About Native American Disability Law Center

The Native American Disability Law Center (the Law Center) serves Native Americans with disabilities living in the Four Corners Region and provides technical assistance and support to non-Native disability advocacy organizations.  The Law Center focuses on providing legal advocacy and training to protect the civil rights of Native Americans with disabilities and expand their opportunities to live as independently as possible in their community. The Law Center provides a range of direct representation to ensure that Native Americans with disabilities have access to appropriate community services and supports, are free from abuse or neglect, and are able to live and participate fully in their communities. In addition to direct representation, our client community has consistently requested that we provide community education to individuals with disabilities and their families.  In response, we participate in local, regional, and national conferences and seminars to educate the community on the laws that protect the rights of individuals with disabilities.  The Law Center educates individuals with disabilities, their family members and the professionals who serve them, including other lawyers, teachers and social workers.  These education efforts focus not only on the rights of individuals with disabilities, but also on the unique legal issues facing Native Americans with disabilities and the interaction of federal Indian law with federal disability law. Additionally, the Law Center works with tribal governments to strengthen the laws and protections for their members with disabilities while also respecting tribal sovereignty and traditions. The Law Center also provides technical support and advice to individuals with disabilities and their families to assist them in self-advocacy efforts.  This type of assistance often includes answering discrete questions about what the law may require and providing information about community-based services and how to access them. The Law Center also participates in systemic litigation to address the overarching issues facing Native Americans with disabilities.