Who We Are
Disability Rights Arkansas (DRA) is the independent, private, nonprofit, nonpartisan Protection and Advocacy organization authorized by Federal and State law to protect and advocate for the civil and legal rights of people with disabilities in Arkansas.
Mission, Vision and Values
Our mission is to vigorously advocate for and enforce the legal rights of people with disabilities.
We envision an Arkansas where people with disabilities are equal members in their communities and can dictate the course of their own lives through self-determination.
DRA treats all people with dignity, respect, and compassion.
What is a Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Agency?
DRA is part of the Protection and Advocacy (P&A) network and is the P&A agency for Arkansas. Every state and U.S. territory has a P&A. Each one operates with grant funding from several federal agencies. Their purpose is to advocate for and protect the civil rights of persons with disabilities. DRA has the access authority to enter any facility in Arkansas that provides care or treatment to persons with disabilities. This enables us to carry out our rights protection and advocacy activities.
Current Priority Issues
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.
DRA 2023 Priority Issues
- Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation
- Education and Employment
- Youth in Institutional Care Settings
- Access to Services Through Medicaid/PASSE
- Voting Rights/Access
- Self-Advocacy
DRA wants to hear from YOU!
Complete our FY2024 Public Input Survey Today!
DRA welcomes input in any manner individuals wish to provide it. If you would like to fax or mail the survey, you can fax it to 501-296-1779 or mail/deliver it to: Disability Rights Arkansas, 400 West Capitol Avenue, Suite 1200, Little Rock, AR 72201. You can email your responses to us at info@disabilityrightsAR.org.