Disability Rights Center

What Disability Rights Center does

Disability Rights Center of Kansas (DRC) is the federally designated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) System for the State of Kansas, established under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and headquartered at 214 SW 6th Ave., Ste 100, Topeka. The organization provides free legal advocacy, civil representation, information and referral, and self-advocacy support to Kansans with disabilities, with specialized programs including the Disability & Aging Crime Victims Unit (DACVU) for crime victims with disabilities and seniors, the Client Assistance Program (CAP) for vocational rehabilitation rights, and the I Decide Kansas platform supporting HB2345 Supported Decision Making Agreements. DRC also produces extensive educational resources — most notably a 30+ flyer Special Education Rights Guide co-developed with Families Together, Inc. — covering voting, housing, guardianship, HCBS waivers, and crime prevention.

DRC's underlying technology is a content-and-services platform built on Plone/Python with online intake, a toll-free voice line, and a comprehensive resource center; no proprietary software, APIs, SDKs, or AI components are disclosed. The website and email newsletter operate as the primary distribution surface, supplemented by social media (Facebook, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram) and VoterVoice action alerts. All services are provided at no cost to clients.

The revenue model is grant-funded: DRC receives federal appropriations via the Administration for Community Living (grants 2201KSPADD, 2201KSPAVA, 2201KSPAAT, 2201KSPATB), Center for Mental Health Services/SAMHSA, Rehabilitation Services Administration (H240A220017, H161A220013), Social Security Administration (PAB19020339-01-04, SPS18000022-04-00), and multi-year VOCA subgrants (23-VOCA-56 through 26-VOCA-56) administered by the Kansas Governor's Grants Program, supplemented by a March 2024 $15,500 IOLTA award. Go-to-market is community-led: client acquisition occurs through the website, toll-free line, partner referrals (schools, KCSDV, CILs, KDADS), and direct outreach, with no paid acquisition motion.

Name

Disability Rights Center

Legal name

Disability Rights Center of Kansas

Website

https://drckansas.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Disability Rights Center of Kansas is the federally designated Protection and Advocacy System for Kansas, providing free legal advocacy and representation to Kansans with disabilities through specialized programs including crime victim assistance, vocational rehabilitation rights, and supported decision-making.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Legal Advocacy Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG), Disability Benefits Administration (BPAIAKAC)

Keywords

• Disability legal advocacy
• Protection and advocacy
• Disability rights services
• Special education advocacy
• Crime victim services

Headquarters

HQ city

Topeka

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Federal and State Grants: DRC operates as the Protection and Advocacy (P&A) System for Kansas under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The organization receives federal funding from multiple sources including the Administration for Community Living (grants 2201KSPADD, 2201KSPAVA, 2201KSPAAT, 2201KSPATB), Center for Mental Health Services/SAMHSA, Rehabilitation Services Administration (grants H240A220017, H161A220013), and Social Security Administration (grants PAB19020339-01-04, SPS18000022-04-00). VOCA grants from the Federal Office for Victims of Crime (subgrant numbers 23-VOCA-56, 24-VOCA-56, 25-VOCA-56, 26-VOCA-56) administered by the Kansas Governor's Grants Program provide crime victim services funding. Services are provided at no cost to clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Disability Rights Center of Kansas (DRC) is the federally designated Protection and Advocacy System for the State of Kansas. It provides free legal advocacy and representation services to Kansans with disabilities, including civil legal representation, special education rights assistance, crime victim services, guardianship alternatives, voting rights support, and vocational rehabilitation rights protection. All services are provided at no cost to clients and funded primarily by federal grants.

Product overview

Disability Rights Center of Kansas is a nonprofit legal advocacy organization that provides free legal services to Kansans with disabilities. The organization operates as a Protection and Advocacy (P&A) system, offering services through multiple programs: the core Legal Advocacy Services for general disability rights matters; the Disability & Aging Crime Victims Unit (DACVU) specifically for crime victims with disabilities; the Client Assistance Program (CAP) for vocational rehabilitation rights; and I Decide Kansas for Supported Decision Making resources. The organization also produces extensive educational resources including a Special Education Rights Guide with 30+ topic-specific flyers, crime prevention resources covering identity theft and housing scams, newsletters, and housing assistance programs. All services are provided at no cost to eligible Kansans.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Disability & Aging Crime Victims Unit (DACVU): A program of DRC providing free assistance to Kansans with disabilities or Kansas seniors who have been victims of crime, including civil legal representation, rehousing assistance, and personal advocacy.
• Client Assistance Program (CAP)
• I Decide Kansas

Products and services

• Free Legal Advocacy Services

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Families Together, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Collaboration on special education resources for Kansas families. Co-created the comprehensive 'Know Your Special Education Rights' guide covering 30+ topics for parents and students in Kansas.
• Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence (KCSDV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral and resource partnership for sexual assault and domestic violence services for people with disabilities. KCSDV provides the Kansas Crisis Hotline at 888-363-2287 and specialized resources for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• I Decide KansascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDRC-created website providing information about Supported Decision Making (SDM) in Kansas. HB2345 (Supported Decision Making Agreements Act) provides statutory framework for adults wanting decision-making assistance.
• Kansas Rehabilitation Services (Vocational Rehabilitation)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDRC's Client Assistance Program (CAP) helps protect rights of VR clients and applicants under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Services include information, referrals, self-advocacy assistance, and legal representation.
• Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOversees HCBS waiver programs and provider licensing. DRC advocates for individuals receiving home and community-based services.
• Kansas Centers for Independent Living (CILs)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCAP program services available to clients of Centers for Independent Living. Referrals and collaborative advocacy for independent living services.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Center for Public Representation: National nonprofit legal center that litigates on behalf of people with disabilities in HCBS, guardianship, and special education matters—adjacent to DRC's practice areas.

Broad incumbents

• Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law: National legal advocacy organization for people with mental disabilities. Overlaps with DRC's work on guardianship, HCBS, and disability rights but operates federally rather than as a state P&A.
• The Arc of the United States: National disability advocacy and services organization with state/local chapters. Comparable mission around disability rights and HCBS, but broader scope and not a P&A system.
• National Disability Rights Network (NDRN): The umbrella membership organization for the P&A and CAP network nationwide. Coordinates federal advocacy and provides training/shared services to DRC and its state-P&A peers.

Regional players

• Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence (KCSDV): Kansas-focused coalition partner of DRC. Overlaps in serving crime victims with disabilities and operates the Kansas Crisis Hotline—comparable Kansas-based victim-services work, but broader survivor population.

Direct peers

• Disability Rights California: California's P&A system, the largest in the U.S. Provides the same federally mandated legal advocacy and protection services for people with disabilities as DRC Kansas, scaled to a much larger population.
• Disability Rights Washington: Washington state's federally designated P&A system. Direct functional peer—same federal statutory authority, same nonprofit legal advocacy model, same federal grant mix—operating in a different state.
• Disability Rights Texas: Texas's P&A system, providing direct legal advocacy and protection services for Texans with disabilities under the same federal P&A mandate as DRC Kansas.
• Disability Rights Advocates (DRA): National nonprofit disability rights legal center. Directly comparable legal-advocacy mission, but operates federally and on impact litigation rather than individual state P&A representation.

Others

• Disability Rights Fund: International grantmaker funding disability rights organizations, including in the U.S. Ecosystem participant—relevant as a potential funding source comparable to DRC's federal/state grant mix.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DRCKansas
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCGahxqpwrJu6o2eZhYDWQXQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/193913423994947
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-disability-rights-center-of-kansas
• Instagraminstagram.com/drckansas

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Center