Disability Rights Vermont

"Disability Rights Vermont, Inc. (DRVT) is part of the National Protection and Advocacy system. This national system was created by Congress in response to concerns that States were not doing enough to protect people with disabilities against abuse, neglect and serious rights violations. The Congress created the Protection and Advocacy (P&A) system to increase scrutiny and available resources in order to improve conditions for people with disabilities. Each state has a P&A system; some are part of state government and some are private, non-profit corporations. DRVT is a private, non-profit corporation designated by the Governor to be Vermont's P&A system and has been in this role for more than fifteen years. Disability Rights Vermont can offer you: information; support; referrals to other agencies and services; assistance preparing a durable power of attorney for health care (legal document stating your treatment wishes in case you become unable to make your health care decisions); advocacy and legal representation*

*Disability Rights Vermont is not able to serve every individual calling for assistance and uses the following case acceptance criteria: complaint falls within DRVT program priorities; lack of alternative representation; immediacy and severity of potential harm to client; DRVT intervention will have a system-wide impact. "