How We Help

Disability Rights Wisconsin (DRW) helps people with disabilities understand their rights, solve problems, and get the services and support they need.

We provide advocacy, information, legal assistance, and other services to people with disabilities across Wisconsin. Our work includes disability rights, employment services, long-term care, health care, public benefits, and support for victims of crime.

We serve children and adults with many types of disabilities, including intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental health conditions, physical and sensory disabilities, and traumatic brain injuries.

The help we can provide depends on the program, your situation, and available resources. We cannot take every case, but we may be able to provide information, guidance, referrals, advocacy, or legal assistance.

Ways We Help

Our Programs & Services

DRW offers several programs to help people with disabilities, families, and professionals. Each program focuses on different needs and may offer different types of assistance.

More About Our Services

How We Help
Get Help
Frequently Asked Questions
Request a Speaker
Resource Center
Program Materials

Not sure where to start?

Answer a few questions and we'll help you find the right information or connect you with the right help.
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Share Your Experience

Your story can help us identify barriers, shape our advocacy, and guide our efforts to change policy.
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Ways We Help

Protection & Advocacy

As Wisconsin’s Protection and Advocacy system, DRW works to help as many individuals as possible. Our resources do not allow us to take every case, so we review each request and may provide information, self-advocacy help, referrals, or, in some cases, free legal services.

Information & Referral

We connect people with information, community resources, and tools to help protect their rights. 

Family Care, IRIS, or a Family Care Partnership Ombudsman Program

If you are a member of Family Care, IRIS, or a Family Care Partnership, our FCIOP program may be able to give more extensive services than other programs.

Self-Advocacy Assistance

We help people speak up for themselves by sharing information, practical guidance, and tools such as letters or next steps.

Public Policy Advocacy

We work to improve laws, policies, funding, and systems so they better serve people with disabilities in Wisconsin. Our advocacy helps create change that can benefit many people at once. Share Your Experience.

Legal Representation

We take very few individual cases. We focus on cases that can create change for many people, including systemic advocacy and litigation.

Technical Assistance & Professional Support

We provide guidance, training, and support to professionals and organizations that serve people with disabilities, including Wisconsin's Disability Benefit Specialists.

Monitoring & Investigations

We monitor facilities and services to identify and prevent abuse, neglect, and rights violations. When serious concerns arise, we may investigate and recommend changes.

Outreach & Training

We offer training and community education so people better understand disability rights and available supports. Visit our events page for upcoming outreach.

Our Programs & Services

DRW offers several programs to help people with disabilities, families, and professionals. Each program focuses on different needs and may offer different types of assistance.

Protection & Advocacy

We help protect the rights of people with disabilities and address problems involving discrimination, accessibility, education, abuse, neglect, and other rights-related concerns. Explore Protection & Advocacy services.

Client Assistance Program (CAP)

We help people who have questions, concerns, or problems with services provided by Wisconsin's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) or Independent Living Centers. Learn how the Client Assistance Program can help.

Family Care, IRIS, or a Family Care Partnership Ombudsman Program

We help people enrolled in Wisconsin's Family Care, Family Care Partnership, and IRIS programs understand their rights, resolve concerns, and make choices about their long-term care services. Explore help with our FCIOP Program.

Disability Benefit Specialist (DBS) Program

We provide training, guidance, and technical assistance to Wisconsin's Disability Benefit Specialists, who help people understand and resolve problems with public benefits. Explore support for Disability Benefit Specialists.

SSI & Managed Care

We provide advocacy and support to people enrolled in SSI-related Medicaid health plans who have concerns about their health care services or coverage. Learn about SSI Managed Care advocacy.

Victim Advocacy

We help people with disabilities who have experienced crime or abuse understand their rights, explore options, and connect with available support. Explore Victim Advocacy services.

Voting Advocacy

We help people with disabilities understand their voting rights and address barriers to voting. This includes concerns about accessible polling places, voting equipment, accommodations, and getting the support needed to vote privately and independently. Related program: Voting Advocacy

More About Our Services

How We Help
Get Help
Frequently Asked Questions
Request a Speaker
Resource Center
Program Materials

Not sure where to start?

Answer a few questions and we'll help you find the right information or connect you with the right help.
Start Here

Share Your Experience

Your story can help us identify barriers, shape our advocacy, and guide our efforts to change policy.
Share Your Story
(opens in a new tab)

Some disability-related issues we can help address

  • Mental health and support services that provide individualized treatment
  • Abuse, neglect, and rights violations in institutions, prisons, or jails
  • Rights to privacy, choice, dignity, and the least restrictive environment
  • Barriers to special education, transition services, and post-secondary education
  • Discrimination in employment and barriers to finding, keeping, or regaining work
  • Access to voting, including registration, vote casting, and accessible polling places
  • Access to assistive technology and devices
  • Supported Decision-Making as an alternative to guardianship
  • Discrimination in housing, transportation, service animals, and architectural access
  • Misuse of funds or exploitation by representative payees