Disability Rights Nebraska
About Disability Rights Nebraska
In Nebraska, Disability Rights Nebraska is often where people turn when they need help protecting basic rights, getting access to services, or understanding what comes next. The work is practical and personal, from legal advice and representation to advocacy, training, and referrals for people with disabilities and their families. If you care about full participation in community, education, employment, and voting, this is the kind of local organization that keeps those doors from staying half closed.
What sets Disability Rights Nebraska apart is the range of support it brings under Nebraska’s Protection and Advocacy system, from individual representation to systems advocacy and training. Its work reaches across disability areas, including developmental disabilities, mental illness, voting access, and assistive technology, so the help is not just narrow or one-off. It also brings in Citizen Advocacy, which pairs local people one-to-one with someone who may be at risk of abuse or neglect.
Programs
The concrete work this nonprofit runs. Each program may later become a fundable project.
Legal advocacy and representation
Provides legal advice, legal representation, and individual advocacy in selected priority areas for people with disabilities.
Citizen Advocacy
Creates local one-to-one matches between ordinary citizens and people with disabilities who may be at risk of abuse or neglect.
Public policy advocacy
Researches and analyzes legislation and policy, develops testimony, and provides presentations and training on disability policy issues.
Inclusive Education Lay Advocacy Program
Trains lay advocates to help families understand educational information, legal rights, and inclusive education planning, including IEP clinics.
Voting access advocacy
Educates people about voting rights and helps establish, expand, and improve access to the election process for people with disabilities.
Assistive technology advocacy
Provides individual and systems advocacy to secure assistive technology devices and services for people with disabilities.
Protection and advocacy for developmental disabilities
Protects and advocates for the rights of individuals with developmental disabilities.
Protection and advocacy for mental illness
Protects and advocates for the rights of individuals with mental illness and investigates reports of abuse and neglect in facilities that care for or treat them.
Protection and advocacy for traumatic brain injury
Provides advocacy assistance to people who experience a traumatic brain injury.
Protection and advocacy for Social Security beneficiaries
Helps beneficiaries of Social Security or SSI protect their rights and, in the PABSS program, assists people trying to secure or regain employment.
Representative payee monitoring
Monitors representative payees through the Representative Payee Program.
Information and referral
Provides information and referrals to individuals with disabilities and their families.
About this work
In their own words — what they do, who it reaches, and what your dollars actually fund.
Mission
Disability Rights Nebraska uses a combination of strategies to promote, protect, and advocate for the legal and human rights of all people with disabilities. It supports full inclusion in home, community, education, and employment, beginning with people who learn, live, or work in isolated, segregated, or congregated settings.
Who they serve
People with disabilities in Nebraska, including people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, mental illness, and physical disabilities, along with their families.
Their impact
- 10,613 people helped
- 45 advocates trained
- 15,826 individuals trained
How your donation helps
- Legal advocacy and representation for people with disabilities
- Training and technical assistance for advocates and families
- Public policy advocacy and education
- Monitoring, investigation, and rights protection work
- Citizen advocacy and inclusive education advocacy programs
Our story
Disability Rights Nebraska began in 1977 as Nebraska Advocacy Services for Developmentally Disabled Citizens, incorporated in Lincoln, and was designated by Governor J. James Exon as Nebraska’s protection and advocacy system. Over time, it became Nebraska Advocacy Services, Inc. and later adopted the name Disability Rights Nebraska.
Need help?
How someone in need can access Disability Rights Nebraska’s services.
Individuals with disabilities and their families can request assistance through the request-for-assistance page. The organization offers legal representation, information and referrals, and related advocacy support in selected priority areas.
Stories
The people behind the work.
In their words
We believe a vote is one of the most powerful self-advocacy tools for individuals with disabilities.
Disability Rights Nebraska envisions a world where human rights are protected, differences are celebrated and all people have value, visibility, and voice.
Ways to help
Concrete needs and volunteer roles Disability Rights Nebraska has shared.
Volunteer opportunities
- Serve as a trained advocate to help families navigate the educational system for children with disabilities
- Join or support local Citizen Advocacy efforts
- Serve on the PAIMI Advisory Council when openings are available
Recognition & press
In the media
- KETV Chronicle, Disability Awareness segment featuring Disability Rights Nebraska
- Omaha World-Herald, 'A nightmare': How Nebraska's special education system is failing its students and staff
- Lincoln Journal Star, Disability rights group training volunteers to help parents advocate for inclusion
Partners & funders
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this nonprofit and how its work happens.
How can a person request help from Disability Rights Nebraska?
Individuals with disabilities and their families can request assistance through the organization’s request-for-assistance page.
What kinds of advocacy does Disability Rights Nebraska provide?
It provides legal advice and representation, relationship-based advocacy, self-advocacy skill development, public policy advocacy, and training.
What is Citizen Advocacy?
Citizen Advocacy matches ordinary citizens with people with disabilities in local communities for one-to-one support, protection, and advocacy.
Does Disability Rights Nebraska help with voting access?
Yes. It educates people about voting rights and advocates for better access to the election process for people with disabilities.
Similar nonprofits
Other human service organizations nonprofits in NE.