On Target
Disability Rights North Carolina
Champions for Equality and Justice
Volume 18 • Spring 2014
170 Attend First Annual Conference
On April 9, nearly 170 individuals joined the staff of Disability Rights NC for its first
annual conference on disability advocacy. Attendees represented many different types
of disabilities and included self-advocates, parents, caretakers, guardians, providers,
state agency representatives, local government representatives, disability rights
advocates, educators, lawyers, and medical professionals.
The conference kicked off with an opening session featuring Michael Bailey, a past
president of the National Disability Rights Network and long-time disability rights
advocate from Oregon. Michael addressed the importance of the protection and
advocacy system in the disability rights movement and shared a few personal stories as
the parent of a daughter with Down Syndrome.
After lunch, Lois Curtis – better known as “L.C.”, the lead plaintiff in the Olmstead
case – and her support team talked about Lois’s life in the community after 20 years in
institutions. Throughout the day, Lois’s artwork was available to view and purchase, and
Lois drew personal pictures for anyone willing to sit with her for a minute or two.
During breakout sessions, the attorneys and advocates at Disability Rights NC, as
well as community resource gurus Lula Johnson and Folashade Omisore, shared their
knowledge and advocacy tips on a variety of topics such as voting, service animals,
alternatives to guardianship, employment for people with disabilities, special education,
community resources, and healthcare under the Affordable Care Act. The entire
Investigations and Monitoring Unit gave insight into what they do on a daily basis to
ensure that individuals with disabilities living in facilities in North Carolina are safe and
living with dignity. And Disability Rights NC’s policy staff and attorneys presented their
thoughts on Medicaid reform and the State’s implementation of the Olmstead decision.
We appreciate the support of our volunteers who gave their time during the
conference and did whatever was needed: Ashley Lindsay, Neil O’Rourke, Renee Palmer,
Andrew Realon, and Jennifer Wyatt. And, we thank our sponsors whose support
enabled us to provide registration scholarships to self-advocates with limited incomes
and to defray the administrative costs of the conference so that Disability Rights NC can
give as much direct advocacy as possible to the people with disabilities who call every
day for assistance.
Thank you to everyone who attended the first annual Disability Advocacy
Conference!
“Please do this annually – this conference is invaluable.”
“The manual and thumb drive with handouts are wonderful. This will ensure a far wider
reach of important valuable information to people that need it. Thanks!!”
“This was an excellent conference. Very worthwhile.”
“Being in the presence of so many advocates for people with disabilities has been
inspiring.”
2014 Conference Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor
Amerigroup
RealSolutions in healthcare
Opening and Keynote Session Sponsors
NC Council on Developmental Disabilities
Mebane Rash
Breakout Session Sponsors
Garriss Hardy & Associates, LLC
Marketing Association for Rehabilitation Centers
NC Association of Rehabilitation Facilities
NC Statewide Independent Living Council
RHA Howell Care Centers, Inc.
Vicki Smith
Supporters
Easter Seals UCP NC & VA
Law Offices of Douglas Koenig
Nancy Mayer
Israel Pattison
PowerChair Plus / James McManus
Janna Shisler
From the Director
Last month, we held our first annual conference. When initially planned, we hadn’t
decided how frequently we would hold our conference. Based on the feedback provided
by many of the people who attended this year, we can now say with certainty that it will
be an annual spring event.
Our conference focused on the rights of people with disabilities and the role of
legally-based advocacy. Disability Rights NC is primarily responsible for enforcing the
federal and state policies that protect the rights of people with disabilities. This
conference is just one mechanism we use to inform the advocacy community not only
about the rights of people with disabilities but also how to achieve those rights. The
primary goal of the conference is to train a cadre of effective advocates.
If you are an advocate for people with disabilities, our conference is designed for
you. Not sure if you are an advocate? Really, anyone who has a disability or touches the
life of a person with a disability, discusses the needs of people with disabilities, but most
importantly challenges any system to meet those needs, is an advocate. So don’t miss
our second annual conference in 2015!
Vicki Smith
Executive Director
Self-Advocacy Resources on Website
If you attended our conference this year, you received a lot of materials in hard copy
and electronic format. These materials included self-advocacy packets on guardianship
and service animals, Medicaid appeals fact sheets, employment resources, special
education checklists, and much more.
