About

Disability Rights Maryland (DRM), a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, is Maryland’s designated Protection & Advocacy agency (formerly known as “Maryland Disability Law Center”). DRM is federally mandated to advance the civil rights of people with disabilities. We provide free legal services to Marylanders of any age with all types of disabilities (developmental, intellectual, psychiatric, physical, sensory, learning, traumatic brain injury), who live in facilities, in the community or who are homeless.

DRM envisions a world where people with disabilities are fully included in the workplace, neighborhoods and all aspects of community life.  We help people with disabilities pursue opportunities to participate fully in all aspects of community life, and champion their rights to self-determination, dignity, equality, opportunity, and freedom from discrimination and harm. Our 2024 Advocacy Service Plan (PDF) outlines the services that take priority considering DRM’s limited resources. The annual plan is a product of community input and DRM’s expertise in providing legal services to Marylanders with disabilities.

DRM maximizes resources by using an array of advocacy strategies, including information and referral, advice and counsel, outreach and education, monitoring and investigations, training and technical assistance, coalition and policy work, individual representation, impact litigation and support for self-advocacy.

History & Funding

Disability Rights Maryland (DRM) is Maryland’s designated Protection & Advocacy (P&A) agency and a member of the National Disability Rights Network. As such, DRM is part of a nationwide network of organizations working to advance the rights of people with disabilities. Congress established the P&A System in 1975 in response to squalid conditions in institutional facilities for people with disabilities. In creating and funding the P&As, Congress granted us unique statutory authority to conduct investigations of suspected abuse and neglect of individuals with disabilities in facilities.

DRM receives federal funding from several agencies under the following grants:

  • Protection & Advocacy for  Developmental Disabilities (PADD), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  • Protection & Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  • Protection & Advocacy for Individual Rights (PAIR), U.S. Department of Education
  • Protection & Advocacy for Assistive Technology (PAAT), U.S. Department of Education
  • Protection & Advocacy for Traumatic Brain Injury (PATBI), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  • Protection & Advocacy for Voting Access (PAVA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  • Protection & Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS), Social Security Administration
  • Strengthening Protections for Beneficiaries with Representative Payees (PARP), Social Security Administration

In addition, DRM is a proud grantee of the Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC).

Logo for Maryland Legal Services Corporation

The Maryland Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention has awarded DRM several grants since 2016 including funds under the following programs:

  • Victims of Crime Act (2016 and ongoing)
  • Legal Services for Victims of Crimes (2018)
  • Maryland Victims of Crime (2019)
  • Children’s Justice Act Committee (2019-20)

DRM has also been very fortunate to receive funding for our work from several private foundations.  Current and recent grants have been provided by the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Morton K. and Jane Blaustein Foundation, Open Society Institute, Zanvyl and Isabelle Krieger Fund, Fund for Change, Venable Foundation, Leonard & Helen R. Stulman Foundation, and the Baltimore Bar Foundation.

DRM governing Board of Directors financially supports the organization with 100% participation. DRM also relies on–and is grateful to receive–charitable contributions from individual donors to make possible our advocacy for individuals with disabilities who are unable to afford the legal assistance they need.  DRM also participates in the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC: 76352 / MCC: 5178).

Thank you for your support!

This website produced and published at U.S. taxpayer expense.