Disability Rights Michigan
Disability Rights Michigan is the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy agency for Michigan, providing free legal representation, systemic advocacy, monitoring, and training to people with disabilities across the state, funded by federal and state grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1975
- HeadquartersLansing, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Disability Rights Michigan does
Disability Rights Michigan (DRM) is a nonprofit legal advocacy organization designated by the governor of Michigan as the state's federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) agency. Originally founded in 1975 as Michigan Protection & Advocacy Service, Inc. (MPAS) and renamed in 2002, DRM operates nine federally funded programs: Client Assistance Program (CAP), Protection & Advocacy of Individual Rights (PAIR), Protection & Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI), Protection & Advocacy for Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury (PATBI), Protection & Advocacy for Users of Assistive Technology (PAAT), Protection & Advocacy for Voter Access (PAVA), Protection & Advocacy for Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PADD), Protection & Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS), and Protection & Advocacy for Beneficiaries with Representative Payees (PABRP). Services are delivered free of charge to eligible individuals with disabilities in Michigan and include information and referral, short-term assistance, selected individual and legal representation, systemic advocacy, monitoring of facilities, and training. The organization is headquartered in Lansing with a regional office in Marquette and operates under an 11-member board of directors, the majority of whom are individuals with disabilities or family members.
DRM's business model is grant-funded and statutorily defined. Revenue derives from nine federal grants (administered by HHS, DOE, SAMHSA, and SSA), one annual state grant from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, private donations as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and occasional attorney fees from litigation. There is no commercial product or platform; the organization's "technology" is human-intensive legal advocacy. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through toll-free and local phone lines, online contact forms, in-person intake at Lansing and Marquette offices, and outreach across Michigan. DRM is a member of the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), the nationwide P&A membership organization, and partners with state agencies, advocacy coalitions, and academic institutions (e.g., Wayne State University Developmental Disabilities Institute) on research and policy.
Operations are structured around specialized advocacy teams led by directors covering litigation, education, employment, community and institutional rights, communications and voter accessibility, representative payee monitoring, and finance/administration. FY2023 scale signals include over 4,700 calls received, Representative Payee Team completion of 55 of 135 targeted reviews by Q2, and 761 flu shots plus ~300 COVID vaccinations delivered under a separate grant. Michelle Lindsay has served as Executive Director since January 2019. Recent strategic activity centers on high-impact litigation (children's mental health settlement in 2025, MDE special-education lawsuit), psychiatric hospital investigations (Stonecrest, Pontiac General, Harbor Oaks), DOJ-supported discharge-delay investigation, and a 2026 systemic report on ADA violations in a women's correctional facility.
Disability Rights Michigan firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Disability Rights Michigan
- Legal name
- Disability Rights Michigan
- Website
- https://drmich.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1975
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Disability Rights Michigan is the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy agency for Michigan, providing free legal representation, systemic advocacy, monitoring, and training to people with disabilities across the state, funded by federal and state grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Disability Rights Michigan industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Disability Rights Legal Advocacy
- NAICS
- Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Health Services (8000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG), Minority, Indigenous & Disability Rights (BPADAGAH)
Keywords
Where Disability Rights Michigan is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lansing
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Disability Rights Michigan business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Federal Grants: DRM receives funding from nine federal grants: Client Assistance Program (CAP), Protection & Advocacy of Individual Rights (PAIR), Protection & Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI), Protection & Advocacy for Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury (PATBI), Protection & Advocacy for Users of Assistive Technology (PAAT), Protection & Advocacy for Voter Access (PAVA), Protection & Advocacy for Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PADD), Protection & Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS), and Protection & Advocacy for Beneficiaries with Representative Payees (PABRP).
- State Grant: Annual state grant from Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to provide intake, information and referral services.
- Private Donations: Tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that accepts private donations to conduct advocacy services.
- Attorney's Fees: DRM sometimes is awarded attorney's fees as the result of litigation, which are used to do further work under the federal grant that generated the fees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | — | Free advocacy services for eligible individuals with disabilities |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Disability Rights Michigan product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Disability Rights Michigan provides free legal advocacy, information and referral, short-term assistance, selected individual and legal representation, systemic advocacy, facility monitoring, and training for people with disabilities in Michigan. Services are delivered through nine federally funded Protection and Advocacy programs plus a state grant covering intake and referral, and address civil rights, abuse and neglect, special education, employment, housing, voting access, assistive technology, and mental health rights.
Product overview
Disability Rights Michigan (DRM) is a nonprofit legal advocacy organization operating nine federally funded protection and advocacy programs, providing comprehensive services to people with disabilities. The core programs include Client Assistance Program (CAP), Protection & Advocacy of Individual Rights (PAIR), Protection & Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI), Protection & Advocacy for Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury (PATBI), Protection & Advocacy for Users of Assistive Technology (PAAT), Protection & Advocacy for Voter Access (PAVA), Protection & Advocacy for Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PADD), Protection & Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS), and Protection & Advocacy for Beneficiaries with Representative Payees (PABRP). DRM also provides additional services including transportation guidance, special education advocacy, employment support, housing resources, community mental health assistance, long-term care advocacy, public benefits guidance, accessibility resources, and veteran support. The organization operates as a single integrated advocacy service rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Client Assistance Program (CAP)
Companies that use Disability Rights Michigan
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Disability Rights Michigan technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Disability Rights Michigan partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- National Disability Rights Network (NDRN)coreNDRN is the nonprofit membership organization for the federally mandated Protection & Advocacy (P&A) Systems and Client Assistance Programs (CAP). There is a P&A/CAP agency in every state and U.S. territory as well as one serving the Native American population in the four corners region. DRM participates in NDRN conferences and contributes to national advocacy efforts.