Many of these resources have been and continue to be available on the home page
of our website under “Self-Advocacy Resources”. The self-advocacy resource pages
include information, publications and links to helpful websites on the following topics:
Accessibility
Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Education -- Postsecondary
Education
Employment
General Resources and Helpful Internet Links
Guardianship
Health Information Privacy (HIPAA)
Housing
Law Enforcement
Medicaid Appeals
Medicaid and Healthcare
Prisons and Jails
SSA Benefits and Overpayments
Service and Support Animals
Special Needs Trusts
Transportation
Voting
We hope that you find these resources helpful in advocating for yourself and people
with disabilities.
HR 3717, the Murphy Bill, Will Negatively Impact People with Mental Illness
In April the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Health held a
hearing on HR 3717, the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act. Though HR 3717
purports to help people facing a mental health crisis, it actually limits protections people
with psychiatric disabilities depend on. It reduces funding for essential protection and
advocacy services, strips privacy protections, and shifts investment away from
innovative community-based services toward coercive forced treatment. These changes
will leave people with mental health care needs without advocates and discourage
people from seeking the treatment they need. The bill takes the wrong approach to our
mental health care system.
Wrong on PAIMI
The bill cuts funding for the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental
Illness (PAIMI) program by 85%, prevents the program from engaging in systemic
advocacy on behalf of people with psychiatric disabilities, and prevents the program
from conducting advocacy on any issues except for abuse and neglect. PAIMI is a lifeline
to people with mental illness. It provides for investigation of abuse and neglect,
advocacy to fight discrimination in housing and employment, and legal representation
for children and adults seeking appropriate treatment and due process protections.
Cutting the program’s funding or scope would be an affront to the dignity of people with
mental illness.
Wrong on Privacy
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) provides privacy
protections regarding health information. HR 3717 would single out people with
psychiatric illnesses and limit those protections. This is counterproductive as it will
create a disincentive to seek treatment for people who fear the stigma still,
unfortunately, associated with mental illness.
Wrong on Treatment
The bill requires states to embrace a forced treatment mechanism that is not
supported by evidence and divert money away from the essential community-based
services that should be the foundation of our mental health care system.
You can read the full text of the bill here: http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113thcongress/house-bill/3717/text.
Issue Spotlight
Job Descriptions: What’s in Yours?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prevents employment discrimination against
people with disabilities who are qualified to perform the essential functions or minimum
qualifications of the job. There are a number of factors that determine what is an
essential function of the job, but many employers believe that they can define it simply
by including them in the job description. However, the fact that a task is included in the
job description does not necessarily mean that it is an essential function of the job.
Most job advertisements include a description of the minimum qualifications a
person must have to be considered for employment. For example, an advertisement for
a shelf stocker at a grocery store might indicate that individuals who apply for the job
must be able to lift up to 25 pounds.
Sometimes, an advertisement includes minimum qualifications that are not related
to the work actually performed in that job. For example, requiring shelf stockers to have
a high school diploma may screen out individuals with a learning disability or an
intellectual disability who have not received a diploma but are fully capable of
performing all parts of the shelf stocker job. Another example would be a requirement
that individuals must be able to hear to be a lifeguard when, in fact, the ability to hear is
not required to perform the job.
Qualification standards are illegal if they screen out of hiring consideration people
with disabilities who are otherwise qualified to do the job. If you believe you have been
denied an employment opportunity because of a discriminatory qualification standard,
you may complain to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) within 180
days of the violation. Visit www.eeoc.gov for more information.
Voting Changes
Last year’s new election law brought many changes. The one that has made the
most news is that, beginning in 2016, voters will be required to produce a photo
identification to vote. Voters who do not have adequate photo identification can receive
a free voter ID from the NC DMV. Information is here:
http://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/driver/id/. Voters who choose to vote absentee will now
need the signature of TWO witnesses or a notary public on their ballot. There also is a
form for requesting an absentee ballot, available here:
https://www.ncsbe.gov/ncsbe/Portals/0/FilesP/AbsBallotReqFormv112013.pdf.
Voters who live in facilities and vote absentee can now request assistance with
casting absentee ballots from Multipartisan Assistance Teams. These teams can visit
nursing homes, hospitals, and other facilities at the request of voters or facility staff to
witness absentee ballots and provide any necessary assistance. County boards of
elections will need lots of people to assist all those voters, so this is a great volunteer
opportunity to help people with disabilities vote! Go to
https://www.ncsbe.gov/ncsbe/Voting/Absentee-Voting/MAT.
