Programs

Disability Rights California (DRC) is the agency designated under federal law to protect and advocate for the rights of Californians with disabilities.

We provide programs for: Information and Referral, Investigation of Abuse and Neglect, Legal Representation & Rights Protection, Education & Outreach, and Public Policy Advocacy.

View more information on our Public Policy efforts.

View more information on our priority issues.

Learn more about our advocacy programs here:

Abuse, Neglect, and Crimes Against People with Disabilities

Advocacy and Community Engagement (ACE)

California Memorial Project (CMP)

California Office of Patients' Rights (COPR)

Client Assistance Program (CAP)

Legal Advocacy Unit (LAU)

Office of Clients' Rights Advocacy (OCRA)

Peer Self-Advocacy (PSA)

Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA)

Disability Rights California Advocacy and Community Engagement (ACE) Program provides legal services, guidance, resources, trainings, education, and community advocacy to Californians with disabilities.

Disability Rights California’s Peer Self-Advocacy (PSA) Program advocates for and oversees the California Memorial Project (CMP). The CMP’s mission is to honor and restore dignity to individuals with mental health and developmental disabilities who lived and died in California state institutions.

Close up view of health patient sitting alone by a window.

The California Office of Patients' Rights (COPR) is a DRC unit contracted by the Department of State Hospitals.

Photo of a woman who is blind working in a business office.

Disability Rights California’s Client Assistance Program (CAP) provides information, advice, and advocacy to help people who have disabilities so they can understand their rights and get employment services

The Legal Advocacy Unit (LAU) is DRC’s core protection & advocacy legal program. We have about 125 employees, advocates and support staff in six offices. We have offices in Sacramento, Oakland, Fresno, Los Angeles, Ontario and San Diego.

The LAU has an Intake Unit and an Outreach Unit. The LAU also has seven statewide Practice Groups organized by legal topic. To find out more about the LAU’s work, please keep reading.

A young man on a college campus. He has a disability and is in a wheel chair.

The Office of Clients’ Rights Advocacy (OCRA) is part of Disability Rights California. OCRA provides free legal information, advice, and representation to regional center clients.

Disability Rights California Peer Self Advocacy (PSA) program provides outreach and self-advocacy training to people with mental health disabilities who live in mental health residential care facilities, state hospitals and the community.