What Does Disability Rights TN Do?
Disability Rights Tennessee is committed to promoting and preserving the disability rights movement in Tennessee. Due to limited resources, we must target whom we serve and the issues on which we focus.
Each year, DRT seeks input from community members to help us identify areas of work. The Areas of Work help determine the types of direct advocacy and legal cases DRT can accept.
Download Current Areas of Work Card
Areas of Work
DRT focuses its work in the following strategic areas: Freedom from Harm, Freedom from Discrimination, and Freedom to Participate in the Community. Each strategic area promotes the values set forth in the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act), which created the Protection & Advocacy System:
- Disability is a natural part of the human experience
- Disability does not diminish the right to live independently or to exert control and choice in life
Freedom from Harm
- Abuse and Neglect in Institutions and Community Settings
- Appropriate Functional Behavior Assessments (FBA) and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIP)
Freedom from Discrimination
- Communication barriers in businesses and government settings
- Discriminatory policies and/or practices
Freedom to Participate in the Community
- Appropriate implementation of IEPs and 504 Plans
- Access to Employment Services (Client Assistance Program, Vocational Rehabilitation, Ticket to Work, etc.)
- Access to Assistive Technology
- Access to Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) resources and services
- Access to the voting process