There also were changes to the one-stop voting period, out of precinct voting, and
voter registration deadlines. For more on recent election law changes, visit the NC State
Board of Elections website at https://www.ncsbe.gov/ncsbe/Voting/voter-guide/recentelection-law-changes.
Legal Update
Disability Rights is now engaged in nine cases in federal court and one in state court.
The following is an update on three of these cases.
NC DMV Violates the Americans with Disabilities Act – Wilson, et al. v. NC DMV, 5:14-CV085-BO (EDNC).
In February, Disability Rights NC filed an action in federal court against the NC
Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), suing on its own behalf as well as representing six
individuals. The litigation alleges that the DMV maintains a Medical Review Program
directed to people with disabilities based on speculation, stereotypes and unwarranted
generalizations about their abilities. The DMV’s program requires people with
disabilities to undergo behind-the-wheel driving tests, obtain unnecessary physical
evaluations and submit to arbitrary licensure restrictions, all without benefit of minimal
due process guaranties.
The DMV Medical Review Program is a mechanism for the DMV to identify unsafe
drivers. Doctors, family members, and others may suggest that a driver is no longer
capable of safely driving, and the DMV may require that individual to undergo medical
screening. However, the DMV has extended the program to drivers, like the Plaintiffs in
this case, who are capable, safe drivers but who have a physical disability. Each
individual Plaintiff was referred for testing or medical review by DMV staff based on the
DMV’s policies towards drivers with disabilities.
One of the Plaintiffs has been required to provide medical information to the DMV
each year for four years. Each year, his doctor has informed the DMV that his cerebral
palsy is stable and non-progressive and does not require medical follow-up regarding his
ability to drive safely. And, even though he passed his driving test, he was told he must
undergo – and pay for – an expensive “behind the wheel assessment” performed by an
occupational therapist.
Another Plaintiff visited the DMV simply to change her address. When the DMV
discovered she had a disability, the agency required her to submit a Medical Report.
Although her doctor indicated she did not need restrictions, the DMV decided that she
would not be allowed to drive more than 25 miles from home, or more than 45 miles
per hour. She appealed, but was never given a hearing. Instead, the DMV ordered
another medical review and road test.
Excessive Use of Mechanical Restraint in a Facility – Nicholas C. v. Wos, 1:14-cv-0072-MR
(WDNC).
Disability Rights NC recently filed this lawsuit challenging the excessive use of a
mechanical restraint device by the J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center (JIRDC) on
Nicholas, a 20-year-old resident of the facility. The Center’s treatment of Nicholas was
uncovered through Disability Rights NC’s monitoring of the activities of the JIRDC
Human Rights Committee, which must review the Center’s use of restraint and
seclusion.
The lawsuit was filed after discussing this case for some time with staff of both JIRDC
and the State to force the Center to discontinue the use of the mechanical restraint
device. In response, JIRDC modified Nicholas’s behavior plan to eliminate the use of the
device, replacing it with the use of seclusion to a potentially excessive degree. Disability
Rights NC continues to monitor the situation to determine whether additional action is
required.
Still Awaiting Judge’s Decision Following 39-Day Trial – Clinton L. v. Cansler and PBH, 10-cv0123-JAB (MDNC).
In this case, Disability Rights NC represents six former Thomas S. class members
whose community placements were jeopardized due to a rate cut implemented by PBH
(now known as Cardinal Innovations), thus increasing their risk of institutionalization in
violation of the ADA and the Olmstead decision.
The trial of the case before District Judge Carlton Tilley began on September 9, 2013.
Final arguments in the case were held on November 13-14, 2013. We have not received
a decision by Judge Tilley.
What Types of Legally-Based Advocacy Does Disability Rights NC Provide?
Information and referral (I&R) is the first level of service on a continuum of services
offered by Disability Rights NC. I&R is provided if a caller is: (a) ineligible for Disability
Rights NC’s services, (b) does not raise target issues, (c) is eligible and raises target
issues but representation by Disability Rights NC is not needed or warranted, or (d)
Disability Rights NC does not have the capacity to represent the caller. I&R is limited to
the provision of information that is generic (not fact-specific); either readily accessible
(e.g., in existing Disability Rights NC brochures or publications) or can be found quickly;
and/or to the provision of referrals from standard lists that are kept by Disability Rights
NC or can be found quickly.
