Disability Rights Louisiana

02/27/2026

Race Judicata 5k is nearly a week away on March 8th! There's still time to join us!

Whether you roll, walk, run, or cheer from the sidelines—your presence matters. Every registration supports us in providing free legal services and other advocacy services for people with disabilities when they face barriers to thriving in the community, or when they are vulnerable to abuse and neglect.

Bring your friends, your family, and your passion for protecting civil rights. We'll celebrate together at a reception after the race with live music, food and fun.

Register and see full details now: https://runsignup.com/Race/LA/NewOrleans/RaceJudicataLA5K

Thanks to the Loyola, LSU, and Tulane law students behind for making this event possible!

02/13/2026

Happy Mardi Gras! DRLA offices will be closed on Monday, February 16th, and Tuesday, February 17th—so any calls for assistance received during that time will have a delayed response.

Thank you for your patience. DRLA offices will resume normal hours of operation on Wednesday, February 18th and our team will ensure all calls received during our time away are returned.

We wish you a safe and happy Mardi Gras!

02/13/2026

Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, LSU Law Student Bar Association, and Tulane Law SBA are joining forces once again for Race Judicata 5K, to support Disability Rights Louisiana!

Last year was a great success with 200 participants and $12,000+ raised—thanks to the dedication of the law students organizing the event, and the generosity of the sponsors and the hundreds of people who came together to support the disability community. This year, they're aiming even higher!

Join us:
March 8, Audubon Park, New Orleans
Walk, run, or roll the 3.1-mile course
Celebrate with us at a reception at the park afterwards

Register today and see more details by clicking this link:

The Race Judicata 5K 2026 is on Sunday March 8, 2026. It includes the following events: Race Judicata 5K - General Admission and Race Judicata 5K - Student Registration.

01/21/2026

This Thursday (1/22) don't miss the final session of the "Speak Up, Stand Up" Summit!

Co-hosted by our LA DD Network partners the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council, and Human Development Center at LSU Health New Orleans, this virtual summit is led by people with disabilities, for people with disabilities to connect, advocate, and take action together as a community!

For registration links and more information, please visit the shared post below:

01/19/2026

Our offices are closed today as we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His commitment to racial equality and social justice changed the world, and uplift us every day.

Dr. King's words along with his work to organize protests and laborers had a profound influence on disability rights advocacy that followed, which resulted in the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973--among countless other impacts. His legacy inspires our work, and our vision for the future.

01/15/2026

Tune in tomorrow, Friday, January 16th, for day 2 of the "Speak Up, Stand Up" Summit! Co-hosted by our LA DD Network partners the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council, and Human Development Center at LSU Health New Orleans, this virtual summit is led by people with disabilities, for people with disabilities to connect, advocate, and take action together as a community!

Registration links and more information are included in the shared post below:

01/08/2026

DRLA is now hiring! We are currently seeking applicants for the positions of Staff Attorney and IT Coordinator.

For information about these openings, including full job descriptions, please visit our website: https://disabilityrightsla.org/who-we-are/employment/

To apply for a position, please indicate the position you are applying for in the subject line in your email to hrnola@disabilityrightsla.org that includes a resume and cover letter.

01/06/2026

01/05/2026

Our community answered the call.

In the final days of 2025, we asked you to help us build community support so we can fight for the people who will need us most in 2026. You showed up—raising $18,607 and making this our most successful year-end campaign so far!

Because of your investment in this work, we're stepping into 2026 stronger and better prepared to face the challenges that lie ahead for our community.

We were made for this moment because you're by our side. Thank you for supporting this critical work.

12/30/2025

In 2025, we fought alongside hundreds of people with disabilities, empowering them to stay in school, get jobs, and thrive in their communities with the healthcare they need.

As we head into 2026, we're preparing to meet new challenges with the same expertise that has guided us for nearly 50 years.

We know what's coming — changes to healthcare, education, and funding — and we know how to win.

With your support, we can:

ADVOCATE for people fighting to live independently
PROTECT people from abuse by investigating institutions
EMPOWER the community through policy change and legal action

As Louisiana's only organization with federally mandated authority to protect disability rights, we were made for this moment.

In the final days of 2025, please consider helping us start the new year stronger:

Join us in holding the line for the civil rights of people with disabilities in Louisiana. Since 1977, Disability Rights Louisiana has been fighting for the rights of people with disabilities across our state. Today, our disability community is facing some of the greatest threats we've seen in decad...

12/22/2025

Happy Holidays! DRLA offices are closed through December 26, so any calls for assistance received during that time will have a delayed response.

While our offices are reopening on December 29, DRLA will be closed for New Year’s Day.

Thank you for your patience during this holiday season. DRLA offices will resume normal hours of operation on January 5th and our team will ensure all calls received during our time away are returned.

We wish you a safe and happy holiday season!

12/17/2025

Incredible news: We exceeded our year-end goal—raising $15,542!

Because of you, we’re building the donor support needed to power our work at a critical moment—while community needs grow and federal funding becomes increasingly uncertain. Thank you.

Your support helps us answer nearly 10 calls every day from people fighting for their rights to live safe, healthy, and integrated lives. Together, we are:

ADVOCATING for the services and conditions people need to live safely and independently
PROTECTING our community from abuse and holding institutions accountable
EMPOWERING people through training, policy change, and legal action

The fight ahead is real: Medicaid cuts are coming. Special education protections are weakening. New regulations are promoting institutionalization. Our federal funding uncertainty remains.

Every dollar donated beyond our goal helps us meet this moment.

Haven’t donated yet? There’s still time to stand with our community and make a tax deductible donation here: https://disabilityrightsla.networkforgood.com/projects/172183-support-disability-rights-louisiana