About Us
As Oregon’s designated Protection & Advocacy (P&A) System for 35 years, DRO has a unique role: to uphold the legal rights of people with disabilities.
Who We Are & What We Do
Disability Rights Oregon (DRO) promotes Opportunity, Access and Choice for individuals with disabilities by assisting them with legal problems directly related to their disabilities. We do this in a variety of ways, which include:
- Promoting awareness among people with disabilities of their rights under the law
- Providing information, tools and referrals that empower individuals to advocate on their own behalf
- Investigating and, when appropriate, addressing reports of abuse and/or neglect
- Representing individuals in cases where legal expertise is needed
- Pursuing policy changes that benefit many people with disabilities, both now and into the future
- Litigation when necessary
DRO does not charge for its services; however, we receive more requests for direct advocacy than we can accommodate. Priority is given to cases in which the individual whose rights are being violated could not otherwise afford legal assistance. Approximately 90 percent of the people we represent are low-income and could not otherwise obtain the legal advice or representation they need.
DRO is tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions are tax-deductible and will help us provide services to Oregonians with disabilities.
The document What is Disability Rights Oregon? provides in-depth answers to common questions about DRO's status as Oregon's Protection & Advocacy System. Questions answered include:
- What activities does DRO engage in?
- What are DRO's investigative access authorities?
- Whose records can DRO access?
- What are the time frames for DRO's access to records?
- What can DRO do with the information and records it obtains?
Please note that we cannot provide direct assistance in the following situations:
- Criminal law
- Family law
- Out-of-state issues
- Workers compensation
- General medical malpractice and personal injury
- General consumer bankruptcy issues
- Any issue or problem not directly related to your disability
- Assistance finding employment, housing or financial assistance
- Assistance filling out forms and Social Security applications
- Anything that is not the wish of the person with the disability
- Any issue for a person who already has an attorney working on the same issue
- Mission & Vision
- Our Programs
- Protection and Advocacy agencies (P&As) exist in all states and territories. There is also a Native American P&A in the four corners region of the Southwest. Following is information on each of the programs Disability Rights Oregon provides as the Protection & Advocacy organization for Oregon.
- Goals & Priorities
- An explanation of our system of goals & priorities.
- Board of Directors
- Our board includes self-advocates, family members, attorneys and others who are passionate about promoting disability rights.
- Staff
- History
- Employment
- We are seeking applicants for our Director of Operations position.
- Events
- Each year we have an Open House and an exhibition of work by artists with disabilities in our offices.
- PAIMI Advisory Council
- PAIMI stands for "Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness." Disability Rights Oregon's PAIMI Advisory Council advises the Board and staff about issues in the mental health community. The Council is comprised of individuals who are or who have been consumers of mental health services, family members, attorneys, mental health providers, mental health professionals, individuals from the public who are knowledgeable about mental illness, and providers of mental health services. The Council is involved in Disability Rights Oregon's annual priority setting process in getting comments from the community and in providing recommendations to the Board.
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