Apply for Help

We’re here to protect and advance the rights of people with disabilities in Wisconsin.

Step 1 of 3 - Check Resources

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Before we begin....

Have you checked our resources?

Our resource library has articles and form letters for common disability rights issues. Our attorneys wrote these resources to tell you about your rights and options.

No, take me to the resources

Is your issue with Family Care, IRIS, Family Care Partnership, or PACE?

Yes, and I’d like to learn more about the FCIOP program Yes, and I’m ready to ask for help

DRW's current funding is limited, and our future funding remains uncertain. We must be selective about the cases we accept, and response times may be slower than usual.

Why response times may be slower

Even with these challenges, we have decided to move forward and take a limited number of new cases for direct advocacy. If we can't take your case, we will keep giving information, resources, referrals, and self-advocacy tools — the kind of support many people rely on from us every day. These services are still free and available statewide.

What best describes your issue?

Choose the option that best fits your situation.

Someone under guardianship is being abused or neglected

My right to vote

I am a crime victim

Children excluded from school

Employment discrimination

Vocational rehabilitation services

Disability rights in housing

Issue with Family Care, IRIS, Family Care Partnership, or PACE

My rights in public places

My rights or my child's rights in an institution

Abuse or neglect in a jail or prison

Not listed

My issue is not listed here

If your issue is not listed...

DRW cannot help with issues that are not listed above. Our funding guidelines limit the types of issues we can work on.

If your issue is not listed, we encourage you to look for help on our Resources Page.

Or you can review the types of issues DRW handles and how we decide which cases to accept.

We cannot help for these issues.

Applying for or appealing Social Security benefits
Evictions, non-renewal of lease, or finding housing
Criminal defense, municipal tickets, or expungement
Small claims cases
Navigating medical care, billing, or private insurance
Financial help -- including emergency funds, trusts, wills, taxes, identity theft/fraud, bankruptcy or debt collection
Professional malpractice, such as legal or medical
Family law, unless domestic violence is involved
Immigration
Employment benefits -- like unemployment, workers compensation, short/long term disability, or FMLA
Applications or appeals for public benefits – like Foodshare or Medicaid
Personal injury cases
Short-term, post operative impairment issues
Out of state issues

You can find other resources that may be able to help instead.

View other resources

Need Help with Voting?

If you have questions or concerns about voting rights, accessibility, or accommodations for people with disabilities, our Voting Advocacy team can help.

Visit our Voting Advocacy page to learn about your rights, find resources, and contact our voting team.

Visit Voting Advocacy →

You can also call our Voter Hotline at 844-347-8683 (844-DIS-VOTE) or email votingteam@drwi.org .

If your issue is with Family Care, Family Care Partnership, or PACE, choose one of the following next steps:

More about Family Care, IRIS, Family Care Partnership, or PACE Ombudsman Program

I’m ready to ask for help

Ask for Help

Is your issue in Wisconsin?(Required)

Yes

Disability Rights Wisconsin provides services to people with disabilities in Wisconsin. If you live outside Wisconsin, we are not able to help with your request.

You can contact the Protection and Advocacy organization in your state for information and assistance.
Find Your State's Protection and Advocacy Organization

Applicant Type

What is your request for help about?(Required)

Select the topic that best describes your concern. This will help us direct your request to the right DRW team.

Protection and Advocacy (disability rights in special education, employment, housing, Children's and Adults' systems of care, public accommodations, and corrections)

Family Care, IRIS, or Partnership

Medicaid HMOs (SSI-MC)

Victim Advocacy

Client Assistance Program (DVR)

Other

Are you requesting help for yourself or someone else?(Required)

I am a person with a disability, and I am contacting Disability Rights WI about a problem I am having.

I am the legal guardian of a person with a disability, and I am contacting Disability Rights WI about a problem facing the person for whom I am the guardian.

I am a family member, friend, or other supporter of a person with a disability (but not their legal guardian), and I am contacting Disability Rights WI about a problem facing that person.

I am reporting an allegation of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a person with a disability.

Other

Thank you for reaching out on behalf of someone with a disability. Disability Rights Wisconsin (DRW) can provide you with general information and referrals to other organizations that may be able to help.

If you are requesting advocacy or legal assistance for someone else, we will need to speak directly with the person with a disability or their legal guardian before we can consider opening a case. This helps us understand the person's concerns and wishes. You can encourage the person or their legal guardian to contact DRW directly to request help.

You can also visit our Resources page for information and other organizations that may be able to help.

Requestor Information (person who is requesting assistance for someone else)

Requestor Name

What is your relationship to the person you are requesting assistance for?

Case Worker

Friend

Guardian

Parent

Relative

Spouse/Partner

Other

Requestor Phone Number

Country Phone Number

Requestor email address(Required)

Person Needing Assistance

Name of the person who is in need of assistance:(Required)

Phone Number for person who needs assistance:

Email address of the person needing assistance (optional, leave blank if none)

County for person who needs assistance:(Required)

Year of Birth for person who needs assistance

Please enter a number from 1900 to 2026.

Disability for person who needs assistance

What issue or concern would you like assistance with?(Required)

Acknowledgement

Acknowledgement(Required)

By checking the box below this statement, you acknowledge you are requesting assistance from Disability Rights Wisconsin. This submission does not create a client relationship or guarantee DRW will be able to assist you.

How this works

Check our resources

Answer more about your situation

Submit your application

We'll review and be in touch

Response times

Because of high demand and limited resources, our response times may be slower than usual. We appreciate your patience.

Your privacy

Your information is private and secure. We will only use it to respond to your request for help.