disability rights new mexico

What disability rights new mexico does

Disability Rights New Mexico (DRNM) is a private, non-profit organization founded in 1987 and designated as the federally mandated protection and advocacy (P&A) system for the State of New Mexico. The organization is headquartered in Albuquerque at the James Jackson Center for Disability Rights and operates with a small leadership team of 1–10 employees. DRNM's core mission is to protect, promote, and expand the rights of persons with disabilities in New Mexico through legal representation, systemic litigation, self-advocacy resources, training, and supported decision-making services, all provided free of charge to clients regardless of income.

DRNM's service portfolio comprises five core offerings: (1) legal representation and advocacy, including investigation of abuse and neglect and impact litigation such as the Jackson lawsuit (which led to closure of state institutions), the Kevin S. foster care settlement, M.G. v. Scrase on behalf of medically fragile children, and a group complaint against Albuquerque Public Schools; (2) intake and referral services accessible via phone and, as of April 2026, an online intake system; (3) self-advocacy materials covering Medicaid, special education, service animals, alternatives to guardianship, and voting rights, available in English and Spanish; (4) training programs for groups and organizations on disability rights topics; and (5) Supported Decision-Making partnerships with the NM Office of Guardianship.

DRNM does not operate a software platform or sell products. Revenue is derived entirely from federal grants (HHS-Administration for Community Living, DOE-Rehabilitation Services Administration, HHS-SAMHSA, Social Security Administration) and State of New Mexico appropriations, supplemented by limited philanthropic donations. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 850276496) with no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no equity funding, and is independently evaluated by Charity Navigator. Distribution is direct-to-client through the Albuquerque office and statewide training delivery.

Name

disability rights new mexico

Legal name

Disability Rights New Mexico

Website

https://drnm.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Disability Rights New Mexico is a federally mandated, non-profit protection and advocacy organization providing free legal representation, training, self-advocacy resources, and systemic litigation services to people with disabilities across New Mexico, funded primarily by federal and state government grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Legal Advocacy

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Rights & Accessibility Advocacy (BPAGAFAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

Keywords

• Disability legal advocacy
• Protection and advocacy
• Disability rights services
• Special education advocacy
• Systemic disability litigation

Headquarters

HQ city

Albuquerque

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Federal and State Government Grants: DRNM receives funding from HHS-Administration for Community Living, DOE-Rehabilitation Services Administration, HHS-Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration, Social Security Administration, and the State of New Mexico. This is the primary funding source for the protection and advocacy system.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Disability Rights New Mexico is a private, federally designated non-profit protection and advocacy system that provides free legal representation, advocacy, and self-advocacy resources to people with disabilities in New Mexico. The organization investigates abuse and neglect, pursues impact litigation, engages in legislative and policy advocacy, conducts trainings, and offers intake and referral services aimed at systemic reform.

Product overview

Disability Rights New Mexico (DRNM) is a private, non-profit organization designated as the federally mandated protection and advocacy system for New Mexico. DRNM's service portfolio consists primarily of legal representation and advocacy, self-advocacy materials, intake and referral services, training programs, and supported decision-making assistance. DRNM does not operate a software platform but delivers advocacy services through direct legal action, public education, and community resources. The organization is funded by HHS-ACL, DOE-RSA, HHS-SAMHSA, Social Security Administration, and the State of New Mexico.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Legal Representation and Advocacy Services
• Self-Advocacy Materials
• Intake and Referral Services
• Training Programs
• Supported Decision-Making (SDM)
• Drop-In Legal Clinic

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully closed state institutions in Los Lunas and Fort Stanton as result of Jackson lawsuit filed in 1987
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Direct Therapy ServicesminorOthers · 27 January 2026Direct Therapy Services provided generous financial support to DRNM to advance disability justice, helping people find their voices and ensuring systems listen and act.
• Brain Injury Alliance of New MexicominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 October 2025DRNM promotes and participates in the Brain Injury Alliance of New Mexico annual conference as part of outreach to the disability community.
• ACLU of New MexicocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 December 2022ACLU-NM filed lawsuit on behalf of DRNM against the NM Corrections Department to ensure incarcerated people with opioid use disorder receive medically necessary medication.
• New Mexico Center on Law and PovertycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 May 2022DRNM partnered with New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty and private counsel to file M.G. v. Scrase on behalf of medically fragile children denied necessary in-home nursing services through Medicaid.
• Native American Disability Law CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2020DRNM joined with Native American Disability Law Center as organizational plaintiffs in the Kevin S. lawsuit addressing systemic failures in New Mexico's foster care system.
• Pegasus Legal Services for ChildrencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2020DRNM works with Pegasus Legal Services as part of the implementation team monitoring the Kevin S. settlement progress, advocating for trauma-responsive care for foster children.
• Public CounselcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2020Public Counsel serves as co-counsel in the Kevin S. case and part of the implementation team charged with monitoring the state's progress on foster care reform.
• Disability CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDRNM participates in the Disability Coalition which produces Legislative News and Reports as part of system advocacy efforts.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Native American Disability Law Center: Federally funded tribal P&A serving Native American communities with disabilities across multiple states. Direct litigation partner of DRNM in the Kevin S. case, with overlapping but more specialized geographic and demographic mandate.

Direct peers

• Equip for Equality: Illinois's federally mandated Protection & Advocacy organization for people with disabilities. Operates with the same federal designation, advocacy model, and funding mix as DRNM.
• Disability Rights California: California's designated P&A system, providing legal advocacy, impact litigation, and self-advocacy resources for people with disabilities. Closest analog in scale and case-type mix to DRNM.
• Disability Rights Texas: Federally mandated Protection & Advocacy organization for Texas providing legal advocacy and representation for people with disabilities. Direct state-level peer to DRNM with the same federal statutory mandate, funding mix (federal grants + state), and litigation model.
• Disability Rights Wisconsin: Wisconsin's Protection & Advocacy system offering legal services and systemic litigation for people with disabilities. Direct state-P&A peer with overlapping focus areas.
• Disability Rights Washington: Washington state's designated P&A system providing legal representation and advocacy for people with disabilities. Direct state-P&A peer.
• Disability Rights New York: New York's designated P&A system providing legal advocacy and representation for people with disabilities. Comparable federal mandate, litigation portfolio, and organizational structure.
• Disability Law Center (Utah): Utah's designated P&A organization providing legal advocacy for people with disabilities. Comparable regional P&A peer.
• Disability Rights Florida: Florida's designated P&A system offering legal advocacy, intake, and systemic litigation for persons with disabilities. Direct state-level P&A peer.

Broad incumbents

• National Disability Rights Network: National membership association of the federally funded P&A and Client Assistance Program systems. Functions as the umbrella/incumbent coordinating body that DRNM belongs to, providing training, federal advocacy, and policy infrastructure to its member state P&As.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks3 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/DisabRightsNM
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/drnm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

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 new mexico