Disability Rights California

Mission Statement
Disability Rights California works to advance dignity, equality, independence and freedom for all Californians with disabilities.

Vision Statement
We envision a barrier-free, inclusive, diverse world that values each individual and their voice. In this world, all people with disabilities enjoy the power of equal rights and opportunities, dignity, choice, independence and freedom from abuse, neglect and discrimination.

Advocacy principles
Our advocacy will be zealous, dedicated, effective, creative, innovative and daring.

We will take on issues of importance to the disability community even when the outcome is uncertain.

We will integrate a variety of advocacy approaches in all of our work, including self-advocacy, legal, non-legal, media, public policy, legislative and investigatory.

We value diversity. Our staff should reflect the ethnic, language and disability diversity and demographic diversity of California: rural, age, sexual orientation, a range of different life experiences that reflect the disability community.

Our advocacy efforts will affirmatively address the needs of traditionally underserved and underrepresented communities through partnership with such communities.

Our advocacy will be of high quality regardless of the type of service, the nature of the problem or who the client is. We will be honest, prepared, truthful, and informed.

All staff is expected to contribute and their contributions will be valued and respected.

With our patients' rights advocacy, clients' rights advocacy, and legal advocacy:

• We will do what the client wants - not what we or others think is best;
• We are honest about our limitations, values, resources and the likely outcome;
• The client chooses the outcome and the method of achieving the outcome and the client's choices will be treated with respect;
• The client actively participates in every stage of the process.