Advocacy Groups
Maine Resources
Disability Rights Maine (DRM) - Maine’s Protection & Advocacy (P&A) System - DRM is the independent, statewide legal advocacy organization for people with disabilities. It investigates abuse/neglect in facilities, provides individual and systemic legal advocacy, monitors institutions, trains people on their rights, and takes cases that can create broader impact. You can request help online or by phone. DRM also runs multiple dedicated programs (e.g., mental health, developmental disabilities, brain injury, deaf services, and payee reviews).
DRM’s Client Assistance Program (CAP) - If you’re applying for or receiving services from Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), the Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the Division for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing, Independent Living, or Wabanaki VR, CAP can inform you of your rights, advocate with you, investigate complaints, and help appeal decisions. It’s the go-to when you disagree with a VR or IL decision or need help getting services.
Maine Human Rights Commission (MHRC) - MHRC enforces the Maine Human Rights Act, including disability discrimination in employment, housing, education, public accommodations, and more. It explains how to file, deadlines (generally 300 days), and the intake/complaint process. If you believe you were discriminated against due to disability, this is where you file a charge.
Maine CITE (State Assistive Technology Program) - Maine’s federally funded AT program supports independence through device demonstrations, short-term device loans (“try before you buy”), device reuse, information and assistance, and trainings/webinars. It also connects to partners across the state and highlights financing options for adaptive equipment.
Maine Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (MLTCOP) - A free, confidential advocacy program for residents of nursing homes, residential care, assisted living, and for people receiving home care or adult day/hospice services. The Ombudsman investigates complaints, explains and helps assert residents’ rights, and works to resolve quality-of-care and discharge/transfer issues.
Maine Department of Labor - Bureau of Rehabilitation Services (BRS/VR) - BRS helps people with disabilities prepare for, get, keep, and advance in employment through Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services and Independent Living supports. It’s a key partner for transition-age youth and adults seeking work with accommodations or supports. (DRM’s CAP can help if problems arise with VR.)
Pine Tree Legal Assistance (PTLA) - While PTLA is a civil legal aid organization (not disability-specific), its guidance explains how to use MHRC’s process to address disability discrimination and other protected-class issues. It’s a helpful primer if you’re weighing a complaint or need general legal information.
Regional Resources
New England ADA Center - The regional hub for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) support, serving all six New England states. It is part of the ADA National Network and provides training, technical assistance, and information to individuals, businesses, and organizations about their rights and responsibilities under the ADA. People can contact the center with questions about accessibility in employment, public spaces, government programs, or telecommunications. The Center also offers workshops, customized trainings, and publications to help ensure compliance with the law, making it a vital resource for both individuals with disabilities and the institutions that serve them.
Concerned Advocates of New England - A regional organization that focuses on advocacy for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families. Unlike the state-specific P&A agencies, it works across all six New England states to provide information about laws, resources, and long-term planning options. The group is especially known for assisting families with guardianship decisions, financial planning, and understanding available supports. By uniting I/DD advocacy at the regional level, Concerned Advocates of New England helps fill gaps in support and creates a community of shared knowledge and resources.
Disability Rights Connecticut (DRCT) - The state’s federally designated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) system. It provides free legal assistance and advocacy to ensure that people with disabilities can exercise their rights in education, healthcare, housing, and public services. DRCT takes on individual cases of discrimination and neglect, while also pushing for systemic change to improve conditions for the disability community statewide. It plays an especially important role in investigating abuse or neglect in institutions, challenging unlawful exclusions from schools, and enforcing accessibility standards.
Disability Law Center (Massachusetts) - Serves as a crucial advocate for the civil and human rights of residents with disabilities. DLC offers legal advocacy to address discrimination in employment, education, housing, healthcare, and public accommodations. The organization also investigates abuse and neglect in facilities and institutions, ensuring accountability where people may be most vulnerable. Alongside direct client services, DLC engages in impact litigation and policy advocacy to secure broader reforms across the state. This makes it one of the most powerful disability advocacy voices in Massachusetts.
Disability Rights Center New Hampshire (DRC-NH) - Offering both individual legal representation and systemic advocacy. Its staff work on issues ranging from education and employment discrimination to access to community-based services and protections against abuse in institutional settings. DRC-NH also helps people understand and assert their rights under federal and state disability laws. The organization is widely recognized for shaping state policy to better support individuals with disabilities, while also serving as a first line of defense when someone is denied accommodations or faces neglect.
