DISABILITY RIGHTS NEW MEXICO PRIORITIES AND ANNUAL OBJECTIVES FY 2024

Approved by DRNM Board of Directors – September 23, 2023

“[System]” designation indicates systemic advocacy and does not include individual casework.

All client services are contingent upon sufficient staffing as well as other case-opening criteria determined by DRNM policies and procedures.

Abuse / Neglect / Exploitation

Decrease the abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disabilities by improving the practices of programs and facilities in congregate settings for people with disabilities and/or where there are significant allegations of abuse, neglect or exploitation.

A/N/E.1 [System] Provide outreach and conduct trainings in facilities serving persons with mental illness or developmental disabilities, with an emphasis on psychiatric hospitals, boarding homes and other congregate care settings, in order to inform individuals of their rights and of the availability of DRNM to investigate and resolve problems.
A/N/E.2 [Monitoring] Conduct routine monitoring of facilities serving persons wit disabilities for the purpose of identifying possible abuse or neglect, and compliance with respect to service recipient rights and safety.
A/N/E.3 Conduct investigations of alleged or suspected abuse or neglect where there appears to be a pattern or recurrence of significant abuse or neglect, where there has been a death or life-threatening injury, or where the alleged abuse or neglect is particularly egregious and produce reports/recommendations as appropriate.
A/N/E.4 Pursue personal injury, wrongful death or serious civil rights violation litigation where there is a clear opportunity to improve the practices of a provider or public service agency, private co-counsel is available, and fees may be available.
A/N/E.5 Identify, develop, and pursue as appropriate advocacy strategies to address abuse, neglect, or other discriminatory practices by the criminal justice system, including law enforcement.

Access & Rights

Reduce or eliminate barriers or discriminatory practices faced by people with disabilities.

AR.1 Advocate on behalf of individuals or groups where there is discrimination in a public accommodation under the NM Human Rights Act and an opportunity for systemic benefit to a significant number of persons with disabilities.
AR.2 Provide technical assistance, self-advocacy assistance, or limited individual advocacy assistance to individuals with disabilities who are denied access to public places, including public accommodations, based on their use of a service animal (as defined under state law and the ADA).
AR.3 Assist people with disabilities to have access to and opportunities to rent or own homes and apartments in their communities, including advocacy for housing that is accessible to people with disabilities to the extent required by law.
AR.4 [System] Provide systemic advocacy to challenge housing discrimination, and to expand the amount of accessible, affordable, and integrated housing for individuals with physical or mental health disabilities

Assistive Technology

Expand the provision and use of assistive technology necessary for people with disabilities.

AT.1 Assist people with disabilities to contest a denial of requested evaluation for assistive technology, to obtain necessary assistive technology devices and services, repair assistive technology devices, and/or to receive the training and support needed to utilize the devices, through coverage from their health insurance, public schools or other
available sources.
AT.2 [System] Educate and empower people with disabilities regarding their rights to receive assistive technology devices and services by conducting workshops, trainings and outreach activities.

Brain Injury

Promote the expansion and implementation of services needed by individuals with brain injuries.

BI.1 Assist eligible individuals or applicants with traumatic brain injuries who have been denied or terminated from appropriate services, who face inappropriate modification/reduction in such services, or who face other barriers to accessing such services.

Community-Based Services

Increase the number of individuals with disabilities who receive appropriate, high-quality community-based services that enable them to live productively and independently in community settings.

C.1 Assist individuals in need of long term or other community-based services, including those who choose to self-direct services, who have been denied access to such services, or for whom the level of services offered or provided is inadequate.
C.2 Assist and advocate for Medicaid participants who are effectively denied meaningful Care Coordination from Managed Care Organizations (MCOs); identify, develop, and pursue appropriate systemic and/or litigation strategies to improve the delivery of Care Coordination service.
C.3 [System] Promote strategies toward reducing and eliminating the wait list for DD Waiver services, and monitor the development of the DD Waiver and related programs.

Employment and Vocational Rehabilitation

Advance the employment opportunities for people with disabilities by holding state vocational rehabilitation programs accountable, by promoting competitive and integrated employment opportunities, and by reducing the barriers to retain, obtain, or return to work for Social Security beneficiaries.

EM.1 Advocate that eligible applicants or recipient are informed of and receive an appropriate range of individualized services from state vocational rehabilitation and independent living programs and monitor the use of Order of Selection and its impact on eligible applicants.
EM.2 Review and/or investigate complaints of Social Security beneficiaries who have experienced a denial, delay or barrier in obtaining services necessary to the success of their return to work or maintenance of work efforts and provide direct advocacy as appropriate.
EM.3 Pursue advocacy or legal strategies to reduce or eliminate payment of subminimum wages to employees with disabilities.
EM.4 Provide self-advocacy assistance or individual advocacy assistance, including representation in administrative discrimination proceedings, to individuals (who are not PABSS-eligible) who are denied reasonable accommodations, or otherwise experience discrimination on the basis of disability, in employment or in the educational pursuit of employment opportunities.
EM.5 [System] Educate and empower transition-aged students and families regarding their rights under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) by conducting workshops on transition planning for students 14-22 years of age who have 504 Plans or IEPs.

