DRC Agency Brochure
The Disability Rights Center of Kansas (DRC) is a private non-profit agency. We are not a part of the state or federal government. We are also not a disability service provider. DRC has attorneys and advocates who provide free advocacy and legal services for disability rights.
DRC is the official Protection and Advocacy system for Kansas. Federal law gives us certain powers to investigate abuse or neglect. That includes access to places where people with disabilities receive services. Our powers provide access to records and information to investigate the abuse or neglect. We also provide advocacy and legal services to protect the disability rights of Kansans with disabilities.
DRC Kansas is all about fighting for equality, law, and justice. We help with many different disability rights issues. See the issues listed under “Advocacy Priorities.”
We also work on public policy issues in Kansas. We educate the public, policymakers, and the press on disability rights issues. We also educate people with disabilities about their rights.
Who do we help?
We help Kansans with disabilities. We help them with their disability rights issues. Disability rights are the rights you have under federal and state law as a person with a disability. If we cannot help you, we will try to find someone who can.
What disability rights advocacy does DRC provide?
Intake and Assessment – We will first talk with you to find out about the issue. Then, we will decide how we can help.
Legal Representation – A DRC attorney may represent a Kansan with a disability if their disability rights are violated under state or federal law. Examples of disability rights laws are the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504, Medicaid Act, Fair Housing Act, etc.
Advocacy – A DRC advocate may help you get what you need by advocating on your behalf.
Self-Advocacy Assistance – We may give you legal or other advice and support to help you advocate for yourself.
Information and Referral – If we can’t help you, we will try to find someone who can.
What we do NOT do – There are some legal services that we do not provide, including:
- Workers Compensation
- Social Security eligibility or appeals
- Divorce
- Child custody or Child In Need Of Care
- Criminal representation
- Estate planning
- Will drafting
- Civil legal representation not related to disability rights
How does DRC decide if they will take my case?
There are many disability rights legal and advocacy needs in Kanas. However, DRC has limited funds. We cannot take every case. We use the following factors to decide if we can provide you advocacy or legal services.
1) Do you have a disability?
2) Do you have a legitimate disability rights issue?
3) Do we have the resources and staff time to help you?
4) Does the issue fall within our Advocacy Priorities? A summary of our priorities is in this document.
5) What are the facts? What is the law? We focus on cases where the facts and the law are likely to lead to a positive outcome for you.
ADVOCACY PRIORITIES:
Priority 1: Serious abuse, neglect, or exploitation
We help Kansans with disabilities who are victims of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. We may investigate what happened. We may provide legal or advocacy services to help.
Priority 2: Community-based services and healthcare
We help Kansans with disabilities access these services. These include Medicaid, Medicare, mental health services, long-term care, and home and community-based services (also called “HCBS Medicaid Waiver services”).
Priority 3: Employment
We protect the disability rights of Kansans in employment issues.
Priority 4: Community Integration
We provide advocacy and legal services to help Kansans with disabilities leave institutions and live in the community.
Priority 5: Accessibility
We advocate for an accessible society for people with disabilities. Our advocacy may include advocating for changes to a building or program so people with disabilities can access and use them.
Priority 6: Special Education
We help Kansas students enforce their right to special education and related services. We focus on protecting the right of students to receive education in the least restrictive environment. We protect against inappropriately using discipline when it is actually a disability issue.
Priority 7: Fair Housing
We help protect the disability rights of Kansans in housing issues.
Priority 8: Accountability of Guardians & Other Legal Decision Makers
There are many alternatives to guardianship/conservatorship. We advocate for those alternatives. We help end guardianships or conservatorships that are not needed. We may help change the guardian or conservator if they abuse or neglect a person with a disability. We also hold other legal decision makers accountable for violating the rights of a Kansan with a disability. These decision makers may be representative payees, trustees, etc.
Priority 9: Outreach & Education for the Public and Policymakers
We help educate the public, policymakers, and the press on disability issues. We do this to improve services and to protect and advance disability rights in Kansas.
How can I contact DRC to help with my disability rights issue?
There are three ways to contact the Disability Rights Center of Kansas (DRC).
1) Call our toll-free number at 1-877-776-1541
2) Complete our online intake form at https://www.drckansas.org/about-us/online-intake
3) Email us at info@drckansas.org