Disability Rights North Carolina

Disability Rights North Carolina is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, that serves as the designated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) system for the state. The organization has been registered to receive federal awards since July 2007 and holds active prime federal grant awards across multiple disability-focused programs. Disability Rights North Carolina provides comprehensive legal advocacy, information dissemination, systemic investigations, and direct assistance services to individuals with disabilities across North Carolina, working to protect and advance the rights of vulnerable populations including persons with developmental disabilities, mental illness, traumatic brain injuries, and those seeking voting access.

Disability Rights North Carolina's federal grant portfolio reflects its multifaceted mission to advocate for and protect individuals with disabilities across numerous domains. The organization currently maintains active formula grants from the Administration on Disabilities supporting five distinct protection and advocacy programs: the DD Act State Protection & Advocacy Systems (FY2026), the TBI Act Protection & Advocacy for Traumatic Brain Injury (FY2026), the Protection & Advocacy for Assistive Technology (FY2026), the HAVA Protection & Advocacy for Voting Access (FY2026), and the Developmental Disabilities Basic Support and Advocacy Grants program. Additionally, Disability Rights North Carolina receives support from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Center for Mental Health Services for its Protection & Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness program and from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services for its Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights (PAIR) program. The organization also holds two project grants from the Social Security Administration focused on protection and advocacy services and representative payee reviews for Social Security beneficiaries. Beyond primary grant awards, Disability Rights North Carolina has received sub-award funding that has enabled it to sponsor vaccination clinics for underserved populations and develop financial literacy education, community living options training, and integrated leadership development initiatives. The organization's historical grant record demonstrates consistent federal support since at least 2021, with awards structured as annual formula grants that enable sustained, ongoing protection and advocacy services to North Carolina's disability community.