Help America Vote Act

Improve accessibility for voters with disabilities to increase voter turnout by promoting and advocating for voter accessibility, providing outreach and trainings to both election officials and voters with disabilities, and working with state and county officials to ensure accessibility.

HAVA.1 Promote participation in and equal access to elections by providing direct advocacy for clients, voter registration services, surveying polling places for accessibility, providing information and assistance on voting rights, and providing outreach and training on the rights of voters with disabilities, with a particular emphasis on voter education and registration for transition students who will be 18 years of age prior to the next election.
HAVA.2 [System] Provide training on voting accessibility and best practices for working with individuals with disabilities, to state and county election officials as well as poll workers, and collaborate with state and county election officials and poll workers to help ensure voter accessibility including access to web sites necessary to access voter registration and absentee ballots.

Mental Health Services

Expand the rights of individuals to receive appropriate mental health services, both in residential and outpatient mental health facilities and programs.

MH.1 Assist and advocate for individuals in need of mental health services in cases where services are delayed, denied, or significantly reduced, or where the amount, duration, or scope of services offered is clearly inadequate, and where there is serious risk to the individual’s health or safety, or a serious risk of hospitalization or placement in a residential treatment facility, or when there appears to be a violation of an individual’s rights in a residential treatment facility, including a detention facility.
MH.2 [System] Monitor implementation of the Assisted Outpatient Treatment Act in New Mexico, and provide information and training related to the rights of respondents in such proceedings.
MH.3 [System] Monitor state oversight of boarding homes, and advocate for residents whose health or safety is at risk.
MH.4 [System] Advocate for the rights of people with mental illness and other disabilities to be free from excessive use of force by the Albuquerque Police Department through participation in related advisory groups, participation in the advocacy coalition “APD Forward,” and other approaches.
MH.5 [System] Within the Kevin S. case, advocate for the rights of children with disabilities in state custody to appropriate, individualized, accessible, adequate, and coordinated medical, mental health, and behavioral health services in safe and stable placements that are the least restrictive and appropriate to their needs from the Children, Youth and Families Department and the Human Services Department.

Public Policy

Expand, support and utilize the capacity of DRNM as well as individuals and organizations in the disability community to influence public policies and systemic changes in policies, statutes and regulations affecting individuals with disabilities.

P.1 [System] Review and comment on proposed regulatory changes in Medicaid and other public programs that have a significant effect on eligibility, benefits, services, or procedural protections for persons with disabilities.
P.2 [System] Participate in the Disability Coalition to support collaborative public policy advocacy across multiple disability organizations.
P.3 [System] Educate legislators and other policy makers about issues that impact the rights of people with disabilities.

Self-Determination

Advance the rights of people with disabilities to have control over the decisions that affect their lives.

SD.1 Advocate for the prevention, termination, or limiting to the least restrictive alternative of substitute decision-making arrangements such as guardianship, treatment guardianship, or representative payee appointments; promote supported decision-making approaches whenever possible, and when substitute decision-making is necessary promote the most responsive arrangements available.
SD.2 [Monitoring] Promote or provide oversight of Representative Payees for Social Security beneficiaries when the Payee is in a potential conflict situation, monitor the conditions of beneficiaries and address other Payee issues, with respect to Payees monitored by DRNM pursuant to requests from the Social Security Administration or as otherwise identified by DRNM.

Special Education

Advocate for the delivery of a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) for every student in New Mexico who qualifies for Special Education services or is entitled to a 504 Plan.

ED.1 Advocate for students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) or Section 504 Plans that are inadequate or whose substantial lack of implementation by their local school districts prevents the student from benefiting from education.
ED.2 Advocate for students who may be eligible for special education services or 504 Plans but have been denied evaluations or when a requested evaluation has been unreasonably delayed.
ED.3 Advocate for students at Manifestation Determination Reviews (MDRs) and/or at disciplinary hearings such as Long-Term Suspension/Expulsion hearings.
ED.4 Advocate against the use of restraint, seclusion, or law enforcement involvement, and for the use of positive behavior interventions and supports.
ED.5 Advocate for the delivery of appropriate special education and related services to youth residing in institutional settings, including but not limited to Residential Treatment Centers (RTCs), detention centers, prisons and hospitals.
ED.6 [System] Collaborate with Juvenile Probation Officers, CYFD, and others such as juvenile prosecutors and judges, schools, local law enforcement agencies, School Resource Officers (SROs), etc. to reduce the overall number of referrals of students with disabilities to law enforcement.
ED.7 [System] In connection with the Martinez/Yazzie vs. State of New Mexico consolidated cases and related policy efforts, advocate for a greater number and higher quality of special education resources in New Mexico public schools, toward improved educational outcomes for students with disabilities, including readiness for college or a career.
ED.8 [System] Educate and empower families and students regarding their special education rights by conducting special education clinics statewide, and provide training, support, and advocacy for family and parent groups seeking systemic improvements in their local school districts.