Disability Rights Arkansas

What Disability Rights Arkansas does

Disability Rights Arkansas (DRA) is an independent, private nonprofit organization designated by the Governor of Arkansas to implement the federally funded Protection and Advocacy (P&A) systems for the state. Headquartered in Little Rock and operating with 11–50 staff, DRA delivers services free of charge across Arkansas through a single integrated advocacy platform spanning direct case intake (toll-free 800 line and online request form), legal representation, facility monitoring, transition services for students ages 14–21, and education/outreach on civil and voting rights, special education, assistive technology, and return-to-work benefits. The organization operates federally-mandated service lines including PAIMI, PAIR, PATBI, PAAT, CAP, and TBI advocacy, administered through funding from the Administration for Community Living (HHS), the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities, and other federal sources.

Its products and services combine direct legal representation and systemic advocacy with publishable resource assets — most prominently the long-running 'A Parent's Guide to Special Education' (the Blue Book) and the newer (2025) 'IEP and The Power of Three Curriculum' — alongside data tools such as the Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) Database. There is no proprietary software platform; service delivery is built on human professional staff, documented intake protocols (48-hour routing), and content assets rather than on technology infrastructure.

Commercially, DRA is a non-revenue entity in the traditional sense: services are free, the 'customer' is the Arkansas disability community, and the funding base is composed almost entirely of federal formula and discretionary grants routed through state-level partners. The business is therefore a government-funded grant-dependent nonprofit whose financial trajectory is tied to federal appropriations continuity — a dependency made visible by DRA's 2026 decision to furlough staff and pause new case intake during a funding-uncertainty period before resuming services on April 13, 2026.

Name

Disability Rights Arkansas

Legal name

Disability Rights Arkansas

Website

https://disabilityrightsar.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Disability Rights Arkansas is a federally designated nonprofit Protection and Advocacy organization providing free legal representation, facility monitoring, transition services, and civil-rights education to people with disabilities across Arkansas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Rights Advocacy Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Educational Support Services (611710), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Rights & Accessibility Advocacy (BPAGAFAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services (BPAGAEAM), Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG), 504 Plan Consulting & Disability Accommodations (School-Based) (EDAKACAG)

Keywords

• Disability rights advocacy
• Legal protection services
• Civil rights advocacy
• Protection and advocacy
• Special education advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Little Rock

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: DRA is designated by the Governor of Arkansas to implement the federally funded Protection and Advocacy systems. Services are provided free of charge to clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Disability Rights Arkansas delivers free protection and advocacy services to children and adults with disabilities in Arkansas, including legal representation, direct advocacy, facility monitoring, systemic advocacy, civil rights and voting rights education, training and technical assistance, and information and referral. The organization also operates specialized programs such as Transition Services, the Client Assistance Program (CAP), and Protection and Advocacy for Traumatic Brain Injury (PATBI), and publishes educational resources like A Parent's Guide to Special Education (the Blue Book) and the IEP and The Power of Three Curriculum.

