Cindy Woods

Disability Rights Louisiana (DRLA), formerly known as Advocacy Center of Louisiana, is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization organized in 1977 to protect, empower and advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities and senior citizens in Louisiana. The agency was founded pursuant to a federal law establishing protection and advocacy systems in each state and territory in the U.S. The mandate of the protection and advocacy systems is “to pursue legal, administrative, and other appropriate means to ensure the rights of persons with development disabilities in the state.” Since 1977, we have added other populations to our client base including persons with other mental and physical disabilities and senior citizens. Starting with a budget of $64,000, a staff of four, and one office in New Orleans, Disability Rights Louisiana has grown to an agency with a budget of $3.8 million, and a staff of fifty who work out of offices in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Lafayette, and out of field offices throughout the state. DRLA pursues our mission through direct legal representation, information and referral, education and training, and community advocacy. Name change from Advocacy Center of Louisiana: Effective February, 2020, we changed our name from Advocacy Center of Louisiana to Disability Rights Louisiana. There are two main reasons for this change: We wish to clarify our brand and expand awareness of our services, which now include more areas of focus. By adopting the new name, Disability Rights Louisiana associates more clearly with a national network of federally authorized state organizations committed to advancing disability rights. We have not altered our longtime mission or services in any respect. Rather, the name change provides a fresh opportunity to engage and communicate with our key audiences.