Disability Rights Maine logo 2025 Annual Report Cartoon drawing of a dozen people across the lifespan. Characters have a variety of disabilities, including a wheelchair, cane, and hearing aid. Cover art designed by Jessica Russell for the 2025 Disability Pride Art Contest Disability Rights Maine OUR PROGRAMS Developmental Disability Advocacy provides legally-based advocacy to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who have experienced abuse, neglect, exploitation or who have been discriminated against based on their disability. In addition to the federal Protection and Advocacy program for individuals with diagnoses of developmental disabilities, DRM receives State of Maine funding to advocate for adults with labels of intellectual disability and autism. Mental Health Advocacy serves individuals who have a diagnosis or label of serious mental illness. DRM provides these services statewide to individuals in the community and in institutions through federal and state funds. Protection and Advocacy for Voting Access (PAVA) is a federal program that allows DRM to represent individuals who have been denied the right to vote and to increase access to the polls for people with disabilities. Protection and Advocacy for Individual Rights (PAIR) serves individuals who have a disability and who are not eligible for either the PADD or PAIMI programs. PAIR focuses on civil rights violations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Social Security Advocacy serves individuals with disabilities who receive Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and who want to work, return to work, or are working and need assistance with respect to benefits. DRM also monitors, investigates and reviews representative payees to prevent and detect financial exploitation or misuse of an individual's benefits. Brain Injury Advocacy provides legally-based advocacy for people who have a brain injury and who have experienced a rights violation or discrimination. Protection and Advocacy for Assistive Technology (PAAT) assists individuals with disabilities in obtaining assistive technology devices or equipment in order to live more independently, work, attend school, or meet medical needs. Children's Advocacy state funds allow DRM to serve children with disabilities who are denied access to appropriate and inclusive educational services; have been subjected to restraint and seclusion in school; are seeking assistance with obtaining appropriate home and community services; or who are in a hospital or residential facility and have experienced abuse, neglect or violations of their basic rights. Deaf Services provides legally-based advocacy to individuals who are Deaf, late deafened, hard of hearing and DeafBlind; provides technology to improve communication access; provides peer support to Maine citizens who also have developmental disabilities; and provides outreach statewide to ensure that people know about communication options and access. Client Assistance Program (CAP) is a federally funded program that provides information, assistance and advocacy to people with disabilities receiving services under the Rehabilitation Act. Youth Self-Advocacy is funded through state and private grants and trains young people with disabilities how to advocate for themselves. Group of six cartoon people, including a family and an older couple. This is a cutout of the cover cartoon. Letter From Our CEO Picture of Andrew Sarapas and Kim Moody smiling. They wear matching t-shirts and sunglasses. Dear Friends and Colleagues, Every year, I am reminded that disability rights work changes lives in profound and deeply human ways. These pages contain just a few examples of the extraordinary work undertaken by DRM over the past year, and yet this 2025 report captures a year marked by fierce advocacy and hard-won victories. As we reflect on 2025, we must acknowledge the uncertainty facing the disability community in Maine and across the country. Federal funding for life-saving disability advocacy services, including those provided by DRM, remains under threat. Proposed changes to Medicaid could devastate state budgets and place home-and community-based services at risk -the very services that have finally enabled people with disabilities to live independently, to work, and to be a part of our communities. When programs that promote independence and community inclusion are weakened, the consequences are profound. We risk returning to a time when people with disabilities were segregated, institutionalized, and denied freedom, autonomy, dignity, and opportunity. At the same time, ongoing efforts to restrict access to voting continue to disproportionately disenfranchise people with disabilities, undermining one of our most fundamental civil rights. But, this letter is not one of despair. It is a reminder of the strength, resilience, and growing power of the disability community and our allies. Last spring, DRM organized a statewide sign-on effort urging