Disability Rights Groups

New Mexico Allies for Advocacy, Inc. (NM Allies) is a non-profit organization run by people with disabilities for people with disabilities. Their mission is to unite and educate the general public about disability issues. NM Allies brings together all stakeholders including self-advocates, advocates, and community members from across the state through social media, conferences and telecommunications. Their results are to improve inclusion, decrease discrimination, enhance quality of life and community participation with full access to effective and qualified communication.

The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) works to protect the community by prohibiting discrimination in areas of housing, public accommodation, and employment, providing a mechanism for recourse, and providing education to the community. They encourage the recognition of human responsibilities, equal access to public goods and service and prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, race, religion, national origin, age and physical handicap. An ADA Coordinator who investigates discrimination complaints against the City of Albuquerque regarding qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its services, programs, or activities. The Office of Civil Rights works with a Human Rights Board and a Human Rights Officer who investigates complaints of discrimination in Employment, Housing, Public Accommodations, other forms of discrimination.

The Native American Disability Law Center is a private nonprofit organization that advocates for the legal rights of Native Americans with disabilities. Through advocacy and education, they empower Native people with disabilities to lead independent lives in their own communities. The Native American Disability Law Center provides advocacy, referral information, and educational resources to all Native Americans with a disability living anywhere in the Four Corners area who feels that they have been: discriminated against because of their disability; abused or neglected; or wrongly denied a service.

New Vistas provides disability support and advocacy, independent living skills training, peer support, early intervention, and Information & Referral Services. Services are offered in the nine northern New Mexico counties including Colfax, San Miguel, Harding, Santa Fe, Los Alamos, Taos, Rio Arriba, Union, and Mora. They are a consumer-controlled, community-based, cross-disability, nonresidential private nonprofit agency based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, proving an array of independent living serves

San Juan Center for Independence is a community based non-profit agency that was established by people with disabilities for people with disabilities. The Agency serves as a consumer driven community action program that provides services which help maximize independent living choices for all people regardless of the individual’s disability. Necessary Services, Assistive Technology, Housing Recreation Vocational, Opportunities, Transportation, Attendant Services, Legal Rights, Benefits, Counseling, Newsletters, Home Modifications

Founded in 1950, today The Arc is the largest national community-based organization advocating for and serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. With more than 140,000 members and 730 state and local chapters nationwide, The Arc is on the front lines to ensure that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families have the support they need to be members of the community. The Arc of New Mexico works directly with individuals and their families to insure their quality and choice of life, and also with the New Mexico Legislature, State Agencies, community leaders, providers and other advocates to fight for freedom, choice, respect and dignity.

The New Mexico Governor’s Commission on Disability (GCD) is aims to improve the quality of life of all New Mexicans with disabilities by addressing social integration, economic self-sufficiency, political resolve, physical and program accessibility, and full participation in the benefits of life and rights of all individuals. GCD addresses physical, sensory, programmatic, and attitudinal barriers to forward its mission. GCD promotes community living and access to employment opportunities, universal access to information, appropriate assistive technology, affordable and universally designed housing, accessible transportation, home and community-based services, and access to social and recreational settings.

Disability Rights New Mexico - DRNM - is a private, non-profit organization whose mission is to protect, promote and expand the rights of persons with disabilities. State and federal laws assure that persons with a disability have the same human and civil rights as everyone else, including equal access to services and employment. DRNM is the designated protection and advocacy program for New Mexico, and have authority under federal law to pursue legal, administrative, and other remedies on behalf of persons with disabilities. They also have a right to many services and benefits. DRNM provides Client Advocacy, Group Advocacy, Training, Developmental Disabilities, Client Assistance Program, Mental Health, Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security, and Protection and Advocacy for Individual Rights. When their rights are respected, people with disabilities have an opportunity to fully participate in society. Disability Rights New Mexico's main office is in the Albuquerque James Jackson Center for Disability Rights building. The Las Cruces location and associated contact information can be found at: https://www.drnm.org/index.php?page=contact-us.

The New Mexico Developmental Disabilities Planning Council will promote advocacy, capacity building, and systemic change to improve the quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. The New Mexico Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (NMDDPC) consists of three programs including Federal Program, Office of Guardianship, and Center for Self Advocacy. The Federal Program provides funding to design innovative initiatives that promote community inclusion and improve services and supports. The purpose of the Office of Guardianship is to provide guardianship services to income and resource-eligible mentally incapacitated persons over the age of eighteen years. The Center for Self Advocacy service as a hub for self-advocacy and for the citizens statewide to facilitate the inclusion of persons with developmental disabilities in the community and developmental of self-determination skills.

A national organization of and for people with developmental disabilities and their families. Website provides information about public policy; insurance products information; publications; discussion groups; employment registry; and links to local chapters and related organizations.

Provides free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues. For both employers and employees, Accommodation Information by Disability: A to Z; and Accommodation Ideas by Disability, Limitation, Occupation, Product or Service, and Topic.

Consultants offer one-on-one guidance on workplace accommodations, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and related legislation, and self-employment and entrepreneurship options for people with disabilities.

Promotes progressive policies, sound research, effective practices, and universal human rights for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Services Include:

• Webinar Archive
• Publications
• Online education for Developmental Disability Professionals

UCP and its 64 affiliates have a mission to advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with a broad range of disabilities by providing services and support to more than 176,000 children and adults every day. UCP has worked to ensure the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in every facet of society. UCP will continue to push for the social, legal and technological changes that increase accessibility and independence, allowing people with disabilities to dream their own dreams.

Guards against abuse, advocating for basic rights, and ensuring accountability in health care, education, employment, housing, transportation, and within the juvenile and criminal justice systems.Works on behalf of the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy P&A Systems and the Client Assistance Programs CAP for individuals with disabilities.

Assistive Technology Equipment
Information and Referral
Library Services
System Advocacy

Nationwide community-based voluntary organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health risk through research, education, advocacy.

Provides programs that develop future leaders and strengthen inclusive communities for people with disabilities.

Services Include:

• Building Exceptional Leaders
• Honoring Exceptional Leaders
• Supporting Inclusive Communities