Disability Rights Arizona (DRAZ) works to discover and address the abuse, neglect, and exploitation of people with disabilities through our investigation and monitoring work. We monitor facilities that serve people with disabilities to protect the rights and safety of people with disabilities. We also investigate allegations of abuse or neglect where people with disabilities live, work, or receive services.
Disability Rights Arizona (DRAZ) works to discover and address the abuse, neglect, and exploitation of people with disabilities through our investigation and monitoring work. We monitor facilities that serve people with disabilities to protect the rights and safety of people with disabilities. We also investigate allegations of abuse or neglect where people with disabilities live, work, or receive services.
DRAZ monitors various facilities where people with disabilities live, work, or receive services to make sure the rights of people with disabilities are being respected and that people with disabilities are in a safe environment. Facilities that we monitor may include, but are not limited to: group homes, day programs, adult care homes, nursing homes, schools, psychiatric hospitals, hospitals, intermediate care facilities, and residential treatment facilities. Facilities may be both state-run or privately owned/operated.
During monitoring we talk to people with disabilities and facility staff. We look for signs of abuse or neglect, and things that could harm someone. Our monitoring work can uncover issues of abuse or neglect, that we may then investigate or take other follow-up action to address.
DRAZ has the authority to investigate incidents of abuse or neglect in facilities where people with disabilities live, work, or receive services. We can investigate when we receive a complaint or report of abuse or neglect, or when we believe that abuse or neglect has happened or may happen.
We investigate complaints or reports of abuse or neglect in a variety of ways. Often we review records (including videos and pictures) and ask questions about what happened. If we substantiate the complaint or report, we can ask that changes be made so no one else is harmed.
DRAZ engages in systemic advocacy when we uncover abuse, neglect, or exploitation. We may advocate for facilities to change policies and procedures to prevent future abuse, neglect, or exploitation. We may also advocate for systems that provide services to people with disabilities or are in charge of investigating abuse, neglect, or exploitation to change their policies and practices to better protect people with disabilities.
If you have a concern about possible abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a person with a disability in a facility, please contact DRAZ. You can make a report to DRAZ anonymously.
If you or someone you know has been exposed to abuse, neglect, or unsafe conditions in a facility licensed by the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), you can file a licensing complaint with ADHS.
If a service provider contracted with the Arizona Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) committed abuse, neglect, or exploitation against you or someone you know, you can report the issue to the DDD support coordinator, including submitting a written request for an investigation, and file a DDD grievance.
For individuals who are enrolled in the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) and have experienced physical or sexual abuse by an AHCCCS provider, or who died as a result of abuse, a quality of care complaint can be filed with AHCCCS. In cases of abuse or neglect that are not related to physical or sexual abuse or death, a grievance can be filed with the victim’s AHCCCS health plan.
If the person that is the subject of the report of abuse or neglect is designated Seriously Mentally Ill (SMI), you may file an SMI grievance.
We are committed in providing accurate disability-related legal information and advice to more individuals who need our services and assistance. In addition to limited legal representation, our goal is to provide efficient, streamlined services to educate people with disabilities and their family members on how to enforce their legal rights through self advocacy.