Maine's congressional delegation to protect disability advocacy services. The response was extraordinary: every member of Maine's Senate, many members of the Maine House, more than 30 organizations, and over 2,300 individual Mainers signed on to our letter of support. This year also brought a landmark victory in Maine. The disability community showed up in force to support legislation ending the planned use of restraints on people with intellectual and developmental disabilities -and that legislation passed. This historic achievement affirms a simple but profound truth: every person deserves dignity, safety, and freedom from abuse. We also gathered and shared stories that celebrated the power of community inclusion, reminding the public that people with disabilities are not invisible, disposable, or "other." We are here. We belong. And we are not going anywhere. If 2025 taught us anything, it is that the work of dismantling systemic barriers and advancing disability rights remains as urgent as ever. But it also reminded us that progress is possible when people come together with courage, persistence, and hope. I remain enormously grateful to work alongside DRM's remarkable staff, whose intelligence, compassion, and determination create real and lasting change in the lives of the people we serve. I also extend my deepest thanks to our Board of Directors, funders, partners, supporters, and clients. Your trust, advocacy, and partnership make this work possible and remind us every day why this fight matters. With gratitude, Kim Moody Andrew R. Sarapas, Esq. Kim Moody signature Chief Executive Officer Andrew Sarapas Signature Board President \.__ Featured Article ELIMINATING THE PLANNED USE OF RESTRAINTS A warning to readers that this article contains descriptions of abuse. On June 12, 2025, Governor Janet Mills signed L.D. 769, An Act Regarding Access to Behavioral Health Supports for Adults with Certain Disabilities, into law. This landmark civil rights legislation eliminated the use of planned restraints for adults with developmental disabilities as of April 1, 2026. For far too long, people have believed that individuals with developmental disabilities are different in a way that justifies the use of restraints as part of their treatment. This is simply not true. Restraints are harmful, and they sanction a culture of violence that has no place in a system designed to support and empower people with disabilities. The harm caused by restraints extends far beyond the immediate physical and emotional trauma. Restraints blur the line between protection and abuse, creating a system in which individuals with disabilities are expected to accept that being physically controlled even assaulted is sometimes for their own good. This is a major civil rights victory for people with developmental disabilities in Maine. The system has long normalized practices that would never be accepted for people without disabilities. Ending these restraints will have a profound impact not only on the people who were directly subjected to them, but also on the many others who lived with the trauma, fear, and anxiety of witnessing restraints used against the people around them or worrying that they could be next. This law represents an important step toward a service system grounded in dignity, safety, respect, and true community inclusion. DRM s Developmental Disabilities Team will monitor providers compliance with the law to ensure individuals receive the protections and rights the law guarantees. This important policy change would not have been possible without the dedication and leadership of self- advocates. When the Maine Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS) convened listening sessions about the behavior management process, it was the stories of experiences of being forcibly restrained told by survivors that prompted the department to ultimately bring forward this legislation. Margaret Cardoza of Portland is one of those self- advocates. A survivor of ableism, institutionalization, seclusion, and both chemical and physical restraints, Margaret has used the power of storytelling to turn her trauma into systemic change. Margaret Cardoza, a white woman with shoulder-length brown hair, smiles in her living room. DRM spoke with Margaret to discuss why this legislation matters to her and what self-advocates want to see happen as it is implemented. The following are excerpts from that interview. DRM: Can you take us through the background that informs this legislation? M: When Pineland closed in 1996, nobody addressed the abuse that took place there. And while my institutional experience was not at Pineland, one institution is the same as any other. It was finally decades later, in early 2021, that the State asked survivors to share their experiences. But, because our abuse had been silenced and repressed for so long, talking about it was very hard. Fortunately, DRM gathered a few people willing to share our experiences with the