Disability Rights Rhode Island (DRRI) - The designated P&A system for the state, providing legal advocacy to protect and advance the rights of people with disabilities. It addresses discrimination in housing, education, and public services, as well as ensuring protection from abuse and neglect in care facilities. DRRI also educates individuals and families about their rights and provides representation in legal and administrative proceedings. Its advocacy is crucial in a smaller state like Rhode Island, where systemic reforms can have widespread and immediate effects.
Disability Rights Vermont (DRVT) - Serves as Vermont’s P&A agency and provides a broad range of advocacy programs. These include services under the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) program, advocacy for those needing assistive technology (PAAT), voting rights protections, victim advocacy, and the Client Assistance Program for vocational rehabilitation disputes. DRVT takes on both individual cases and large-scale systemic efforts to promote inclusion and prevent abuse. The organization’s work emphasizes independence, accessibility, and the enforcement of disability rights across rural and urban areas alike.
National Resources
National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) - Provides training, technical support, and coordination for these agencies, which together form the largest system of federally mandated legal advocacy for people with disabilities. It also engages in federal policy work, amplifying the collective voice of the disability rights movement and pushing for reforms in education, employment, healthcare, housing, and accessibility.
Protection and Advocacy (P&A) System and Client Assistance Program (CAP) - Each state and territory has a P&A agency and CAP program, which are federally funded and required by law. These agencies provide free legal advocacy and protection services to people with disabilities, including investigating abuse and neglect in facilities, enforcing civil rights laws, and helping individuals secure access to education, employment, assistive technology, and community living. Together, P&A agencies form the backbone of disability rights enforcement at the state level, ensuring that people have both local representation and a national support network through NDRN.
ADA National Network - A federally funded resource that provides information, guidance, and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It operates through ten regional centers covering the entire country, offering free technical assistance to individuals, employers, businesses, and state and local governments. The Network plays a vital role in helping people understand their rights under the ADA while also guiding institutions on compliance. Its regional centers are often the first point of contact when questions arise about accessibility, accommodations, or civil rights protections under federal law.
American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) - A leading cross-disability national advocacy organization focused on political and economic empowerment. It works to increase the political participation of people with disabilities through initiatives like the REV UP voting campaign, while also engaging in leadership development programs, internships, and corporate partnerships to expand employment opportunities. AAPD also advocates at the federal level for legislation and policy changes to promote accessibility, equity, and inclusion across all sectors of society.
The Arc - One of the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots advocacy organizations for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). It provides direct support to individuals and families, offers training and education, and engages in national and state-level policy advocacy to ensure community inclusion, education rights, and access to services. With over 600 local and state chapters, The Arc represents a broad network that supports self-advocacy, family empowerment, and systemic change.
Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) - A nonprofit run by and for autistic people, dedicated to advancing the rights of autistic individuals and ensuring they have a direct voice in advocacy. The organization emphasizes self-determination, inclusion, and policy reform that supports neurodiversity. ASAN provides resources, toolkits, and advocacy guides, while also engaging in federal policy initiatives related to healthcare, community living, and education. Its work challenges outdated and harmful models of disability services, instead promoting acceptance and equity.
National Federation of the Blind (NFB) - The largest membership organization of blind people in the U.S., advocating for equality, independence, and full participation in society. It provides direct advocacy, peer support, training programs, and resources, while also influencing policy at the national level. NFB is especially active in advancing accessibility in education, technology, and employment, often engaging in litigation and federal rulemaking processes to enforce civil rights protections for blind individuals.
National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) - The longest-running national cross-disability grassroots organization, representing Centers for Independent Living (CILs) and people with disabilities across the country. It focuses on community-based advocacy, independent living, and disability rights legislation. NCIL members push for systemic change on issues like accessible transportation, community-based services, and the implementation of the Olmstead decision, which affirms the right of people with disabilities to live in integrated community settings rather than institutions.
Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) - A national nonprofit that works to protect the civil and educational rights of students with disabilities. It provides resources to parents, advocates, and attorneys to help them navigate special education systems and enforce the rights guaranteed under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. COPAA also engages in federal advocacy, litigation, and training, ensuring that students with disabilities receive appropriate educational supports and are not unlawfully excluded from classrooms.
Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) - A congressionally chartered veterans service organization that advocates for veterans with spinal cord injury or disease. It provides direct services including healthcare advocacy, benefits assistance, and employment programs, while also engaging in national policy advocacy to advance accessibility, research, and disability rights. PVA has played a critical role in shaping legislation like the ADA and continues to ensure that disabled veterans receive the supports they need for independent living.