Northwestern U Reports Accomplishments of Alumni Richard Bernstein

Northwestern University Magazine - Alumni News
Spring 2009

Richard Bernstein completed another grueling endurance test, finishing the Ironman triathlon in 14 hours and 36 minutes in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. "Completing the Ironman for me was, I think, the most spiritual awakening I've ever experienced," Bernstein, who is blind, told CNN. He also ran the Miami Marathon, his 10th marathon overall, in January.

An attorney from Farmington Hills, Michigan, Bernstein is chair of the Wayne State University board of governors and an adjunct professor of political science and social activism at the University of Michigan. He's also a champion for the rights of the disabled.

In a recent case, Bernstein represented Paralyzed Veterans of America in a lawsuit against the University of Michigan to improve accessibility at Michigan Stadium. The U.S. Department of Justice intervened in the case, setting a standard for stadium accessibility for the disabled. A case against Oakland County, Michigan, resulted in a resolution to improve pedestrian safety at roundabout traffic intersections. Bernstein also filed a federal lawsuit against the Detroit Department of Transportation. In that case, the Department of Justice intervened, setting a standard for cities in terms of providing accessible and functional transit service for the disabled.

Bernstein is currently representing five disabled passengers in a suit against Northwest Airlines and the Wayne County Airport Authority. The case established the legal precedent that air carriers are subject to the Americans with Disabilities Act. He does his legal work pro bono.