Self-Advocacy Technical Assistance (STA) is a level of intervention that can include
advice and counseling, brief research, or letter writing to the client to summarize
assistance given. Advice and counseling assistance includes informing a client of their
rights; coaching the client in self-advocacy; reviewing information; counseling a client on
actions one may take; or assisting the client in preparing letters or documents and/or
the dissemination of information and materials related to the disability rights issue
raised by the client. It includes providing information sheets and other materials. With
STA, no direct action is taken on behalf of the client.
A caller may become a legal case client if:
• The request involves an issue area designated as a target by the Board of
Directors.
• The request presents an issue which can be competently and satisfactorily handled
by current staff or by interns working closely under staff supervision.
• The request presents a meritorious claim that has a reasonable possibility of
satisfactory resolution. Disability Rights NC is required to consider, when deciding which
cases to accept, the merits of the case and the likelihood it can be resolved with
beneficial results not only for the client but also for other persons with disabilities.
• The request indicates an unavailability of effective alternative representation or
resources.
• The request indicates immediacy, severity and duration of effects of the
threatened harm.
•The request indicates likelihood of positive systemic impact.
Disability Rights NC has the capacity to take the case, e.g., funds are available in the
respective programs.
2014 Champions of Equality and Justice
The awards reception for the 2014 recipients of the Champions of Equality and
Justice Awards will be held on Friday, November 7, 2014 at the Durham Arts Council. We
are now accepting nominations for the 2014 Champions of Equality and Justice. All
nominations for the 2014 Awards must be submitted by September 12, 2014.
If you know an individual deserving of recognition, please nominate them. You will
find more information and a link to download the nomination form on our website –
look for the Champions Award page under “Our Story.”
New Members Appointed to the Disability Rights NC Board of Directors
Four new members recently appointed to the Disability Rights NC Board of Directors
bring a wealth of experience advocating for people with disabilities.
Lourdes Arenas Fernandez lives in Holly Springs and is the mother of a son with a
developmental disability. She has served on the NC Council on Developmental
Disabilities for the past four years. She is an attorney at Rogers-Arenas Immigration.
Lourdes wants to make sure every individual with a disability, including Latinos, is
equally served in North Carolina.
Rebecca Painter is a native of western North Carolina who moved to the coast in
2006 where her husband is serving aboard Camp Lejeune. She became immersed in the
special needs and disability communities when her husband was diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder and a traumatic brain injury in 2009, and even more so in 2012
when her son was diagnosed with ADHD and being on the Autism Spectrum. Since then
she has become a full time caregiver for her husband and three children. Rebecca first
learned about Disability Rights NC during a meeting of her local chapter of the Autism
Society of North Carolina and later completed the DATE volunteer training program. She
is currently working toward a degree in health and wellness administration.
Jack Register is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Work at UNCGreensboro. He is dually licensed as a clinical social worker and addiction specialist, and
has many years experience as a psychotherapist providing clinical services to families,
groups, and individuals with mental health and addiction concerns. Jack was a member
of the PAIMI Advisory Council when the P&A transitioned from state government to
Disability Rights NC. He is currently working on his doctorate degree in Public Policy and
Social Change. His doctoral research is focused on the public sector’s capacity to
adequately serve elders and people with disabilities in long-term care who have
behavioral health and addictive needs.
Shelly Stephens is a self-advocate who moved to Murphy, NC from Oklahoma four
years ago and, until recently, was employed at a Center for Independent Living as an
Independent Living Specialist. She studied Social Change in her master’s degree program
at the University of Oklahoma. Because Shelly has utilized the assistance of the
protection and advocacy attorneys for herself, she understands the importance of the
work that Disability Rights NC provides to the clients it serves. In Oklahoma, she was
appointed by the Governor of Oklahoma to serve on Oklahoma’s Statewide
Independent Living Council and the task force for creating Oklahoma’s five-year plan for
implementation of the Olmstead decision. Shelly is committed to advocating for
legislative change that will improve the lives of persons with disabilities.
