Disability Rights Iowa

Disability Rights Iowa Advocating for justice. Advancing human and legal rights. Protecting Iowans with disabilities. Legal Disclaimers

1. We will err on the side of caution here.

Disability Rights Iowa helps people with disabilities and mental illness deal with discrimination. Help is provided in several ways depending on the priorities set by Disability Rights Iowa's Board of Directors. Problems Iowa P&A deals with may include abuse, neglect, education, employment, housing, or denial of services. that information provided by Disability Rights Iowa is for informational pur

poses only and does not constitute legal advice; and
2. that neither the information provided by Disability Rights Iowa nor the use thereof by a reader creates a contract or an attorney-client relationship; and
3. that there is no promise or warranty as to the accuracy, completeness, adequacy, timeliness, or relevance of the information provided by Disability Rights Iowa; and
4. that Disability Rights Iowa is not responsible for the content of any comments posted by third parties on Disability Rights Iowa’s; Facebook, X (Twitter,) Instagram, Linked In, Linktree and YouTube accounts, or on any site accessible through a hyperlink provided by Disability Rights Iowa. The following Terms of Use, if followed, will increase the likelihood of your comments being approved for posting and apply to all cyber platforms operated by Disability Rights Iowa. Any comments, posts, or submissions you make must be original or include attribution to the source(s) even if the source is not copyrighted material. We ask that you refrain from posting, and we cannot permit postings that fall into any of the following categories:

1. Requests for protection and advocacy services or postings that could cause Disability Rights Iowa to incur legal liability

Disability Rights Iowa does NOT accept or respond to requests for services made on its page or You-Tube Channel or by any of its social networking platforms. If you are a resident of Iowa and want to request services from Disability Rights Iowa, you’ll find detailed information by visiting the “let us help” page of the Disability Rights Iowa home page at www.driowa.org. If you are a resident of another state or a U.S. territory, you’ll be able to find information about your protection and advocacy entity by following this link to the National Disability Rights Network website: www.ndrn.org.


2. Comments we know or suspect to be inaccurate which are presented as factual. Disability Rights Iowa does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information in the comment section and expressly disclaim any liability for any information posted, or websites linked, to here.

3. Comments that are unrelated to the post in which they are submitted

4. Posts that contain language or links we consider to be uncivil

5. Comments that show a preference for or opposition to a candidate for elective office or a political party

6. Comments which solicit personally identifying information (names, e-mail addresses, phone numbers)

7. Comments which are used for advertising or contain copyrighted material you are not authorized to use.
8. Complaints regarding Disability Rights Iowa should follow our grievance policy. Information about this can be found on the “grievance policy” section of the Disability Rights Iowa website At http://disabilityrightsiowa.org/contact-disability-rights-iowa/grievance-policy/.

you have questions about the new school discipline bill signed into law this summer... we have answers. follow this link...
08/29/2026

you have questions about the new school discipline bill signed into law this summer... we have answers.

follow this link to learn more about how this bill could impact your child with disabilities education and what their rights to education still are:
https://disabilityrightsiowa.org/what-we-do/education/school-discipline/

ID: text reading "new special education law in Iowa. SF 2428: Discipline of Students who Cause Violent or Nonviolent Disruptions"

Applications are now open for DRI's Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness Advisory Council. This c...
08/29/2026

Applications are now open for DRI's Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness Advisory Council. This council advises DRI's Board of Directors to include and be aware of issues Iowans with mental health diagnoses face each day. Learn more about the Council and how to apply at this link https://disabilityrightsiowa.org/who-we-are/mental-illness-advisory-council/

ID: flowers with text on top that reads "Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness Advisory Council. Applications Now Open through August 31, 2026."

08/28/2026

Thank you for following along with us for that last 42 hours, and your partnership for the last 42 years! As we move forward together, we urge you to continue to follow DRI’s work and see the impact your support makes. We are excited to keep Creating Change with you - not just for 42 hours, but for the next 42 years and beyond!

Only 1 hour remains to help DRI continue Creating Change for Iowans with disabilities! Achieving DRI’s vision of a chang...
08/28/2026

Only 1 hour remains to help DRI continue Creating Change for Iowans with disabilities! Achieving DRI’s vision of a changed world for people with disabilities requires all of us. Your support today helps our work to create that reality tomorrow. Every donation, no matter how small, makes a significant difference and goes directly towards serving more Iowans with disabilities: https://www.mightycause.com/story/42HoursOfCreatingChange or https://www.desmoinesfoundation.org/givedsm/42-hours-of-creating-change.