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS)coreState agency providing annual grant funding for intake, information and referral services. MDHHS oversees the Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Administration (BHDDA) which manages the 46 CMHSPs. DRM has ongoing litigation and settlement negotiations with MDHHS regarding children's mental health services.
- McCall HamiltonminorEmily Henderson from McCall Hamilton provides legislative updates and policy advocacy support at DRM board and council meetings.
- Michigan Secretary of StateminorPartnership on voting accessibility initiatives and 'Know Your Rights' guides for voters with disabilities.
- Promote the VoteminorCollaboration on voting rights guides for people with disabilities.
- Detroit Disability PowerminorPartnership on voting accessibility activities and disability rights advocacy.
- Mental Health Association of MichiganminorDRM Legal Team presented on children's mental health lawsuit settlement to this organization.
- Michigan Developmental Disabilities CouncilminorDRM collaborated on the 2019 Employment First in Michigan report.
- Developmental Disabilities Institute at Wayne State UniversityminorCollaborated with DRM on the 2019 Employment First in Michigan report.
- Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA)minorMVAA is often the starting point for veterans looking for assistance. DRM provides veterans with disabilities guide information connecting to MVAA resources.
- Michigan Attorney GeneralminorDRM participates in the Michigan Attorney General's Elder Abuse Task Force. Also connected with AG's office on Medicaid fraud cases involving psychiatric hospitals.
- U.S. Department of JusticeminorU.S. DOJ has opened an investigation into delayed discharge from Michigan psychiatric hospitals. DRM's CAIR Team is assisting in obtaining information for their investigation.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Disability Rights Michigan competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- National Disability Rights Network (NDRN): The national membership organization for the P&A network that DRM belongs to. NDRN provides collective federal advocacy, training, and operational support to all state P&A agencies including DRM, serving as the network's central coordinating body.
Emerging players
- Center for Public Representation: National disability rights legal advocacy organization providing systemic litigation and policy advocacy. Overlaps with DRM's systemic advocacy work across disability populations, though CPR operates nationally rather than as a state-designated P&A.
- Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law: National legal advocacy organization focused on mental disability rights, including litigation and policy reform. While not a state P&A, Bazelon's federal-level litigation and policy work overlaps with DRM's PAIMI program activities in mental health rights.
- Disability Rights Advocates: National disability rights legal center pursuing high-impact litigation on behalf of people with disabilities. Comparable to DRM's litigation function, though DRA focuses on impact litigation across multiple states rather than serving as a state P&A.
Direct peers
- Disability Rights Texas: Texas's designated P&A agency providing legal advocacy and protection services to Texans with disabilities. Functions as a direct state-level peer with the same federal mandate, grant mix, and advocacy mission as DRM.
- Disability Law Center: Massachusetts and Utah's designated P&A agencies operating the same federal mandate and advocacy services. Direct structural peer to DRM in delivering disability legal rights protection.
- Disability Rights New York: New York State's federally mandated P&A agency. Operates the same federal program portfolio and NDRN membership model as DRM, with comparable legal advocacy, monitoring, and systemic reform activities.
- Disability Rights Wisconsin: Wisconsin's federally mandated P&A agency under the same federal statutory framework as DRM. Operates the same set of federal grant programs (CAP, PAIR, PAIMI, PADD, etc.) with nearly identical service offerings, governance structure, and NDRN membership.
- Equip for Equality: Illinois's designated P&A agency providing legally-based advocacy for people with disabilities. A direct state-level peer to DRM under the same federal P&A statutory framework.
Regional players
- Michigan Disability Rights Coalition: Michigan-based disability advocacy and cross-disability coalition organization. Operates in the same Michigan geography as DRM with overlapping disability advocacy focus, but functions as a coalition/education organization rather than a legal P&A.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Disability Rights Michigan social profiles
Digital presenceDisability Rights Michigan financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Disability Rights Michigan leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
Disability Rights Michigan funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Disability Rights Michigan M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Disability Rights Michigan
What does Disability Rights Michigan do?
Disability Rights Michigan provides free legal advocacy, information and referral, short-term assistance, selected individual and legal representation, systemic advocacy, facility monitoring, and training for people with disabilities in Michigan. Services are delivered through nine federally funded Protection and Advocacy programs plus a state grant covering intake and referral, and address civil rights, abuse and neglect, special education, employment, housing, voting access, assistive technology, and mental health rights.
Is Disability Rights Michigan a public or private company?
Disability Rights Michigan is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Disability Rights Michigan founded?
Disability Rights Michigan was founded in 1975. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Disability Rights Michigan based?
Disability Rights Michigan is headquartered in Lansing, United States, in the North America region.
How does Disability Rights Michigan make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Federal Grants are the primary driver. The others are state Grant, private Donations and attorney's Fees.
Who are Disability Rights Michigan's main competitors?
National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are Center for Public Representation, Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law and Disability Rights Advocates. Direct peers are Disability Rights Texas, Disability Law Center, Disability Rights New York, Disability Rights Wisconsin and Equip for Equality. Michigan Disability Rights Coalition is listed as a regional player.
Does Disability Rights Michigan have an API?
No public API is recorded for Disability Rights Michigan.
What industry is Disability Rights Michigan in?
Disability Rights Michigan's product category is Disability Rights Legal Advocacy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAM, Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech), with a secondary code of BPAGACAG, Disability Services & Independent Living Support. Its NAICS code is 62412 and its SIC code is 8300.