State, myself included, and DRM's Developmental Disabilities Team with Margaret Cardoza. helped us prepare. We developed tools and techniques to reduce the feeling of reliving our trauma. For me, I like to think of these as anchors something that keeps me steady, secure, and grounded in the present. Some of the stories were more historic, like mine, while others detailed experiences of violent abuse in current facilities. Ultimately, the State was so moved by what advocates shared that they brought forward legislation to end the planned use of restraints. DRM: Can you talk about the experience of testifying on this legislation? M: First, the fire alarms were going off. Talk about a trigger. Here we are as victims, testifying about our history of abuse and the use of restraints, with lots of loud noise around us. And then, on top of that, we had to listen to those who opposed the legislation. People were defending it or saying it should be the professional s call. As someone who has experienced restraint, it was awful to listen to. So often we hear the refrain of we need to restrain people because so and so is going to run into the road . First, how many times is that really an issue, and second, and more importantly, that is not the reality of when people are being restrained. Ultimately, the Committee supported the Bill. One legislator shared that our testimony was the most emotional and moving experience of her career. And then I was part of the group working on policy to implement the law. DRM: How long have you worked on this issue? M: For decades, really. Since the 1990s, I've worked with others to share their story and take back their life. And we needed a critical mass of people who were willing to share. For me, the bottom line is that if you want to serve individuals effectively, you need permission from that person, which was not my own experience. DRM: What does it mean for you that this legislation passed? M: To me, it means freedom. It means gaining a willingness to believe someone is going to help you without hurting you, and that you will be getting help in a way that is healthy. DRM: Do you have any concerns about its implementation? M: Yes - people are set in their ways and the bottom line is that it will take time to change attitudes and processes. And I worry about that. Direct care staff will need training and exposure to alternative responses to support people. And self-advocates will need accessible and accommodating trauma care therapy to recover from experiences with restraints. But this law demonstrates the best part of sharing our stories. We can break through to people and change attitudes and systems. And we can use those stories to remind professionals that, despite their education or credentials, we are still the ones in charge. ADVOCACY IN ACTION Student Maintains Services Needed to Graduate from College A college student with a physical disability contacted DRM to request assistance with appealing a reduction of personal support services. The young person relied upon personal support staff to assist him with carrying out nearly all activities of daily living, and the reduction would have been so drastic that it would have required him to quit school in his final year of college. A DRM attorney represented the client in requesting a reasonable accommodation to exceed the monetary cap on services. Because of DRM's assistance, the Department reconsidered and offered the client 95% of the hours he had been receiving, thus allowing him to finish an internship and graduate from college. The back of a woman who is wearing a t-shirt that reads "Disability Rights Are Civil Rights". Complaint Results in Domestic Violence Shelter Becoming More Accessible A woman with multiple disabilities contacted DRM seeking assistance with a reasonable accommodation at a shelter for survivors of domestic violence. She required certain accommodations due to mobility issues, and the staff made statements questioning the client's disability when she made the requests. When a DRM advocate investigated, she discovered that the shelter had no policy outlining how people could make accommodation requests, nor did they have a grievance policy. The advocate supported our client at a meeting, which resulted in significant systemic, procedural, and interpersonal changes at the shelter, as well as their ongoing treatment of people with disabilities. Hospitalized Client Participates in Religious Services A woman with a mental health disability at a psychiatric hospital sought assistance after her repeated requests to attend church services, either virtually or in the community, were ignored. DRM raised the concern with staff, and her treatment team subsequently approved religious accommodations and arranged for her to participate virtually in the church service of her choice. Hospital Enacts Policy Changes to Improve Communication Access After several Deaf and Hard of Hearing people reported difficulties receiving ASL interpreters