Product overview

Disability Rights Arkansas operates as a single integrated advocacy platform offering free civil rights protection and legal services for people with disabilities in Arkansas. The organization combines direct legal representation, systemic advocacy, facility monitoring, education and outreach, and training services into a unified service delivery model. Key offerings include legal representation, facility monitoring, special education resources (including the Blue Book and IEP Curriculum), transition services for students, assistive technology assistance, traumatic brain injury advocacy, voting rights education, and the PRTF Database resource. Services are provided at no charge to clients and include information/referral, technical assistance, and case advocacy across priority areas including special education, employment, housing discrimination, abuse and neglect, and right to treatment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Legal Representation and Direct Advocacy Free legal representation and direct advocacy for individuals with disabilities in Arkansas on disability-related civil and human rights issues, including abuse and neglect, discrimination, special education, employment, and housing matters.
• Facility Monitoring Monitoring of facilities where individuals with disabilities reside to ensure protection from abuse and neglect and to safeguard their rights.
• Systemic Advocacy Pursues administrative, legal, and other remedies to ensure system-wide protection of people with disabilities, including public policy advocacy and holding agencies and organizations accountable.
• Civil Rights Education and Outreach Education and outreach that informs people with disabilities about their civil rights and how to advocate for themselves.
• Voting Rights Education and Advocacy Educates voters with disabilities on their voting rights and advocates for accessible elections.
• Training and Technical Assistance Offers specialized in-person or virtual training for advocacy groups and technical assistance for individuals wanting to start advocacy organizations.
• Information and Referral Services Provides information, referrals, and short-term assistance to people with disabilities seeking help with disability-related issues.
• Transition Services Program Provides transition planning services for students with disabilities ages 14-21 to help create a smooth pathway from high school to adult life, including work-based learning, career exploration, and workplace readiness training.
• Client Assistance Program (CAP) Federally mandated information and advocacy program for people who need vocational rehabilitation or independent living services, part of the Access To Opportunity initiative.
• Protection and Advocacy for Traumatic Brain Injury (PATBI) Program providing protection and advocacy services to individuals who have sustained a traumatic brain injury.
• Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) Database Online database providing information about psychiatric residential treatment facilities in Arkansas.
• A Parent's Guide to Special Education (The Blue Book) Comprehensive guide for parents and guardians of school-age children covering the special education system, IEP process, eligibility, accommodations and modifications, behavior skills training, and dispute resolution options.
• IEP and The Power of Three Curriculum Resource providing a strong foundation of knowledge about the Individualized Education Program (IEP), designed to help parents be proactive in setting their child up for success.
• Assistive Technology Brochure Brochure explaining the Protection and Advocacy for Users of Assistive Technology (PAAT) program that assists individuals in accessing technology devices and AT services for greater independence.
• Entering the Workforce Brochure Free services brochure for SSI or SSDI beneficiaries who wish to return to work, helping them obtain, maintain, or advance in employment.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Arkansas Rehabilitation Services (ARS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerARS is a key partner in providing transition services for students with disabilities. DRA collaborates with ARS and Division of Services for Blind (DSB) in transition planning from age 14.
• Division of Services for Blind (DSB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDSB collaborates with DRA and schools to provide transition services for students with visual disabilities, working as part of the IEP team.
• Arkansas Schools and IEP TeamscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchools are required partners in transition services for students with disabilities. DRA works with school IEP teams, case managers, and special education directors.
• Community Mental Health / Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD-CMH)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdult service agency that students can register with for developmental disability services. DRA refers individuals to these services as appropriate.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Disability Rights Florida: Florida's state P&A offering legal advocacy and disability-rights services under the same federal designation framework; closest peer to Disability Rights Arkansas in terms of single-state scope and advocacy-driven service mix.
• Disability Rights New York: New York's designated P&A providing legal advocacy, information and referral, and disability-rights education to people with disabilities in NY; directly comparable in mandate and service mix to Disability Rights Arkansas.
• Disability Rights California: California's federally designated Protection and Advocacy system; operates the same P&A mandate structure with legal representation, systemic advocacy, and facility monitoring for people with disabilities — the largest P&A in the country and the most directly comparable peer to Disability Rights Arkansas.
• Disability Rights Oregon: Oregon's designated P&A providing legal services, advocacy, and disability-rights protections; operates under the identical federal designation framework as Disability Rights Arkansas and serves a comparable state-scoped mission.
• Disability Rights Ohio: Ohio's state P&A providing legal advocacy and protective services for Ohioans with disabilities; mid-sized sister P&A operating under the same federal authority as Disability Rights Arkansas.
• Disability Rights Wisconsin: Wisconsin's state P&A; mid-sized state-paired P&A that mirrors Disability Rights Arkansas in service offerings (legal advocacy, special education support, voting rights) and federal funding model.
• Disability Rights Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania's state P&A providing legal aid and advocacy for people with disabilities; directly comparable in federal mandate scope, service portfolio, and advocacy model to Disability Rights Arkansas.
• Disability Rights Texas: Texas's state P&A providing legal representation and advocacy for Texans with disabilities; comparable in mandate, federal funding structure, and direct service delivery to Disability Rights Arkansas.

Broad incumbents

• National Disability Rights Network: National membership association for the P&A and Client Assistance Program network; broader industry body that coordinates, trains, and advocates on behalf of all state P&As including Disability Rights Arkansas.
• The Arc of the United States: National disability advocacy organization with a broader community-services and family-support mission; less narrowly focused than a P&A but operates adjacent to Disability Rights Arkansas in policy advocacy for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DRArkansas
• Facebookfacebook.com/DisabilityRightsAR
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/disability-rights-arkansas

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Disability Rights Arkansas