WELCOME TO DRNM
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. We are the designated protection and advocacy program for New Mexico, and as such we have authority under federal law to pursue legal, administrative and other remedies on behalf of persons with disabilities.
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The Latest News
Consistent with our mission, we are dedicated to protecting, promoting, and expanding the rights of persons with disabilities. We developed a series of questions on issues affecting persons with disabilities and we requested responses from each candidate for governor by October 29th. We have posted the questions and responses on our website to inform the public of positions and policies of each candidate. Ms. Lujan Grisham provided responses to our questions by the deadline. Click here for Ms. Lujan Grisham's responses. At the time of our initial posting on October 31st, Mr. Pearce had not provided responses. After the posting of Ms. Lujan Grisham's responses, Mr. Pearce provided responses on November 1st. Click here for Mr. Pearce's responses. We do not endorse any candidate. Our goal is to inform and encourage persons with disabilities to vote. We sincerely appreciate each candidate taking the time to respond to these important questions or issues.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Plaintiffs seek creation of a child welfare welfare system that ensures access to critical services and expertise capable of accommodating children coping with complex trauma.
Today 13 children who are in the foster care system filed Kevin S. v. Jacobson in federal district court in New Mexico. They are joined by protection and advocacy organizations Disability Rights New Mexico and Native American Disability Law Center. The plaintiffs are asking the State of New Mexico to fulfill its legal obligation to provide the state's 4,700 foster children with the essential care and stability that they need to grow and thrive. To read more on this, please click here.
In litigation filed recently in state district court in Santa Fe, Disability Rights New Mexico (DRNM) is seeking a court order requiring the Department of Health (DoH) to license boarding homes, which often serve persons with mental illness or other disabilities but are currently unregulated. For decades, the state of New Mexico had licensing regulations and requirements in place for boarding homes, but several years ago DoH unilaterally scrapped them. DRNM has obtained a temporary order and will seek to make the order permanent, in which case DoH would have to promptly establish and implement licensure requirements. DRNM on-site visits, our death investigation a few years ago, numerous complaints we have received from residents and guardians, and a series of reports published in the Albuquerque Journal have all raised serious concerns about the conditions in many of these homes.
More news articles - click here
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DRNM is seeking individuals who are interested in serving on the Board of Directors. Click here for information and application.
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Are you interested in serving on DRNM's Mental Health Advisory Council? If you are, click here for information and application.
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The Policy & Legislative Action Network (PLAN) is a group of individuals concerned with disability-related issues in New Mexico. Click here for more information on the PLAN.
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