Overview
Disability Rights Washington (DRW) is Washington State’s designated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) organization, a federally mandated, federally funded nonprofit that protects and advances the civil rights of people with disabilities statewide. Every state in the country has a P&A organization, and DRW is Washington’s. It is the only organization in Washington State with a specific federal mandate to advocate for the rights of people with disabilities across all disability types, all ages, and all settings.
Founded in 1974, DRW provides free legal information, technical assistance, advocacy, and in some cases direct legal representation to individuals with disabilities who face discrimination, rights violations, or barriers to services. DRW also pursues systemic change through impact litigation, policy advocacy, and legislative work, fighting not just for individual clients but for the entire disability community.
For CAA families, DRW is the right call when a disability-related right has been violated, by a landlord, an employer, a school, a state agency, or any other entity, and you need expert legal support specifically focused on disability law.
Who It’s For
People with disabilities of any type including physical, developmental, intellectual, psychiatric, sensory, or other, who are Washington State residents. DRW serves all ages, all income levels, and regardless of immigration status for most programs. Unlike Northwest Justice Project, DRW is not limited by income.
What DRW Does: Programs and Focus Areas
Community Inclusion and Services
DRW advocates for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities who face barriers to community-based services, supported living, and waiver programs. This is one of the most directly relevant programs for CAA families.
Long-Term Care Resident Rights (LTCRR) – New in 2026
DRW launched this new statewide program on January 5, 2026. It provides free legal information, advice, and representation to people on Medicaid who are threatened with discharge or transfer from community-based long-term care facilities including Adult Family Homes, Assisted Living Facilities, and Enhanced Services Facilities.
LTC Discharge Defense Line: (888) 437-0017
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM and 1:00 PM–4:00 PM
(voicemail available 24/7 for callback within one business day)
LTCRR Intake Form
Education Rights
DRW advocates for students with disabilities in Washington schools including special education rights under IDEA, discipline and restraint issues, and access to appropriate educational services. In 2026, DRW successfully advocated for House Bill 1795, which bans life-threatening restraint and prohibits construction of new isolation rooms in Washington schools, the first restraint and isolation legislation to pass in Washington after four years of advocacy.
Mental Health and Treatment Facilities
DRW monitors psychiatric facilities, involuntary treatment, and the rights of individuals in mental health settings. Their AVID (Advocacy, Voice, Independence and Dignity) program advocates for individuals in correctional and treatment facility settings.
Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS)
DRW’s PABSS program supports individuals with disabilities who receive SSI or SSDI and face barriers to employment including helping individuals understand how work affects their benefits, resolving issues that prevent them from working, and advocating against discrimination in employment settings.
Disability Mobility Initiative
DRW advocates for accessible, equitable transportation for people with disabilities including transit policy, paratransit rights, and accessible pedestrian infrastructure. Their Week Without Driving campaign raises awareness of transportation barriers faced by people with disabilities statewide. In 2025, DRW helped pass HB 1418, adding transit users with disabilities to the governing bodies of public transportation benefit areas.
Housing
DRW advocates for accessible, integrated housing for people with disabilities, including fair housing enforcement, Olmstead implementation, and housing policy at the state legislative level. In 2025, DRW received a Seattle Foundation grant to advance housing policies supporting individuals with significant behavioral health needs.
ADA and Civil Rights
DRW advocates for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act including physical accessibility, service animal rights, and discrimination in public accommodations.
How to Request Help
DRW provides three levels of assistance depending on the issue and available capacity:
Technical Assistance: Legal information and guidance on specific questions. DRW attorneys and law student interns provide technical assistance on specific legal issues helping individuals understand their rights without necessarily taking on their case. This is the most broadly available service.
Advocacy: DRW staff advocates for individuals in specific situations, helping navigate systems, writing letters, and intervening on behalf of individuals with disabilities.
Direct Legal Representation: DRW takes a limited number of cases for direct legal representation when the issue has systemic impact or when representation is the only meaningful remedy. Not all requests result in representation, DRW prioritizes based on impact and available resources.
To request services:
Phone: (800) 562-2702 | (206) 324-1521
TTY: (206) 957-0728
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM and 1:00 PM–4:00 PM
Online Intake Form: disabilityrightswa.org/request-services
For LTC Discharge Defense specifically: (888) 437-0017
DRW’s Resource Library
Beyond direct services, DRW maintains one of the most comprehensive libraries of disability rights resources in Washington State, fact sheets, guides, and plain-language explanations of rights in specific areas including:
- Special education and school rights
- Employment discrimination
- Housing and fair housing
- Mental health rights
- Service animals in housing and employment
- Olmstead and community integration rights
- Guardianship and supported decision-making
Browse DRW’s Resource Library | Know Your Rights Guides
When to Call
DRW is the right call when:
- Your family member’s DDA waiver services have been wrongly reduced, denied, or terminated and the appeal process isn’t working
- Your family member is being threatened with discharge from an Adult Family Home or other care setting
- A school is violating your child’s special education rights under IDEA
- A landlord has denied a reasonable accommodation for a disability
- A business has violated your family member’s ADA rights
- Your family member with a disability faces employment discrimination
- You need expert information on Olmstead, guardianship, or supported decision-making
- You’re not sure whether a right has been violated and want a disability-specific legal perspective
disabilityrightswa.org | Request Services | Resource Library | Northwest Justice Project | How to Appeal a Denied Benefit
FAQ
Is DRW only for people with developmental disabilities?
No, DRW serves people with any type of disability, including physical, developmental, intellectual, psychiatric, and sensory disabilities. Their mandate covers the full spectrum of disability.
Is there an income limit to get help from DRW?
No, unlike legal aid programs like NJP, DRW’s mandate is disability-specific rather than income-based. Income is not a barrier to requesting DRW’s assistance.
What’s the difference between DRW and Northwest Justice Project?
Both provide free legal assistance, but with different scopes. DRW is specifically focused on disability rights and serves people with disabilities regardless of income. NJP is a general civil legal aid program for low-income Washington residents covering a broader range of issues. In many cases both can help, contact both if you’re not sure which fits your situation.
My family member’s supported living services have been cut, can DRW help?
Yes, and this is timely. As of May 19, 2026, DRW has restarted Technical Assistance specifically for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities having issues with supported living and waiver services. Contact DRW immediately at (800) 562-2702.
Can DRW help with a school restraint or isolation situation?
Yes. DRW advocates for students’ rights in educational settings, including restraint and seclusion. The passage of HB 1795 in 2026, which DRW championed, bans life-threatening restraint and prohibits new isolation rooms. If your child has been subjected to restraint or isolation, contact DRW.
Can DRW represent me in court?
In limited cases where direct representation is the only meaningful remedy and the issue has systemic impact. DRW takes on a limited number of cases for direct representation each year, contact them to discuss your situation and they will advise on whether representation is possible.
