Disability Rights Arkansas Inc

DISABILITY RIGHTS ARKANSAS, INC. PROTECTS AND ADVOCATES FOR THE CIVIL AND LEGAL RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN ARKANSAS. OUR MISSION IS TO VIGOROUSLY ADVOCATE AND ENFORCE THE LEGAL RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY FOR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (PADD): DESPITE THE PANDEMIC, DRA CONTINUED TO MONITOR THE STATE'S FIVE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT CENTERS (HDCS). AS A RESULT OF A DEATH INVESTIGATION AT ONE HDC, DRA SUBMITTED A LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE STATE. ONE OF RECOMMENDATIONS, CONCERNING CALLING 911 WITHOUT PRIOR APPROVAL, WAS IMPLEMENTED. FURTHER, THE STATE HAS HIRED AN EXPERT WITNESS TO EXPLORE WAYS TO REDUCE THE USE OF RESTRAINTS IN THE HDCS. DRA CONTINUED OUR FOCUS IN FY 21 ON MEDICAID MANAGED CARE IN ARKANSAS; IN ADDITION TO REPRESENTING CLIENTS IN APPEALS, WE CONTINUED TO GATHER DATA REGARDING THE GRIEVANCE AND COMPLAINT PROCESSES.

PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS (PAIMI): DRA CONTINUED TO ADDRESS THE OVERRELIANCE OF INSTITUTIONAL PLACEMENTS TO TREAT PAIMI-ELIGIBLE YOUTH IN ARKANSAS, AN UNFORTUNATE OUTCOME OF THE LACK OF COMMUNITY-BASED RESOURCES, THE PROLIFERATION OF FOR-PROFIT RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT ENTITIES, LAX REGULATIONS, AND OVERSIGHT FROM THE STATE. IN ADDITION TO THE MAJOR INVESTIGATIONS INTO ABUSES AT PSYCHIATRIC RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITIES (PRTFS), A DEATH INVESTIGATION AT A STATE PRISON, AND INVESTIGATION OF THE OFF-LABEL USE OF MEDICATION/LACK OF INFORMED CONSENT AT A COUNTY JAIL, DRA FURTHERED OUR EFFORTS TO IMPROVE TRANSPARENCY OF THE STATE'S PRTF'S BY CREATING A DATABASE LOCATED ON OUR WEBSITE. BECAUSE INFORMATION FROM ENTITIES CHARGED WITH OVERSIGHT OF THESE FACILITIES IS NOT COORDINATED OR TRACKED, IT IS NOT AVAILABLE IN ONE PLACE, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR GUARDIANS, JUDGES, OTHER STATES, AND PLACEMENT AGENCIES TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT THE PLACEMENT OF YOUTH. THE INFORMATION WE ARE PROVIDING IN THIS DATABASE IS OBTAINED THROUGH PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUESTS. WHILE THIS INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, IT HAS NOT PREVIOUSLY BEEN CORRELATED AND PUBLISHED OR OTHERWISE MADE EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC, A SITUATION WE ARE RECTIFYING WITH THE CREATION OF THIS DATABASE.

REP PAYEE: DRA WORKED TO EXPAND AN EMPLOYMENT FIRST COALITION TO INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES FROM SERVICE PROVIDERS, STATE AGENCIES, AND OUR FEDERAL DD ACT PARTNERS, WHICH WILL ENHANCE THE COALITION'S REACH AND ASSIST IN COLLECTING DATA TO BE USED IN EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS REGARDING VIABLE ALTERNATIVES TO SEGREGATED, SUBMINIMUM-WAGE EMPLOYMENT. WITHIN THE LIMITATIONS IMPOSED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, DRA'S PABSS PROGRAM CONTINUED OUTREACH EFFORTS FROM THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR, ALBEIT THROUGH VIRTUAL EVENTS, WITH A GOAL OF EXPANDING AND IMPROVING UNDERSTANDING OF THE SERVICES DRA OFFERS THROUGH ITS PABSS PROGRAM. DURING THESE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION EVENTS, PABSS STAFF EMPHASIZED THEIR WILLINGNESS TO SEEK CASES OUTSIDE OF ESTABLISHED PRIORITIES AND OBJECTIVES TO ENSURE THAT SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFICIARIES CAN RECEIVE ASSISTANCE IN OVERCOMING BARRIERS TO COMPETITIVE, INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT. IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE VAST REACH OF SOCIAL MEDIA, DRA IN FY2021 PRODUCED SEVERAL EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS THAT WILL LIVE ON DRA'S WEBSITE AND VARIOUS SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS REGARDING SUCH PABSS TOPICS AS RETURNING TO WORK AND TRANSITION PLANNING FOR SCHOOL-AGED YOUTH.

PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY FOR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (PADD): DESPITE THE PANDEMIC, DRA CONTINUED TO MONITOR THE STATE'S FIVE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT CENTERS (HDCS). AS A RESULT OF A DEATH INVESTIGATION AT ONE HDC, DRA SUBMITTED A LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE STATE. ONE OF RECOMMENDATIONS, CONCERNING CALLING 911 WITHOUT PRIOR APPROVAL, WAS IMPLEMENTED. FURTHER, THE STATE HAS HIRED AN EXPERT WITNESS TO EXPLORE WAYS TO REDUCE THE USE OF RESTRAINTS IN THE HDCS. DRA CONTINUED OUR FOCUS IN FY 21 ON MEDICAID MANAGED CARE IN ARKANSAS; IN ADDITION TO REPRESENTING CLIENTS IN APPEALS, WE CONTINUED TO GATHER DATA REGARDING THE GRIEVANCE AND COMPLAINT PROCESSES.

PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS (PAIMI): DRA CONTINUED TO ADDRESS THE OVERRELIANCE OF INSTITUTIONAL PLACEMENTS TO TREAT PAIMI-ELIGIBLE YOUTH IN ARKANSAS, AN UNFORTUNATE OUTCOME OF THE LACK OF COMMUNITY-BASED RESOURCES, THE PROLIFERATION OF FOR-PROFIT RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT ENTITIES, LAX REGULATIONS, AND OVERSIGHT FROM THE STATE. IN ADDITION TO THE MAJOR INVESTIGATIONS INTO ABUSES AT PSYCHIATRIC RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITIES (PRTFS), A DEATH INVESTIGATION AT A STATE PRISON, AND INVESTIGATION OF THE OFF-LABEL USE OF MEDICATION/LACK OF INFORMED CONSENT AT A COUNTY JAIL, DRA FURTHERED OUR EFFORTS TO IMPROVE TRANSPARENCY OF THE STATE'S PRTF'S BY CREATING A DATABASE LOCATED ON OUR WEBSITE. BECAUSE INFORMATION FROM ENTITIES CHARGED WITH OVERSIGHT OF THESE FACILITIES IS NOT COORDINATED OR TRACKED, IT IS NOT AVAILABLE IN ONE PLACE, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR GUARDIANS, JUDGES, OTHER STATES, AND PLACEMENT AGENCIES TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT THE PLACEMENT OF YOUTH. THE INFORMATION WE ARE PROVIDING IN THIS DATABASE IS OBTAINED THROUGH PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUESTS. WHILE THIS INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, IT HAS NOT PREVIOUSLY BEEN CORRELATED AND PUBLISHED OR OTHERWISE MADE EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC, A SITUATION WE ARE RECTIFYING WITH THE CREATION OF THIS DATABASE.

REP PAYEE: DRA WORKED TO EXPAND AN EMPLOYMENT FIRST COALITION TO INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES FROM SERVICE PROVIDERS, STATE AGENCIES, AND OUR FEDERAL DD ACT PARTNERS, WHICH WILL ENHANCE THE COALITION'S REACH AND ASSIST IN COLLECTING DATA TO BE USED IN EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS REGARDING VIABLE ALTERNATIVES TO SEGREGATED, SUBMINIMUM-WAGE EMPLOYMENT. WITHIN THE LIMITATIONS IMPOSED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, DRA'S PABSS PROGRAM CONTINUED OUTREACH EFFORTS FROM THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR, ALBEIT THROUGH VIRTUAL EVENTS, WITH A GOAL OF EXPANDING AND IMPROVING UNDERSTANDING OF THE SERVICES DRA OFFERS THROUGH ITS PABSS PROGRAM. DURING THESE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION EVENTS, PABSS STAFF EMPHASIZED THEIR WILLINGNESS TO SEEK CASES OUTSIDE OF ESTABLISHED PRIORITIES AND OBJECTIVES TO ENSURE THAT SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFICIARIES CAN RECEIVE ASSISTANCE IN OVERCOMING BARRIERS TO COMPETITIVE, INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT. IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE VAST REACH OF SOCIAL MEDIA, DRA IN FY2021 PRODUCED SEVERAL EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS THAT WILL LIVE ON DRA'S WEBSITE AND VARIOUS SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS REGARDING SUCH PABSS TOPICS AS RETURNING TO WORK AND TRANSITION PLANNING FOR SCHOOL-AGED YOUTH.