[Image: Stopwatch with red "1" in the center. Teal text below reads: "Hour Remains!"]

With only 2 hours left in our 42 Hours of Creating Change Movement, there is still time to support DRI’s work: https://w...
08/28/2026

With only 2 hours left in our 42 Hours of Creating Change Movement, there is still time to support DRI’s work: https://www.mightycause.com/story/42HoursOfCreatingChange or https://www.desmoinesfoundation.org/givedsm/42-hours-of-creating-change! DRI has been at the forefront of Creating Change for disability rights in Iowa for 42 years, but there is still work to be done. As a thank you for supporting our work, donors during these 42 hours will receive a digital copy of our 2025 Annual Report as well as a sneak preview of our new mural painted by Jill Wells!

[Image: Light blue graphic with teal text: "2 Hours Remain!" Red clock below text.]

DRI Board member, Christian, shares that “as a father and attorney, DRI’s work to help Iowans with disabilities navigate...
08/28/2026

DRI Board member, Christian, shares that “as a father and attorney, DRI’s work to help Iowans with disabilities navigate challenging systems and advocating on their behalf when they are overlooked hits me directly in the center of my heart. I recognize that many individuals with disabilities and their families do not have the tools to get the access they need. It has been an enormous honor to be part of DRI’s 42 years of supporting Iowans with disabilities. Please consider donating to provide those tools to our fellow Iowans: https://www.mightycause.com/story/42HoursOfCreatingChange or https://www.desmoinesfoundation.org/givedsm/42-hours-of-creating-change.”

[Image: Photo of Christian, a man with brown hair wearing a blue suit. Text below reads: "Many individuals with disabilities and their families do not have the tools to get the access they need. - Christian, DRI Board Member."]

For over 20 years, Ms. Thomas’ mother was her legal guardian. But, Ms. Thomas didn’t believe she needed one. She had her...
08/28/2026

For over 20 years, Ms. Thomas’ mother was her legal guardian. But, Ms. Thomas didn’t believe she needed one. She had her own apartment, she shopped for her own groceries, she took care of her own needs, and she had a job. So, she asked DRI for help in changing her guardianship. DRI provided legal representation that ended the guardianship. After the judge made their decision, she jumped for joy. Ms. Thomas shared, “I won, I won, I won – I had trouble believing it – I have freedom now because of DRI’s help.”

[Image: Photo of Greg Bal, a tall man with glasses wearing a suit, standing next to Ms. Thomas, a woman with long grey hair wearing glasses and a white dress.]

08/28/2026

Kaeli and Kurt reached out to DRI for assistance. DRI provided legal advocacy assistance to restore Kurt’s Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (CDAC Hours). They shared, “Kurt’s core hours got cut in half by his Managed Care Organization. It was too overwhelming to maintain his care on reduced hours and try to appeal. DRI took all of that over…and advocated for him.” Watch Kaeli and Kurt’s story to learn more about how DRI is Creating Change every day for Iowans with disabilities.

Marissa is a DRI Board member because “as a disabled Iowan, I frequently experience barriers to accessing my work and co...
08/28/2026

Marissa is a DRI Board member because “as a disabled Iowan, I frequently experience barriers to accessing my work and community. I volunteer with DRI because I want to ensure the rights that Iowans with disabilities have remain intact, while also advocating to have the same opportunities as individuals without disabilities. DRI has been a strong advocate for 42 years, but there is still more to do. Please consider donating to help DRI continue creating change: https://www.mightycause.com/story/42HoursOfCreatingChange or https://www.desmoinesfoundation.org/givedsm/42-hours-of-creating-change."

[Image: Photo of Marissa, a woman with brown curly hair standing and using a white cane, with text to the right: "I volunteer with DRI because I want to ensure the rights that Iowans with disabilities have remain intact.” - Marissa, DRI Board Member."]

08/28/2026

In the last five years, Iowa’s disability community has grown by 13% and now includes more than 412,000 individuals. Contrastingly, Iowa’s total population has grown by less than 3% in that same time period. As the number of Iowans with disabilities increases, the demand for DRI’s services grows. You can help DRI continue Creating Change for Iowans with disabilities by donating today: https://www.mightycause.com/story/42HoursOfCreatingChange or https://www.desmoinesfoundation.org/givedsm/42-hours-of-creating-change.

Address

606 Walnut Street , Suite 2220
Des Moines, IA
50309

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

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+15152782502

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