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   Disability Rights Mississippi   
      
      
      
   About DRMS   
   Home » About DRMS   
      
   Our Mission   
   The mission of Disability Rights Mississippi is to promote, protect and   
   advocate for the legal and human rights of all people with disabilities, and   
   to assist them with full inclusion in home, community, education and   
   employment.   
      
   What is the main function of this agency and what does it mean?   
      
   Disability Rights Mississippi (DRMS) is a private, non-profit corporation with   
   a federal mandate to protect and advocate for the rights of individuals with   
   disabilities across the state of MS. DRMS has been providing advocacy services   
   for almost thirty    
   years, free of charge, to Mississippians with disabilities and has helped   
   improve the lives of thousands of our state’s most vulnerable population by   
   championing their rights. DRMS is the only disability advocacy agency in MS   
   that has attorneys on    
   staff to pursue legal remedies if necessary. The mission of DRMS is to   
   promote, protect and advocate for the legal and human rights of all persons   
   with disabilities and to assist them with full inclusion in home, community,   
   education and employment.   
      
   What issues does DRMS advocate for?   
      
   Accommodations in the classroom; Employment Accessibility and Benefits;   
   Medicaid Rights; Increased Community-Based Services and Supports; Equal Access   
   to the Electoral Process; Fiscal Responsibility of Policy Makers; Accessible   
   Transportation; Affordable    
   and Accessible Housing.   
      
   How does DRMS determine the projects it works on?    
      
   DRMS proudly accepts input from communities across the state every year in an   
   effort to have the voices of the people it serves drive the priorities it   
   works on. DRMS also accepts suggestions from anyone with an interest in its   
   work throughout the year    
   via the feedback form available on this web-site.   
      
   When should I call DRMS for assistance?   
      
   Anytime that you feel your individual rights have been violated or you are   
   aware of the rights of another individual with a disability whose rights have   
   been violated. If you know of a personal care home that needs to be   
   investigated, or if you know of a    
   situation in which abuse and neglect are probable, always call us. If the   
   issue is not in line with our goals and priorities for the current year, we   
   will diligently assist you by providing referrals to others who may be able to   
   help.  Never hesitate to    
   call us with a question or concern. We have a strong information and referral   
   system. The staff at DRMS have vast experience and heart. They strive to   
   provide top quality advocacy assistance at all levels.   
   DRMS History   
      
   The Protection and Advocacy System in Mississippi was first organized in 1976   
   and was under the Governor’s Office in State Government. An opinion by the   
   Mississippi Attorney General’s Office in 1979 suggested that the   
   organization should be a private,   
    non-profit organization as it would be a conflict of interest for one State   
   Government Office to sue another Department of State Government.   
      
   In 1982, Mississippi Protection and Advocacy System for the Developmentally   
   Disabled was incorporated under the laws of the State of Mississippi and   
   submitted a proposal for the Protection and Advocacy for the Developmentally   
   Disabled allotment. The    
   Governor decided to re-designate the Protection and Advocacy for the   
   Developmentally Disabled program and subsequently accepted the proposal   
   submitted by the newly incorporated Mississippi Protection and Advocacy System   
   for The Developmentally Disabled.    
   In December, 1982, the newly designated Protection and Advocacy System opened   
   its doors for advocacy services to the developmentally disabled population of   
   Mississippi.   
      
   After acquiring the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals With Mental   
   Illness Program in 1986, the organization, under the laws of the State of   
   Mississippi, changed its name by dropping “For the Developmentally   
   Disabled”. After being known for    
   years by the acronym MPAS or MSPAS, the agency officially changed its name to   
   Disability Rights Mississippi in June of 2009 after final approval by the   
   Board of Directors. Included in this name change was a logo change as well.   
      
   It is Disability Rights Mississippi policy to settle matters informally, on   
   the lowest level possible; however, the agency has the authority to take legal   
   action on behalf of clients when necessary. The agency has 3 lawyers on staff.   
      
   P&A History   
      
   The Protection and Advocacy concept was initially triggered by a series of   
   local television news broadcasts, which Geraldo Rivera did for the ABC News   
   affiliate in New York City. Rivera’s investigative reporting exposed abuse,   
   neglect and lack of    
   programming at Willowbrook, a state institution for people with mental   
   retardation on Staten Island.   
   Our Advocates   
      
   Advocates at Disability Rights Mississippi are available to investigate   
   complaints of abuse or neglect on behalf of any individual with a physical or   
   mental disability. Other staff responsibilities include providing public   
   information concerning the    
   rights of people with disabilities. Advocates may assist professional and   
   citizen groups by providing workshops on the rights of, and etiquette for   
   appropriate interacting with the disabled population. DRMS has three   
   substantive “Issue Teams” with    
   each team having certain case selection criteria and functioning with a senior   
   advocate and a managing attorey as co-leader. The teams each have their own   
   priorities for the year and are classified as the Community Team, the   
   Facilities Team, and The    
   Education Team. The Katrina Team is a unique team which will continue until   
   the end of the Mississippi Case Management Consortium grant period.   
      
   If you would like to inquire about career opportunities or the possibility of   
   volunteerism, please use the general inquires tab to send your request.   
   Our Services   
      
   Help is provided in several ways, and depends on the priorities and goals set   
   by Disability Rights Mississippi, which have been approved by the  Board of   
   Directors. Problems may include abuse, neglect, education, employment,   
   housing, denial of services    
   or denial of access.   
      
   The Cost   
   All of the services at Disability Rights Mississippi are free of charge.   
   However, issues must relate to either a physical or mental disability, include   
   a violation of rights, and align with the goals and priorities set for the   
   fiscal year.   
      
   http://www.drms.ms/about   
      
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