Every year, we solicit public input from people with disabilities, their family and friends, service providers, and other interested parties to determine what the needs are and whether our current priorities are targeting those needs.
The DRA Board of Directors then adopts priorities based on feedback from individuals with disabilities, family members, advocates, and professionals. The priorities adopted by the Board determine the activities for the fiscal year.
Disability Rights Arkansas Fiscal Year 2026 Priorities and Objectives
Individuals with disabilities will be safe from abuse, neglect, and exploitation
Objective 1: To investigate allegations of abuse, neglect, and exploitation in both public and private settings.
Objective 2: To periodically monitor public and private entities that provide services to individuals with disabilities to ensure protection of individuals’ rights.
Objective 3: To ensure representative payees of Social Security beneficiaries are meeting their federal obligations.
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Individuals with disabilities will have access to education and employment opportunities in an integrated setting.
Objective 1: To obtain timely access to vocational rehabilitation services to support individuals in gaining, maintaining, or advancing in employment.
Objective 2: To reduce reliance on segregated, subminimum wage employment in favor of competitive, integrated employment
Objective 3: To assist students and individuals with accessing assistive technology for employment purposes.
Objective 4: To assist individuals who have experienced a traumatic brain injury and individuals who receive social security with navigating the EEOC administrative process.
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Institutionalization of Youth
Objective 1: To ensure children with disabilities have access to behavioral health services while residing in Juvenile Treatment Centers, Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities, and Intermediate Care Facilities.
Objective 2: To ensure children with disabilities are free from abuse and neglect while residing in Juvenile Treatment Centers, Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities, and Intermediate Care Facilities.
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Individuals eligible for Medicaid or assigned to a PASSE will have access to services and understand their rights.
Objective 1: To inform individuals with disabilities regarding services available under Medicaid and its various programs.
Objective 2: To assist individuals with appeals of ineligibility and adverse actions regarding services available through the PASSE system.
Objective 3: To ensure children with disabilities have access to services through the Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment mandate.
Objective 4: To assist Medicaid recipients with accessing assistive technology to advance independent living.
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Individuals with disabilities will be able to participate in the electoral process.
Objective 1: To enable individuals with disabilities to register to vote.
Objective 2: To educate individuals with disabilities regarding voting rights.
Objective 3: To eliminate barriers in the voting process for individuals with disabilities.
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Individuals with disabilities will receive supports to become effective self- advocates.
Objective 1: To educate individuals with disabilities regarding their rights.
Objective 2: To assist individuals with disabilities to become effective self-advocates.
Objective 3: To support individuals with disabilities in making their own decisions.
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Outreach and Education
Objective 1: To inform individuals with disabilities and the community of Disability Rights Arkansas and the protection and advocacy agency.
Objective 2: To inform policymakers about how their decisions impact individuals with disabilities.
Objective 3: To create and provide resources for individuals with disabilities and the community regarding subjects and issues that are not within Disability Rights Arkansas’s priorities or objectives.
Objective 4: To ensure that public accommodations and public entities understand and adhere to obligations to individuals with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation
Individuals with disabilities will be safe from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
Education and Employment
Individuals with disabilities will have access to education and employment opportunities in an integrated setting.
Youth in Institutional Care Settings
Institutionalized youth will be free from abuse and neglect and will receive appropriate mental health and educational services.
Access to services through Medicaid/PASSE
Individuals eligible for Medicaid or assigned to a PASSE will have access to services and understand their rights.
Voting Rights/Access
Individuals with disabilities will be able to participate in the voting process.
Self-Advocacy
Individuals with disabilities will receive supports to become effective self-advocates.
Outreach and Education
Through outreach and education, DRA will inform individuals about their rights, what resources may be available in the community, and how DRA can help.