and other communication accommodations at a local hospital, DRM advocated for improvements. These efforts resulted in the hospital developing and implementing a 10-point plan to address specific issues. The plan included improving access for Deaf and Hard of Hearing patients, training staff, hiring a Language Access Coordinator, and modifying their electronic record system to create alerts in patient charts for interpretation or other accommodation needs. Systemic Complaint Ensures Student Access to a Full School Day DRM heard from several families in one central Maine school district that their children were being denied access to a full school day or to any school at all due to a purported lack of resources. In response, DRM filed a systemic complaint against the District with the Maine Department of Education. After DRM filed the complaint, all students connected with DRM were provided access to a full school day, and the resolution agreement ensures that students are not denied this access moving forward. A group of 6 DRM staff members at Disability Pride. Staff wear Disability Pride t-shirts and smile. Poll Monitoring Results in Six State Complaints, 19 Remedies During the General Election, DRM visited 210 polling places to assess compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). After reviewing the data, DRM determined there were seven polling places with serious potential violations of HAVA. One polling place was reported to the Department of Justice, while six additional complaints were filed with the Maine Secretary of State. All state complaints were resolved in DRM s favor and resulted in remedies, including additional mandatory training for town clerks and new policies for technical concerns and servicing of the Accessible Voting System (AVS). These policy changes and trainings will continue to improve statewide access to the polls for Mainers with disabilities. Cutout from front cover that features a group of five cartoon people, including a person with a service dog and another person using ASL. CELEBRATING COMMUNITY IMPACT In 2025, DRM and its staff received three major awards that uniquely recognized our work to defend the rights of individuals with disabilities. Consumer Council System of Maine Circle of Support Award DRM's Mental Health Advocacy Team accepting the Circle of Support Award. In January 2025, DRM's Mental Health Advocacy team was recognized by our partners at the Consumer Council System of Maine with their Circle of Support Award. This award recognized DRM's leadership in advancing the rights of people with psychiatric labels under the stewardship of CEO Kim Moody and Program Director Mark Joyce, Esq. It further celebrated the team's passion and dedication to fight battles, big and small, for peers across the system. National Disability Rights Network (NORN) Advocacy Award DRM received the 2025 NDRN Advocacy Award for our outstanding work on behalf of Social Security beneficiaries with representative payees. During the course of an investigation in rural northern Maine, Project Director Meghan Ryan identified a horrible case of not only financial exploitation, but also abuse and neglect. The beneficiary was completely isolated and likely would have remained that way, if not for DRM. DRM stopped the financial abuse by the current representative payee and the new payee linked the individual with resources in their community. They were ultimately able to move to a new, safe living situation and live the life they wanted. It is cases like this that are why DRM does this work, reviewing representative payees statewide. We were proud to be recognized within the Protection & Advocacy network. Headshot of Meghan Ryan, a white woman with short, curly brown hair. Maine Children's Alliance Champion for Children Educator Award DRM Managing Attorney Atlee Reilly, Esq. received statewide recognition for his dedication to protecting the rights of Maine children with the Maine Children's Alliance Educator Award. A kind, compassionate, and courageous attorney, Atlee has spent nearly two decades empowering families, litigating discrimination, and leading systemic policy reform on behalf of children with disabilities. DRM is thankful to MCA for recognizing Atlee's leadership and even more thankful to Atlee for dedicating the past 14 years of his career to DRM. Atlee Reilly, a white man with a beard, wears a suit and holds an award. Cartoon drawing of a dozen people across the lifespan. Characters have a variety of disabilities, including a wheelchair, cane, and hearing aid. Board of Directors Andrew R. Sarapas, Esq. President Richard O'Meara, Esq. Vice President William Norbert, Esq. Secretary Ashley Eiler, Esq. Treasurer Molly Brown Karen Farber Alyssa Hemingway Lesley Lichko April Kerr PAC Chair Simonne Maline Abbott Philson Noel Sullivan Dieudonne Tabaro PAIMI Advisory Council April Kerr Chair Korali Day Jason Goodrich Jeffrey Kerr Simonne Maline Jenny McCarthy Dr. Kate Mclinn, PhD Vickie Morgan