Additional Resources for Legal Assistance
If DRBA is unable to assist a person, such as when the request does not involve a disability rights issue, or the person requesting assistance lives in an area without a DRBA presence, please consult the resources below.
- If the person making a legal request lives in a geographic area without a DRBA presence, consult the State Protection and Advocacy Chart.
Every U.S. state and territory has a designated Protection and Advocacy agency for people with disabilities. Consult the State Protection and Advocacy Directory to find the appropriate agency
web: www.ndrn.org/about/ndrn-member-agencies - If the legal request involves an independent living issue, consider contacting the local Center for Independent Living.
A Center for Independent Living (CIL) is a non-residential and non-profit agency that is consumer-controlled, community-based, and cross‑disability focused. CILs are designed and operated within a local community by individuals with disabilities and provide an array of independent living services. Although services at each CIL can differ, most include peer counseling, information and referral services, and individual and systems advocacy. These services offer individualized consumer directed and initiated solutions that maximize choices and opportunities for each individual. Complete list of Centers for Independent Living in the United States web: www.ilru.org/cil-directory - If the legal request involves an ADA Title issue, you may file a complaint with the Disability Rights Section of the Department of Justice (DOJ).To file an ADA complaint, go to the official ADA.gov file a complaint page to submit a report online via the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, which is the most direct method.
web: www.ada.gov/file-a-complaint - If the legal request involves an employment issue, you may file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
To file a complaint with the EEOC (a “Charge of Discrimination”), start an online inquiry through the EEOC Public Portal to see if you are covered, then schedule an interview.
web: publicportal.eeoc.gov - If you are looking for informational resources or training programs regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act, consult the ADA National Network.
Through its ten regional centers, the ADA National Network [adata.org] – provides information, guidance, and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Their services are tailored to meet the needs of business, government, and individuals at local, regional, and national levels. The ADA National Network is not an enforcement or regulatory agency, but a resource supporting the ADA’s mission.
Regional centers are distributed throughout the United States to provide local assistance and foster implementation of the ADA. Find your regions’ ADA Center [adata.org/national-network]