In addition, Pat McGinnis assumed the role as Board Liaison to the PAIMI Advisory
Council. Pat has more than a decade of experience as a cross-disability advocate serving
on national, state, and local boards, councils, and committees. Currently, Pat is chair of
the Disability Rights NC PAIMI Advisory Council, chair of Smoky CFAC Central Region,
CFAC Representative to the Smoky Board, CFAC Representative to the Network Provider
Council, and member of the Julian F. Keith ADATC Human Rights Committee. Previous
leadership highlights are: founding member of Foothills Area Program CFAC; founding
member and first elected NAMI NC Consumer Council Chair; facilitator of the first
integrated cross-disability WRAP class in North Carolina for both deaf and hearing
clients with mental illness to promote inclusiveness; and member of NAMI National
Consumer Council and NAMI North Carolina Board of Directors.
Volunteer Spotlight: Carole Edwards
When Carole Edwards, a former Miss Deaf North Carolina, completed DATE training
in March of 2012, it was a perfect fit. The DATE program was created by Disability Rights
NC to train volunteers across the state to support the self-advocacy efforts of people
with disabilities and their families. Carole believes that “every person with a disability is
a person first. The choices they make belong to them. I cannot make that decision for
them, but I will be happy to guide them in the process.”
Carole graduated from Gardner-Webb University in 2009 and received a master’s
degree from Winston-Salem State University in 2012. She did not learn American Sign
Language (ASL) until she was in college and since then has used it as her primary mode
of communication. Carole revealed, “It’s just so much easier on me than having to rely
on my hearing aid all the time!” She volunteers with Habitat for Humanity and Bridge II
Sports where she assists with wheelchair basketball.
Always on the go, Carole was looking for new volunteer opportunities when she
discovered the DATE program. After completing six hours of training, Carole said her
favorite part was “hearing other people’s experiences in the community which helped
me learn about the resources that were available for us to utilize. It helped me improve
my resources for consumers to use through my job as well.”
The resources and skills that Carole learned in the DATE program have proven to be
invaluable in her current position as a Community Accessibility consultant with the
Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and previously at the Alliance of
Disability Advocates. So far, Carole has been matched twice with DATE callers and has
assisted in finding community resources and completing appeal paperwork.
Annual Target Survey Available for Your Input on June 27
As North Carolina’s protection and advocacy system for people with disabilities, we
establish annual areas of focus or Targets that guide our use of resources each year.
Targets determine the work we do and the cases we take. Targets are the outcomes we
work to achieve.
Our limited resources do not allow us to tackle all of the issues facing people with
disabilities in our state. Each year, we ask for public input to help us determine the most
widespread problems or the problems that pose the largest threats to the
independence of people with disabilities.
Our annual Target Survey will be available for your input on June 27, 2014 and will
stay open until August 1, 2014. The link to the survey will be posted on the home page
of our website –
www.disabilityrightsnc.org.
Please take a few minutes to complete the annual Target Survey to help us
determine if the proposed 2015 Targets adequately represent the needs of people with
disabilities in our State.
If you need us to mail you a hard copy of the survey, call us at
877-235-4210.
Disability Rights NC Is Here for You: New Partnership Expectations
As a young agency, Disability Rights NC frequently reviews how it provides services to
people with disabilities. We consider every person with a disability living in North
Carolina to be our client. While our limited resources do not allow us to provide direct
advocacy to everyone who calls us for assistance, we strive to provide as much help as
possible in every case.
We recently developed a set of principles to guide our work. We set high
expectations for ourselves. We want you to know what those expectations are, and we
invite you to hold us accountable.
Our Partnership Expectations are outlined here. You can also find them on our
website. Or call our office at 877-235-4210 to request that we send you a copy by email
or US postal mail.
What the Disability Rights Community Can Expect From Disability Rights NC
Our advocacy will be zealous and determined. We strive to be effective and innovative.
We will take on issues of importance to the disability community even when the
outcome may be difficult to achieve, or may take a long time to reach.
We will integrate a variety of advocacy approaches in all of our work, including selfadvocacy, legal, non-legal, media, public policy, legislative and investigatory.
We will continue to value diversity. Our board and staff will reflect the diversity of North
Carolina including disability.
Our advocacy efforts will affirmatively address the needs of traditionally underserved
and underrepresented communities.
We will be responsive to requests from people with disabilities for assistance and
information.
Disability Rights NC and Individual Clients
If Disability Rights North Carolina takes on an individual issue for you, we will ask you to
enter into a partnership with us to work together on a shared goal. This partnership
must be built on mutual respect, trust, and communication.
What You Can Expect From Us
Our advocacy will be of high quality regardless of the type of service, the nature of the
problem, or who the client is. We will be honest, prepared, truthful, and informed. Our
work will be consistent with the Standards for Protection and Advocacy Systems
adopted by the National Disability Rights Network, which can be found on our website.
