Have you been denied the Assistive Technology you need?
There are numerous devices and equipment that can assist with communication, mobility, independence, etc. There are many items that can be described as Assistive Technology. If you have been denied the funding for needed equipment, evaluations, or services, call us, we can help!
Our Mission
The mission of Disability Rights Mississippi is to promote, protect and advocate for the legal and human rights of all people with disabilities, and to assist them with full inclusion in home, community, education and employment.
DRMS History
The Protection and Advocacy System in Mississippi was first organized in 1976 and was under the Governor’s Office in State Government. An opinion by the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office in 1979 suggested that the organization should be a private, non-profit organization as it would be a conflict of interest for one State Government Office to sue another Department of State Government.
In 1982, Mississippi Protection and Advocacy System for the Developmentally Disabled was incorporated under the laws of the State of Mississippi and submitted a proposal for the Protection and Advocacy for the developmentally disabled allotment. The Governor decided to re-designate the Protection and Advocacy for the Developmentally Disabled program and subsequently accepted the proposal submitted by the newly incorporated Mississippi Protection and Advocacy System for The Developmentally Disabled. In December, 1982, the newly designated Protection and Advocacy System opened its doors for advocacy services to the developmentally disabled population of Mississippi.
After acquiring the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals With Mental Illness Program in 1986, the organization, under the laws of the State of Mississippi, changed its name by dropping “For the Developmentally Disabled”. After being known for years by the acronym MPAS or MSPAS, the agency officially changed its name to Disability Rights Mississippi in June of 2009 after final approval by the Board of Directors. Included in this name change was a logo change as well.
It is Disability Rights Mississippi policy to settle matters informally, on the lowest level possible; however, the agency has the authority to take legal action on behalf of clients when necessary. The agency has 3 lawyers on staff.
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P&A History
The Protection and Advocacy concept was initially triggered by a series of local television news broadcasts, which Geraldo Rivera did for the ABC News affiliate in New York City. Rivera's investigative reporting exposed abuse, neglect and lack of programming at Willowbrook, a state institution for people with mental retardation on Staten Island.
Advocates at Disability Rights Mississippi are available to investigate complaints of abuse or neglect on behalf of any individual with a physical or mental disability. In addition, other staff responsibilities include providing public information concerning the rights of people with disabilities. Advocates may assist professional and citizen groups by providing workshops on the rights of, and etiquette for appropriate interacting in the disabled population. For fiscal year 2010 DRMS allocates for staff time and identifies work by assigning advocates to teams, each having a staff attorney as co-leader. The teams each have their own goals and priorities for the year and are classified as the Community Team, the Facilities Team, The Education Team, the Systems Transformation Team, and the Katrina Case Managment Team . The Katrina Team is a unique team which will continue until the end of the Mississippi Case Management Consortium grant period.
This past summer we incorporated a Law student in support of our efforts and this October we have proudly added an Americorp Volunteer, Regina Nichols, to our staff! She will be with us until the end of August 2010.
If you would like to inquire about career opportunities or the possibility of volunteerism, please use the general inquires tab to send your request.
Our Services
Help is provided in several ways, and depends on the priorities and goals set by Disability Rights Mississippi, which have been approved by the Board of Directors. Problems may include abuse, neglect, education, employment, housing, denial of services or denial of access.
The Cost
All of the services at Disability Rights Mississippi are free of charge. However, issues must relate to either a physical or mental disability, include a violation of rights, and align with the goals and priorities set for the fiscal year.