Dr. Linda Morrison, PhD Gidget Murphy Ryan M. Schmitz, Esq. Kelly Staples DRM Staff Kim Moody Chief Executive Officer Susan Adams Administrative Assistant Riley Albair Program Director Michelle Ames Program Director Caleb Baker, J.D. Advocate Jennifer Battis Health Equity Project Coordinator Christina Blake, Esq. Staff Attorney Harper Chance Operations Director Staci Converse, Esq. DD Director Lucas Cu llar, J.D. Advocate Tammy Cunningham Paralegal Tess Dekker, Esq. Staff Attorney Heather Dubord Chief Financial Officer Julia Endicott Community Engagement Director Casey Escobar, J.D. Advocate Jared Escobar, J.D. Advocate Jaheim Franklyn Self-Advocate Trainer Mary Green Advocate Mark Joyce, Esq. MH Director Linda Leighton Administrative Assistant Barrett Littlefield, Esq. Senior Staff Attorney Karen Littlefield Staff Accountant Sammy-Ellie MacKinnon, MSW Project Director Carlene Mahaffey Advocate Thomas Minch Deaf Services Policy & Intake Coordinator Jane Moore, J.D. Advocate Emily Mott, Esq. Staff Attorney Fernand Nadeau Information & Referral Coordinator Lisa Penney TEP Director Atlee Reilly, Esq. Managing Attorney Katrina Ringrose Deputy Director Meghan Ryan Program Director Megan Salvin, Esq. Managing Attorney Sara Squires, MPPM Deputy Director of Public Policy Denise Tuggle Advocate Kate Turpen Project Director Kevin Voyvodich, Esq. Managing Attorney Lauren Wille, Esq. Legal Director DRM provided direct representation to 967 clients in 1178 cases. DRM's equipment distribution programs served an additional 204 clients, while information and referral services were provided to 1849 individuals. Client Age 4 and under 6 5 to 12 90 13 to 18 51 19 to 25 119 26 to 64 603 65 and over 98 Clients By County Androscoggin 115 Aroostook 51 Cumberland 196 Franklin 12 Hancock 24 Kennebec 108 Knox 12 Lincoln 21 Oxford 34 Penobscot 184 Piscataquis Sagadahoc 8 10 Somerset 30 Waldo 32 Washington 20 York 106 Out-of-State 4 Client Disability Blindness/Visual Impairment 7 Brain Injury 34 Deafness/Hard of Hearing 54 Developmental Disability 568 Mental Illness 246 Physical Disability, Health Impairment, Chronic Illness 58 Case Problem Area Abuse/Neglect & Other Rights Violations 167 Community Integration 589 Due Process 11 Education 129 Employment 71 Government Services & Public Accommodations 74 Guardianship 78 Housing 28 Vocational Rehabilitation 25 Voting Access 6 QR code to DRM website FINANCIAL SUMMARY Year Ending September 30, 2025 Statements of Activities Support & Revenue Federal Grants $2,007,986 State Grants $1,941,535 Fee for Service $147,140 Contributions $41,421 Other Revenues $220,266 Other Grants $379,089 TOTAL REVENUE $4,737.437 Expenses Program Services Federal Programs $1,978,363 State Programs $1,762,033 Other Programs $359,117 Total Program Services $4,099,513 Supporting Services Management & General $536,314 TOTAL EXPENSES $4,635,827 Statements of Financial Position Assets Current Assets $2,676,629 Other Assets $1,204,582 TOTAL ASSETS $3,881,211 Liabilities & Net Assets Liabilities Current liabilities $2,364,767 Non-current liabilities $472,653 Total Liabilities $2,837.420 Net Assets Designated $100,000 Un designated $943,791 Total Net Assets $1,043,791 TOTAL LIABILITIES & NET ASSETS $3,881,211 Disability Rights Maine is supported by funding from: the Administration on Disabilities the Center for Mental Health Services the Rehabilitation Services Administration the Social Security Administration the Maine Civil Legal Services Fund Commission the Maine Department of Health and Human Services the Maine Department of Labor the Bingham Program the Maine Health Access Foundation the Sam L. Cohen Foundation the Point32 Health Foundation the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women Individual and corporate donations Cartoon segment from DRM cover. Features four individuals, including a person in a wheelchair and a person with a mobility device. Mission Disability Rights Maine advances justice and equality by enforcing rights and expanding opportunities for people with disabilities in Maine. Vision People with disabilities must not be stigmatized, undervalued, institutionalized or excluded. Disability Rights Maine envisions a just world, without barriers, where all disabled people have power and autonomy. In this world, disabled people have full and equitable access to education, jobs, resources and community. Values DRM Board and staff believe that the disability rights movement is inseparable from the human rights movement for racial, economic and gender equity. We renew our commitment to eradicate ableism, racism, sexism and bigotry, and to dismantle institutional and structural disadvantage. Disability Rights Maine 160 Capitol St, Suite 4 Augusta, ME 04330 207 626-2774 (V/TTY) 800 452-1948 (Toll-Free) 207 621-1419 (Fax) 207 766-7111 (VP) QR code to DRM website Please consider donating to support us in this mission. Donations accepted at our website. www.drme.org MaineShare Partner logo social media logos