We will be honest about our limitations, values, resources and the likely outcome. Our
work will conform to the relevant Rules of Professional Conduct.
We will let you know what is happening on a regular basis, and will be available to give
you updates when you ask.
We will provide you with information and advice to help you participate in choices
about the desired outcome and the method of achieving the outcome and your choices
will be treated with respect. We will be guided by the mutually agreed upon desired
outcomes of your case.
We will invite and encourage you to actively participate in every stage of the process.
You will be treated with respect and as a trusted partner.
What We Will Expect From You
You will be engaged in your case. You will work with us to decide what outcome is best
and how to achieve it.
You will be honest with us and provide us all the information we need to accurately
advise you. You will treat us with respect and as a trusted partner.
You will let us know of any changes in your situation, or updates that relate to your case.
You will stay in touch and let us know if you change your address or phone number.
We Are Moving
On May 23, 2014, Disability Rights NC is moving to a new location in Raleigh. The new
office will be conveniently located just off Glenwood Avenue about a mile from the
current location.
New address effective May 23, 2014:
3724 National Drive, Suite 100
Raleigh, NC 27612
All other contact information will remain the same.
Get All the News Faster!
Receive the Disability Rights NC quarterly newsletter, periodic news updates, calls to
action and event information by email. Sign up for eNews on our website:
www.disabilityrightsnc.org.
Disability Rights NC Board of Directors
Kathy Boyd, Chair (Wake Forest)
Janna Shisler, Chair-Elect (Chapel Hill)
Cheryl Mulloy-Villemagne, Treasurer (Waynesville)
Sadie Brewington Barbour, Secretary (Clinton)
Pat McGinnis, PAIMI Advisory Council Chair (Marion)
Rusty Bradstock (Greensboro)
Bill Donohue (Winston-Salem)
Lourdes Fernandez (Holly Springs)
D. Jones (Greenville)
Paula Munos (Lewiston-Woodville)
Rebecca Painter (Camp Lejeune)
Jack Register (Greensboro)
Shelly Stephens (Murphy)
Kim Taylor (Statesville)
Charles Walker (Raleigh)
Deborah Whitfield (Charlotte)
Disability Rights NC Staff
Executive
Vicki Smith, Executive Director
Finance & Operations
Charlie Barnes, Chief Financial Officer
Janice Willmott, Chief Administrative Officer
Karla Blackwell, Receptionist
Allyson Hilliard, Accounting Assistant
Mavis Jones, Office Manager
Dennis Knight, IT Administrator
Haydee Martinez, Administrative Assistant
Will McDowell, Office Aide (Supported Employment)
Legal & Advocacy
April Giancola, Chief Legal Program Officer
John Rittelmeyer, Director of Litigation
Cas Shearin, Director of Investigations and Monitoring
Jennifer Bills, Senior Attorney
Tabitha Bryant, Attorney
Raven DeMonia, Paralegal
Yasmin Farahi, Attorney
Anthony Garcia-Copian, Intake Specialist
Lisa Grafstein, Senior Attorney
Iris Green, Senior Attorney
Kady McDonald, Intake Specialist
Kishona Mimms, Investigator
Lisa Nesbitt, Attorney
Steve Noblitt, Advocate
Susan Pollitt, Senior Attorney
Lisa Rabon, Attorney
Mercedes Restucha-Klem, Attorney
Holly Stiles, Attorney
Kathy Smith, Advocate
Kristine Sullivan, Attorney
Debbie Thome, Advocate
Chris Trottier, Senior Attorney
Policy & Outreach
Elaine Whitford, Director of Development
Corye Dunn, Director of Public Policy
Annaliese Dolph, Lobbyist
Gabrielle Martino, Advocate and Outreach Coordinator
Disability Rights North Carolina is a federally mandated protection and advocacy system
with funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S.
Department of Education, and the Social Security Administration. It is a 501(c)(3)
nonprofit organization.
Disability Rights North Carolina
Champions for Equality and Justice
2626 Glenwood Avenue
Suite 550
Raleigh, North Carolina 27608
919-856-2195
877-235-4210
888-268-5535 TTY
919-856-2244 fax
Upon request, information
is available in alternate formats.
North Carolina’s Protection and
Advocacy System
www.disabilityrightsnc.org