Justice explains, “Title II of the ADA applies to all state and local governments, their departments and agencies, and any other instrumentalities or special-purpose districts of state or local governments.”

The DOJ further clarifies that state and local entities must:

Make all programs, services, and activities accessible to individuals with disabilities.

Yet many independent commissions in multiple states operate with no public ADA coordinator listing, no written accommodation policy, and no posted grievance process. Without these safeguards, people with disabilities — may be effectively excluded from civic participation.

Dr. Stephenson explained:

“People often think of the ADA as just a ‘ramp law’ — something that’s only about buildings or parking spaces. But it’s really an access law. It protects the right to participate safely and equally in the decisions that affect your life, from courtrooms to commission hearings.”

Legal Foundation: Tennessee v. Lane

The Supreme Court underscored this principle in Tennessee v. Lane (541 U.S. 509 [2004]), holding that Title II validly enforces the constitutional right of access to the courts.

George Lane, a paraplegic man, was forced to crawl up courthouse steps to attend his hearing; the Court ruled that such barriers violate both the ADA and the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause.

Dr. Stephenson noted:

“Access to justice is not optional — it’s a constitutional guarantee. Every state should ensure that people with disabilities can participate fully in both courts and commissions.”

About the Phoenix Advocacy Network (PAN)

The Phoenix Advocacy Network amplifies physician and patient voices to promote accountability, accessibility, and inclusion across public institutions.

https://www.phoenixadvocacynetwork.com Phoenix Advocacy Network | disability rights advocacy

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Source: Phoenix Advocacy Network

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Oct. 6, 2025 / PRZen / DALLAS — Physician non-compete clauses are facing growing scrutiny as health-care access declines nationwide. In Virginia, these restrictions are enforceable only when “narrowly tailored” and aligned with public policy, yet many contracts still bar doctors from serving their own communities.

Dr. Sharisse Stephenson, a board-certified neurologist and founder of Phoenix Advocacy Network, experienced how extreme language can limit ability to practice. I had a non-compete clause which prohibited me from practicing within an entire region of a state. For physicians who want to keep serving patients, that isn’t a contract term; it’s extinction,” she said.

Virginia law already restricts non-competes for low-wage workers (Va. Code § 40.1-28.7:8), and as of July 1 2025, the ban will expand to non-exempt employees. The Federal Trade Commission has likewise proposed a nationwide rule eliminating most non-competes, citing their harm to wages and public access to care.

“Patients suffer when experienced physicians are locked out of their own communities,” said Stephenson. “These clauses were meant to protect business goodwill, not to keep doctors from practicing medicine. It’s time for policymakers to finish what the FTC started.”

Dr. Stephenson is personally aware of several physicians who have been forced to relocate for the full duration of similar non-compete clauses, spending up to two years away from their homes, families, and established patient bases before they could return to practice. These restrictions not only disrupt the lives of physicians but also reduce access to care in the very communities that already face provider shortages.

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About Phoenix Advocacy Network

Phoenix Advocacy Network (PAN) is an independent news and advocacy initiative amplifying stories of healthcare accountability, disability rights, and workplace justice. Learn more at https://www.phoenixadvocacynetwork.com.

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Source: Phoenix Advocacy Network

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