DISABILITY RIGHTS MISSISSIPPI

DURING FISCAL YEAR 2024, DISABILITY RIGHTS MISSISSIPPI (DRMS) DIVERSIFIED ITS INDIVIDUAL CASE LOAD, INCREASED INVOLVEMENT IN SYSTEMIC ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, IMPROVED OUTREACH EFFORTS AND PUBLIC AWARENESS, AND COLLABORATED WITH OTHER DISABILITY ADVOCACY AND SERVICE AGENCIES, ALL IN AN EFFORT TO ADVANCE ITS MISSION OF PROTECTING AND ADVOCATING FOR THE RIGHTS OF ALL MISSISSIPPIANS WITH DISABILITIES. DRMS REPRESENTED CLIENTS WITH A VARIETY OF DISABILITIES AND ISSUES WITH 171 INDIVIDUAL CASES, PLUS 97 REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE REVIEWS. THE AGENCY PROVIDED INFORMATION AND REFERRALS RELATING TO DISABILITY RIGHTS FOR 650 INDIVIDUALS. DRMS WORKED ON OVER 25 PROJECTS, RANGING FROM COMMITTEE PARTICIPATION, TRAININGS AND OUTREACH, AND SYSTEMS ADVOCACY. THE AGENCY PERFORMED IN-DEPTH REVIEWS OF REPRESENTATIVE PAYEES FOR THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION. THE DRMS BOARD REMAINED ACTIVE IN BUDGETARY AND POLICY OVERSIGHT, APPROVING PRIORITIES FOR THE COMING FISCAL YEAR AND A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS. THE AGENCY WELCOMED NEW BOARD MEMBERS, AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF NEW STAFF MEMBERS. DRMS BROADENED ITS REACH TO THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY AND GENERAL PUBLIC THROUGH DIGITAL MEANS, INCLUDING ITS WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS. THE WEBSITE RECEIVED OVER 21,717 VISITS, WHILE DRMS' FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND YOUTUBE CHANNELS GARNERED NEARLY 4,500 FOLLOWERS/SUBSCRIBERS. STAFF PERFORMED OUTREACH AS ABLE AND DISTRIBUTED APPROXIMATELY 5,000 PIECES OF PROMOTIONAL/EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. DRMS SPONSORED THREE TRAININGS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS REGARDING THE RIGHTS OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND ADA ACCOMMODATIONS IN THE COLLEGE SETTING. THE AGENCY EXHIBITED AT SEVERAL CONFERENCES, PROVIDING INFORMATION ABOUT DRMS SERVICES, VOTING RIGHTS, SELF-ADVOCACY INFORMATION, AND VOTING RIGHTS INFORMATION. STAFF ATTENDED SESSIONS FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. THESE CONFERENCES INCLUDED: THE MISSISSIPPI DISABILITY MEGACONFERENCE FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, WHICH HAD APPROXIMATELY 300 ATTENDEES AND THE ARC'S ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE WHICH HAD APPROXIMATELY 250 ATTENDEES.PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (PADD):- HANDLED 54 INDIVIDUAL CASES- REPRESENTED INDIVIDUALS SEEKING TO TRANSITION FROM FACILITIES TO THE COMMUNITY.- CONTINUED TO VISIT STATE AND PRIVATE FACILITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES TO MONITOR CONDITIONS, INVESTIGATE CONCERNS, AND ASSIST WITH TRANSITIONS TO LESS RESTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENTS.- CONDUCTED INVESTIGATIONS OF ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT INVOLVING PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.- PURSUED LITIGATION FROM NEGLIGENCE AND ABUSE.- INVESTIGATED SEVERAL INCIDENTS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN A FACILITY.

PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS (PAIMI):- HANDLED 32 INDIVIDUAL CASES - CONTINUED TO MONITOR CONDITIONS IN STATE PSYCHIATRIC FACILITIES.- SOLVED PROBLEMS AND INVESTIGATED ALLEGATIONS OF MISTREATMENT OR RIGHTS VIOLATIONS.- INVESTIGATED UNLICENSED PERSONAL CARE HOMES HOUSING INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.- PROVIDED ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES INCARCERATED IN JAILS OR PRISONS.