Provides peer support counseling, information and referral to services that help disabled individuals, skills training, advocacy for persons with disabilities and their families and disability awareness and leadership education. Working with individuals in their homes or in locations convenient to the individual.

Protection of individuals with disabilities when their civil and human rights are denied, especially those who are most vulnerable or who learn, live, or work in isolated, segregated, or congregated settings.

Legal advocacy, investigation, and representation to eligible persons whose disability related cases meet priorities set by our Board of Directors.

Information and referral.

Engaging people with disabilities in advocacy through education, information and training that builds self-advocacy skills, awareness, and understanding.

Policy advocacy, including analysis, monitoring, and recommend changes to state and federal legislation.

Provides peer support counseling, information and referral to services that help disabled individuals, skills training, advocacy for persons with disabilities and their families and disability awareness and leadership education. Working with individuals in their homes or in locations convenient to the individual.

- Advocates for the civil rights of individuals with disabilities.

- Coordinates public disability awareness activities including presentations to community groups.

- Assists individuals with hearing and speech disabilities access communication needs.

- Assists with independent living skills training (money management, assertiveness training, self-advocacy, etc.).

- Provides information and referral services.

- Provides peer mentoring for individual and group settings.

- Provides transition services such as moving qualified individuals from nursing facilities or other institutions to independent living.

- Assists youth with disabilities transition from high school to adult life.

- Provides personal assistant services.

- Operates a Community Advocacy Training program for youth and adults.

- Assists individuals with vision loss or blindness acquire assistive devices and skills training.

- Operates a medical equipment loan program.

- Provides mentoring for parents of youth with disabilities.

Helps disabled Iowans with any disability rights issues they may have. This is a federally funded program, as part of the nation-wide protection and advocacy system created by federal law, to serve people with developmental disabilities, mental illnesses, and other disabilities. Disability Rights Iowa may assist with abuse, neglect, education, employment, housing, or denial of services.

DOES NOT help with divorce, custody, adoption, bankruptcy, criminal representation, civil mental health commitment, consumer/business law, debtor-creditor law, personal injury, malpractice, etc. The issue must arise from the individual's disability.

Provides peer support counseling, information and referral to services that help disabled individuals, skills training, advocacy for persons with disabilities and their families and disability awareness and leadership education. Working with individuals in their homes or in locations convenient to the individual.

Develops and provides support to affiliates and partners, coordinates statewide advocacy and awareness, directly educates stakeholders, and coordinates strategic initiatives to advance mental health equity, access, and parity.

- Individual advocacy focuses on the individual with a disability and services available within the community to assist them in living independently and to eventually become their own advocate.

- Systemic advocacy involves working together to eliminate barriers and allow people with disabilities to fully participate in their community.

Created so that eligible children and adults who have a disability could obtain legal advice and representation to protect and enforce their rights guaranteed by Illinois' mental health laws. Attorneys provide needed assistance to persons with disabilities in a variety of settings:

- Mental health facilities.

- Residential programs.

- Community placements.

- Nursing homes.

Issues addressed include, but are not limited to: admission and discharge from hospitalization, adequate treatment, refusal of unwanted services, and confidentiality of mental health records. Assistance takes the form of information, referral, and legal representation in court hearings and administrative proceedings.

Assist in advocacy for the implementation of current laws, promotion of needed legislation, and improvement of existing systems for people with disabilities while working to diminish negative attitudes that may threaten to impede equal access.

Individual Advocacy includes:

- Helping individuals find appropriate resources to solve problem.

- Assisting people with disabilities in dealing with conflicts.

- Helping them find ways to negotiate with various support systems.

Systemic Advocacy Includes:

- Working with community at large to remove both physical and attitudinal barriers that prevent people with disabilities from accessing and participating in our community.

- Working with local authorities to improve the enforcement of ADA and other relevant laws.

- Building strong relationships with local, state and federal elected officials.

Created so that eligible children and adults who have a disability could obtain legal advice and representation to protect and enforce their rights guaranteed by Illinois' mental health laws. Attorneys provide needed assistance to persons with disabilities in a variety of settings:

- Mental health facilities.

- Residential programs.

- Community placements.

- Nursing homes.

Issues addressed include, but are not limited to: admission and discharge from hospitalization, adequate treatment, refusal of unwanted services, and confidentiality of mental health records. Assistance takes the form of information, referral, and legal representation in court hearings and administrative proceedings.

Created so that eligible children and adults who have a disability could obtain legal advice and representation to protect and enforce their rights guaranteed by Illinois' mental health laws. Attorneys provide needed assistance to persons with disabilities in a variety of settings:

- Mental health facilities.

- Residential programs.

- Community placements.

- Nursing homes.

Issues addressed include, but are not limited to: admission and discharge from hospitalization, adequate treatment, refusal of unwanted services, and confidentiality of mental health records. Assistance takes the form of information, referral, and legal representation in court hearings and administrative proceedings.

Committed to increasing access to quality health care, ensuring survivors and families are connected with the proper resources, educating healthcare and service providers regarding brain injury, and continuing to increase awareness and understanding of brain injury.

Support groups held around the state of Nebraska and in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Services include:

- Resource Facilitation: Works collaboratively with individuals and community service providers to develop a support system for individuals living with a brain injury, including but not limited to finding and sharing informational resources, making referrals to service providers, connecting individuals with peer support groups, and providing personalized case management services.

- Community Education: Works to educate individuals and communities and bring awareness to the impact of brain injury through educational presentations, brain injury training, and awareness campaigns. This includes educating families, communities, and organizations about the unique needs of individuals with brain injuries to help remove the stigma and confusion about brain injury, in additional to teaching ways to prevent or reduce the risk of brain injuries.

- Advocacy: Advocates for the brain injury community at the state government level by following legislative proceedings and speaking for or against bills as it benefits individuals affected by a brain injury.

Offers to educate businesses, the public, and legislature about issues important to people with disabilities. Staff aim to empower people with disabilities to assess their needs, identify potential risks, establish their own goals, evaluate available resources, and develop and implement a strategy to take control of their lives.

Assists people with learning disabilities in the following ways:

- Monitors and advises the Illinois State Board of Education on issues dealing with students with learning disabilities.

- Provides advocacy information and support to parents, individuals with learning disabilities and professionals.

- Provides scholarships for post-secondary education for students with learning disabilities.

- Provides the Robert Abbott Scholarship for students who are in school to become a teacher in the field of Special Education.

- Provides and support workshops and mini-conferences for educators and parents.

- Increases public awareness of learning disabilities throughout Illinois.

- Provides scholarships for membership and workshop fees for parents of children with learning disabilities, and for adults with learning disabilities.