Mission Statement
Disability Rights Louisiana (DRLA) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that protects and advocates for the human and legal rights of people with disabilities of all ages across our state. We work to empower the disability community to live an integrated life, free from abuse, neglect and exploitation.
History
Starting in 1977 with a budget of $64,000, a staff of four, and one office in New Orleans, Disability Rights Louisiana has grown to an agency with a budget of $4.1 million, and a staff of fifty who work out of branch offices in New Orleans and Lafayette, as well as field offices throughout the state.
DRLA pursues our mission by providing free legal services, advocating for clients through the work done in our programs, changing systems through our legislative advocacy, and by providing training and other helpful information to help people advocate for themselves.
The agency was founded pursuant to a federal law establishing Protection and Advocacy (or P&A) systems in each state and territory in the U.S.
What is the Protection & Advocacy (P&A) System?
The following overview video features an explanation in plain language from Rooted in Rights, which is featured by National Disability Rights Network, the parent organization of the national P&A system.
The mandate of the protection and advocacy systems is “to pursue legal, administrative, and other appropriate means to ensure the rights of persons with development disabilities in the state.” Since 1977, we have added populations to our client base to include all people with mental, physical, and intellectual disabilities.
Name change from Advocacy Center of Louisiana
Effective February, 2020, we changed our name from Advocacy Center of Louisiana to Disability Rights Louisiana.
Our intention is to clarify our brand and expand awareness of our services, which have expanded to include more areas of focus than ever before. By adopting the new name, Disability Rights Louisiana associates more clearly with a national network of federally authorized state organizations committed to advancing disability rights.
We have not altered our longtime mission or services in any respect. We will continue to fight relentlessly for the rights of people with disabilities in all parts of the state, from urban centers to rural areas. It is our privilege to give people with disabilities the resources and assistance they need to claim for themselves the rich, full, and integrated lives they deserve.
