PROTECTION
ADVOCACY
LEGAL SERVICES
Can DRMS Help?
Get to know our focus areas — and never hesitate to contact us with a concern.
civil rights
Our top priority is protecting the legal rights of Mississippians with disabilities. If you have experienced or know of an instance of a rights violation due to a disability, contact DRMS.
children’s rights
Our Children’s Team focuses on issues involving abuse and neglect of children with disabilities, as well as issues of accessibility and accommodations within the education system.
monitoring & investigations
Do you know of a personal care home that needs to be investigated? Do you suspect abuse or neglect of a person with a disability in a facility or private living situation? We monitor facilities and instituions including nursing homes, long term care facilities, psychiatric facilities, and justice facilities, including for juveniles.
employment and benefits
We want people with disabilities to be included in places of employment, and to know their rights when it comes to being a beneficiary of social security. Have you had a reasonable accommodation denied? Was a Medicaid waiver application denied?
rights of people with mental illness
DRMS works to protect and advocate for the rights of people with mental illness. DRMS can help these individuals if they live in their communities or in a facility. DRMS also listens to people with lived experience to inform our work.
access to voting
DRMS works to ensure people with disabilities have the right to a private, independent vote without barriers. We monitor polling sites of accessibility and assist individuals who have encountered barriers.
Community
People with disabilities have the right to navigate their communities like everyone else. We help people, for example, with they encounter inaccessible spaces in their community or if their service animal is denied in a space.
advocacy & referrals
We’re here to help! If we cannot help directly, we know the right person to point you to. Our advocates can provide information, referrals, and training about the rights of people with disabilities and about DRMS services.
What We Don’t Do:
We welcome your input on our priorities throughout the year, as they guide the services we provide. Some issues are outside DRMS’s focus areas. This may be because another legal or advocacy group can help, because the issue is not about disability discrimination, or because the person already retained a lawyer. DRMS does not provide the following services:
• Security applications, denial, overpayment, or termination
• Criminal proceedings
• Food Stamp applications/claims
• Divorce, custody, and child support
• Ad litem representation of children in parental rights termination
• Drafting of wills, trusts, and estate planning
• Workers Compensation, issues related to collective bargaining agreements, or unemployment compensation
• Product liability
• Bankruptcy matters
• Personal injury
• Consumer protection issues
• Tax issues
• Pension, ERISA issues
• Property disputes
• Guardianship petitions
• Commitment proceedings
• Landlord/tenant issues
• Case Management
• Direct services (such as counseling, mental health care, medical services)
• Individual education issues
• Long-term care placement
DRMS does not represent the interests of care providers, families, or guardians unless that interest is consistent with the interest of the individual with a disability and DRMS is also representing the individual with a disability.
How We Help:
Depending on your issue, we may provide individual case services, offer technical assistance, or provide you with informational and/or a referral.
ADVOCACY & LITIGATION
An issue may become an agency case, which is handled by an advocate and overseen by an attorney.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
In some instances, an issue may not warrant case level services, but DRMS advocates can listen and offer brief advice and assistance.
information & referral
If we cannot help you directly, we will work to connect you with other trusted resources or organizations that may be able to assist you.
It is the policy of the Disability Rights Mississippi (DRMS) to treat its clients and applicants with fairness and professionalism. Clients or applicants who believe they have not been fairly or professionally served by DRMS have the right to present their grievance for prompt consideration and resolution. You can learn more about our grievance policy by clicking HERE.