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Disability Rights DC
Disability Rights DC (DRDC) provides individual and systemic legal advocacy, community outreach and education, and investigation of abuse and neglect for adults, children, and youth with disabilities.
Safeguarding the rights of DC residents with disabilities
Our attorneys and advocates address civil rights violations, abuse and neglect, and discrimination against people with disabilities specifically in these areas:
- Access to quality and person-centered community-based supports and services for adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental health disabilities, physical disabilities, and traumatic brain injuries from the Department of Behavioral Health, Department on Disability Services, Department of Health Care Finance, and other DC agencies.
- Addressing abuse, neglect, and rights violations in institutions, residential placements, day programs, schools, jails or prisons, and juvenile detention centers.
- Medicaid appeals involving improper termination, denial, or reduction of Medicaid home health services under Home & Community Based Services Waivers and State Plan Medicaid Program.
- Accessibility of public accommodations like restaurants, stores, and health care facilities that are open to the public and governmental facilities and services for people with physical disabilities.
- Right to self-determination, choice, and dignity.
- Addressing barriers to employment for SSI and SSDI recipients.
- Access to quality vocational rehabilitation services from the DC Rehabilitation Services Administration to help individuals with disabilities prepare for, secure, or retain employment.
- Full participation in all aspects of voting, including registration, casting ballots, and accessible polling places.
- Access to assistive technology and devices such as motorized wheelchairs, hospital beds, and communication devices.
- Supported Decision-Making and other decision-making support as an alternative to guardianship for individuals with developmental disabilities and psychiatric disabilities.
What we cannot help with
Our advocacy services are limited to rights violations directly related to an individual’s disability. We do not provide assistance with:
- Representation in criminal law, family law, bankruptcy, or evictions.
- Personal injury (including workers’ compensation).
- Medical malpractice (litigation against doctor/hospital/clinic).
- Social Security eligibility and eligibility appeals, including assistance in completing application forms.
- Petitions for guardianship or conservatorship.
- Wills and trusts, including special needs trusts.
Additionally, DRDC is the Protection and Advocacy (P&A) program for DC. DRDC is not a national program; we only focus on local DC issues. For assistance in your state or territory, visit the National Disability Rights Network’s P&A directory.
Our work spans across nine focus areas
Click on each icon to learn more about the services that we offer in each of our focus areas. You will also find our 2024 priorities for each of our grants.
Community Integration
Access to Assistive Technology
Address Abuse and Neglect
Advocate for and Educate the Community on the Right to School Inclusion and Transitional Services
Barriers to Employment for SSI and SSDI Recipients
Voting
Access to Quality Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Decision-Making Support/Alternatives to Guardianship
Representative Payee Program
Resources on disability rights and services in DC
Here is some information you may need. For more resources visit our “Resource Page” page.
Contact us about our services today!
For assistance, contact us at (202) 547-0198 (telephone), (202) 547-2657 (TTY), or email drdcintake@uls-dc.org.
