Disability Rights Arizona is a federally designated Protection and Advocacy System for the State of Arizona. Protection and Advocacy Systems (P&As) throughout the United States assure that the human and civil rights of persons with disabilities are protected. The Protection and Advocacy (P&A) System and Client Assistance Program (CAP) include a nationwide network of legally based disability rights agencies.
Disability Rights Arizona is a federally designated Protection and Advocacy System for the State of Arizona. Protection and Advocacy Systems (P&As) throughout the United States assure that the human and civil rights of persons with disabilities are protected. The Protection and Advocacy (P&A) System and Client Assistance Program (CAP) include a nationwide network of legally based disability rights agencies.
In creating Protection and Advocacy Systems (P&As), Congress gave them unique authorities and responsibilities, including the power to investigate reports of abuse, neglect, and violations of the rights of persons with disabilities. P&A’s are also authorized to pursue appropriate legal and administrative remedies on behalf of persons with disabilities to ensure the enforcement of their constitutional and statutory rights.
Until March 1995, Disability Rights Arizona performed its P&A work as part of the Arizona Center for the Law in the Public Interest. Since then, DRAZ has been a stand-alone nonprofit corporation.
In 1972, a New York television station ran an investigative series by Geraldo Rivera about abuses at Willowbrook, a state-run institution for children with intellectual disabilities. As a result, Congress amended the Developmental Disabilities and Bill of Rights Act in 1975 to create the Protection and Advocacy (P&A) systems. Each state and territory has a P&A to advocate for the rights of people with disabilities.
Investigations and Monitoring
As the protection and advocacy system for Arizona, Disability Rights Arizona has federal and state authority to monitor any facility or service provider in the State providing care or treatment to individuals with disabilities, or to investigate incidents of abuse and neglect of individuals with disabilities. DRAZ staff, including our new COMIT Team, investigates to uncover and address abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
Access Authority
When Congress created the P&A system, it allowed P&As to access facilities and settings that provide services, care, and treatment to people with disabilities. Those locations include but are not limited to, schools, group homes, day programs, adult care homes, nursing homes, psychiatric hospitals, and residential treatment facilities.
Disability Rights Arizona (DRAZ) staff may inspect all areas of the facility used by residents or accessible to residents without the presence of any facility employee. DRAZ staff may speak privately with any resident, including minors or adults with guardians, at all reasonable times, including at any time necessary to conduct a full investigation of abuse or neglect. When investigating abuse or neglect, DRAZ staff must have the opportunity to interview any employee or other persons, who may know about the incident under investigation. DRAZ staff may review and copy any records maintained by the facility. Our access authority applies to both state-run and privately owned settings.
The National Disability Rights Network
Protection & Advocacy (P&A) network plays a crucial role in advocating for the rights and well-being of individuals with disabilities across the United States. There are 57 P&A agencies – one in each USA state and territory, including one that serves Native Americans with disabilities. The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) is our membership organization located in Washington, DC that helps give us a voice nationally. NDRN promotes, advocates, and supports the work of all 57 P&A agencies, including Disability Rights Arizona.
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