Frequently Asked Questions

A: The Protection and Advocacy or P&A system is a nationwide network of disability rights organizations that provide legal representation and advocacy services.

A: DRM advocates and attorneys work statewide to advise our clients about their civil and legal rights.

DRM services include:

• Providing information and referral to people with disabilities and their families, and answering questions for other stakeholders, like government agencies.
• Providing direct advocacy or legal representation for issues that fall within our priorities and agency resources.
• Pursuing systemic advocacy solutions, including litigation, that can resolve big problems for many people.
• Investigating allegations of abuse and neglect in facilities where people with disabilities live or receive services.
• Monitoring conditions inside institutions.
• Training people with disabilities and other stakeholders to know and advocate for their rights.
• Engaging in public education and outreach.
• Conducting legislative advocacy and educating policy makers.
• Assisting with self-advocacy.

A: DRM serves people with disabilities.

Because our advocacy services are client-directed, requests for DRM’s assistance need to be made by the person with a disability or the parent/guardian of a minor child.

A: DRM advocates for people with disabilities, including adults under guardianship. In those cases, DRM takes its direction from the expressed wishes of the adult with a disability.

DRM does not advise or help individuals seek or maintain guardianship or conservatorship. DRM does provide information on alternatives to guardianship that maintain an individual’s right and power of self-determination.   

A: DRM advocates for people with disabilities, including minor children. In the process of assisting children, DRM staff commonly communicate and work with parents to provide information and achieve advocacy goals.

DRM does not provide assistance in situations where the parent seeks an outcome that is different from the child’s expressed interest.