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Disability Law Centers are non-profit advocacy agencies that enforce and strengthen the rights of individuals with disabilities. They provide legal assistance in areas such as discrimination, abuse and neglect, and denial of basic services. They also offer services in special education, access to community services, health care, and disability benefits. Disability Law Centers investigate allegations of abuse or denial of rights in nursing homes, psychiatric facilities, prisons, and jails. They also provide assistance in obtaining Social Security benefits and offer transition services to disabled young people.
A disability law center is a non-profit private advocacy agency created to enforce and strengthen the rights and opportunities for individuals with disabilities. The Federal Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act requires every U.S. state to establish and maintain a protection and advocacy system that protects, empowers, and advocates on behalf of individuals with disabilities. Disability Legal Centers have been established to fulfill this mandate.
“Disability” includes mental, physical, developmental, sensory, and emotional disabilities. The goal of the Disability Law Centers is to promote the fundamental rights of all persons with disabilities. They provide legal and legislative assistance in the areas of discrimination, abuse and neglect, and denial of basic services or human rights due to a disability. Services in the areas of special education, access to community services, health care, and disability benefits are available at a disability law center.
In the special education area, disability law centers represent students kept out of school due to disciplinary action associated with their disability. They also deal with cases of neglect and abuse of disabled students and the misuse of restrictions or isolation. The centers also investigate cases of bullying or harassment of disabled students. Advocacy services are available to blind and hearing-impaired students to ensure they receive appropriate specialist services.
A disability law center may also investigate allegations of abuse or denial of the rights of people with disabilities in nursing homes, psychiatric facilities, prisons and jails. Investigations include issues of unlawful confinement or solitary confinement, long-term solitary confinement or segregation, and withholding of medication or medical treatment. A center may also provide representation or advocacy in commitment proceedings, or handle informed consent issues for psychiatric procedures or medications.
Basic civil rights and access to employment and public housing are important areas of advocacy for a disability law center. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires that reasonable accommodations be made for disabilities in the areas of housing and employment. The legal centers support laws that give disabled people access to all public buildings and housing within their communities.
Legal Disability Centers also provide assistance in obtaining Social Security benefits or in getting back to work following a temporary disability. They offer transition services to disabled young people leaving the school system and in need of employment or vocational training. The Law Centers also provide training in Social Security and Disability Law to legal aid organizations, paralegals and private attorneys.
Protective and advocacy services include legislative advocacy and litigation impact in systemic issues affecting the basic legal rights of all people with disabilities. Many disability law centers also offer free community education seminars on disability issues. Additionally, they provide special educational training to parents of children with developmental disabilities.
