Did you know this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Protection and Advocacy (P&A) network? 

As North Carolina’s designated P&A, Disability Rights North Carolina (DRNC) has proudly carried out our federally mandated mission: protecting and advocating for the rights of people with disabilities across our state. We are the only organization in North Carolina exclusively focused on serving people with all types of disabilities—from birth through aging, and in every community. 

But right now, our ability to continue this essential work is at risk. 

Funding cuts threaten the services and protections we provide to individuals with disabilities and those who love and care for them. This isn’t just a budget line—this is about real people losing access to education, healthcare, safe housing, and the supports they need to live with dignity and independence. 

Disability doesn’t discriminate. At any moment, anyone can become disabled. Most people who live long enough will experience disability. In fact, one in three adults in North Carolina is already living with a disability—an even higher rate than the national average. The number of veterans with service-connected disabilities has doubled in just over a decade. This growing community needs more support, not less. 

The P&A system was created by Congress in 1975 after horrifying revelations of abuse and neglect at a state-operated institution. Congress worked in a bipartisan manner to make sure disabled children and adults were protected, and President Gerald Ford signed the legislation into law. Since then, P&As have been a crucial line of defense, ensuring that people with disabilities are protected from harm and able to live full lives in their communities. DRNC carries that legacy forward every day. 

DRNC investigates abuse, challenges discrimination, and ensures that people with disabilities have access to basic needs like healthcare, education, housing, and employment. When others can’t—or won’t—step in, we do. 

We are proud of what we’ve accomplished, but we cannot continue this work without your support. 

Now, more than ever, we need our partners, allies, and policymakers to stand with us. Because when funding disappears, so do vital protections. So do lives. 

We urge you to act now to protect the rights and safety of disabled North Carolinians. Together, we’ve built something powerful over the last 50 years. Let’s make sure it lasts for the next 50 and beyond. 

Disabled people matter. We belong and we won’t go back. Help us stay strong.  

How you can help 

Call your congressional representatives 

Call 202-224-3121 

  • Call Senator Thom Tillis
  • Call Senator Ted Budd
  • Call your representative
    If you don’t know your representative, have your zip code ready and you will be connected. When you call the office number, you will probably leave a message or speak to a staff member who will write down how you want the representative to vote. 

Sample script “I’m calling to ask you to fully fund disability and aging programs, like the Protection and Advocacy System, also called the P&A system. These services are vital to our community. ”

Here’s a great example of how this works! How to call your US representatives 

Email your congressional representatives

Use the online form to directly email your congressional representatives. 

Spread the word  

  • Share DRNC’s posts about these cuts on your own social media accounts. Encourage others to help by sharing the post.  
  • Share the link to this webpage via email or text with your family, friends, and community members. Ask them to take action!  

Support our work 

At a time when essential protections for people with disabilities are at risk of being dismantled, your support matters more than ever. DRNC’s work has a significant impact on the lives of individuals with disabilities, but we cannot do it alone. Your gift today will help us defend the rights of nearly 3 million North Carolinians with disabilities. Stand with us — donate now.