Mission, Vision, and Values

DRM Mission:
Empowering all to uphold the rights of people with disabilities.

DRM Vision:
DRM envisions a world where human rights are protected, and
differences are celebrated.

DRM Values:
We believe
In ensuring services are accessible to all (ACCESS).
That people have the right to make their
own decisions. (CHOICE).
In respecting and honoring all cultures (CULTURE).
In uplifting and celebrating diversity (DIVERSITY).
In moving toward fairness for all (EQUITY).
In serving our clients with honesty and
transparency (INTEGRITY).
In striving to eliminate systemic injustice (JUSTICE).

Our Team LeadershipCollaborative Relationships

Commitment to Equity and Diversity

DRM does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, political belief, creed, national origin, marital status, or disability.

DRM celebrates diversity and strives to reflect Michigan’s ethnic, language, disability and geographic diversity in our staff and the people we serve. Our advocacy efforts will engage and empower traditionally underserved and underrepresented communities.

DRM believes the disability rights movement is inseparable from the human rights movements for racial, economic, and gender equity. We renew our commitment to dismantle racism, ableism, sexism, and bigotry in all their forms, by looking within, through our client work, and in our pursuit of institutional and cultural change.

Current Focus Areas

Each year DRM identifies areas of focus to guide deployment of our limited advocacy resources. DRM’s board approves these areas of focus in September after considering community input, including the nature of information and referral requests, the results of DRM public issue surveys, input from DRM staff, focus groups conducted by DRM, or other advocacy organizations, and state and national research on emerging issues.

Please help us create advocacy services that better serve the disability community by completing our survey.

Take Survey

What Makes Us Unique

DRM is a federally-mandated, independent, statewide organization. We are:

  • Driven by the expressed wishes of the people we serve.
  • Authorized to pursue legal remedies, on behalf of our clients and in our own name, to achieve individual and systemic change.
  • Empowered through access authority to identify and address abuse and neglect in facilities.

Learn About P&A

Disability Rights Michigan was formerly known as Michigan Protection & Advocacy Service, Inc. (MPAS). DRM is part of the protection and advocacy (P&A) network and is the P&A agency for Michigan. There is a P&A agency, even if it goes by a different name, in every state and territory.

What are Protection & Advocacy Agencies (P&As)?

Funding

We’re committed to transparency in the funding we receive and how resources are utilized.

Learn More9 Federally Funded Programs

94%

Federal appropriations and grants

5%

State of Michigan appropriations and grants

1%

Other

 

Impact Report

Each year, DRM issues an Impact Report highlighting the past year’s accomplishments.

Download Report

PDFDOCTXT

How Can We Help?
Contact Us Anytime

We want to hear from you! Whether you're looking for advocacy, have a question, or just want to connect, please reach out.

Online

Contact Us