OVERVIEW

Since 2017 Disability Rights Connecticut has been an independent, statewide, non-profit that protects and advances the legal rights of people with disabilities.

Disability Rights Connecticut is a statewide non-profit organization with a mission to advocate for the human, civil, and legal rights of people with disabilities in Connecticut.

Disability Rights Connecticut (DRCT) replaced the Office of Protection & Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities, which was abolished by Connecticut Law as of June 30, 2017 and is now Connecticut’s “Protection and Advocacy System” and Client Assistance Program. A Board of Directors, consisting primarily of people with disabilities and family members of people with disabilities, governs the work of DRCT.

At Disability Rights Connecticut, we provide legal advocacy and rights protection to people of all ages with disabilities. DRCT does not charge for its services. This includes assisting individuals with problems such as abuse, neglect, discrimination, access to assistive technology, community integration, voting, and rights protection issues. DRCT also addresses issues through policy advocacy, education, monitoring, and investigation.

Mission Statement

DRCT’s mission is to advocate, educate, investigate and pursue legal, administrative, and other appropriate remedies to advance and protect the civil rights of individuals with disabilities to participate equally and fully in all facets of community life in Connecticut.  

Who is involved

Focus areas finalized by a volunteer Board of Directors, and is assisted by the PAIMI (Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness) Advisory Council. Through public input and our work with clients, we identify problems that are widespread or pose the greatest threat to the independence of people with disabilities. Then we develop focus areas to address those problems with the funding we receive.  

Most RECENT 990 FORM

The most recent 990 form for Disability Rights Connecticut can be viewed by clicking here.

WHO WE HELP

At Disability Rights Connecticut, we provide legal advocacy and rights protection to a wide range of people with disabilities. This includes assisting individuals with problems such as abuse, neglect, discrimination, access to assistive technology, community integration, voting, and rights protection issues. DRCT also addresses issues through policy advocacy, education, monitoring, and investigation.

Disability Rights Connecticut is also Connecticut's federally mandated Protection and Advocacy System for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI), which is guided by the PAIMI Advisory Council. In order to be as effective as possible with limited resources, and to comply with federal requirements, Disability Rights Connecticut must set focus areas for our work each year.

In August 2020, Disability Rights Connecticut (DRCT) embarked upon an internal reorganization and notified our community that it would have a direct effect upon how DRCT responds to requests for information, referral, investigations and representation.  We announced that DRCT would be providing less individual representation in order to focus its limited resources on issues affecting large numbers of adults and youth with disabilities.  

DRCT has now completed our internal reorganization and set Focus Areas and Objectives for 2021.  Going forward, DRCT will be available to respond to complaints and concerns that fall within the following areas, with particular emphasis on abuse/neglect emergencies that require immediate action to address the life or safety of an individual with disabilities, access to education by 21-year-old students, involuntary medication, denial of medical care and access to voting. Please click here for our focus areas.