About
Disability Rights North Carolina is a legal advocacy agency that fights for the rights of people with disabilities in North Carolina. We handle cases involving discrimination, abuse and other rights violations. All of our services are at no cost to North Carolinians with disabilities. We are a private, independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit and a member of the National Disability Rights Network.
Our Story
In the 1970s, a TV reporter took a hidden camera into a school for children with disabilities in New York. Parents thought their children would get treatment there. But the reporter’s investigation told a different story.
What is a P&A?
After Willowbrook, congress made sure that every state has a Protective and Advocacy agency. DRNC is the federally mandated P&A for North Carolina. It is our job to protect and advocate for the legal and human rights of people of North Carolina with disabilities. We do this in many different ways. Learn about your legal rights and how to advocate.
Our Team
Meet our team.
Our Board of Directors
DRNC’s Board of Directors is a diverse group of individuals who are passionate about the rights of people with disabilities. All or most of our board members are disabled or have a family member with a disability. The DRNC Board of Directors seeks to reflect the ethnic, racial, geographic, socioeconomic and disability diversity of North Carolina.
PAIMI Council
In 1986, Congress took aim at abuse, neglect, and other rights violations against people with mental health disabilities. As a result of this focus, congress passed the Protection & Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) Act. Years later, in 2000, Congress expanded the PAIMI Act’s focus from facilities only. Due to these changes, the PAIMI Act also includes the community. The PAIMI Act allows DRNC to investigate abuse and neglect against people with mental health disabilities and to advocate for their legal rights.