Executive Summary
DRLA’s attorneys, advocates, and policy specialists seek to eradicate the abuse and neglect of people with disabilities, and create the conditions that empower people with disabilities to achieve well-being and independence throughout Louisiana. Our primary strategies include individual advocacy, legislative advocacy, impact litigation, and community training. Half of our team are people with disabilities or have family members with disabilities.
Recently, we provided individual advocacy to help: 1,725 people address abuse and neglect; 361 people remove employment barriers; 58 people remove barriers to housing; 65 people access public benefits; 142 people access a quality education; 113 people access healthcare; and 286 people maintain their autonomy. Additionally,:
* We won a class action lawsuit to halt cruel and unusual punishment and denial of mental health treatment to incarcerated people with mental illness in solitary confinement.
* We launched the nation’s first and Louisiana’s only reentry program for people with disabilities, providing financial coaching and case management to help formerly incarcerated people with disabilities achieve employment, financial security, and well-being. In the program's first four years, 51% of clients secured jobs when only 22% of people disabilities, regardless of criminal records, were employed. FAIR captured a cumulative total monthly income increase of $103,062 per month among 55% of clients and a cumulative total of $124,074 in reduced debt among 32% of clients.
* We advocated for: (1) legislation that will enable 1,250 adults with disabilities to live in the community with home health care, as opposed to institutions, and (2) legislation for Supported Decision Making, creating a less restrictive alternative to conservatorships that strip people with disabilities of their civil rights.
Lead Organization
Disability Rights Louisiana
Charity, fund, non-governmental organization, religious institution, school, or other entity
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