Other Places that May Help
Disability Rights Wisconsin (DRW) works to protect and advance the rights of people with disabilities across Wisconsin. We cannot provide direct assistance with every concern, but other organizations may be able to help.
The resources below can help you find information, understand your rights, connect with services, or get legal and advocacy support.
Not sure where to start?
Resources by Program Area
Protection & Advocacy Resources
Get help understanding your rights, finding disability-related services, and addressing barriers.
- Wisconsin Independent Living Centers: Independent Living Centers help people with disabilities build independent living skills, connect with resources, receive peer support, and advocate for their rights.
- Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs): ADRCs help older adults and adults with disabilities understand their options for community services, long-term care, transportation, housing, and other supports. Find an ADRC in your area.
- Legal Action of Wisconsin: Provides free civil legal assistance to eligible people with low incomes. Areas may include housing, public benefits, health care, and other legal concerns.
- Judicare Legal Aid: Provides civil legal services to eligible people with low incomes in northern Wisconsin, including assistance with benefits, housing, and family law concerns.
- State Bar of Wisconsin Lawyer Referral Service: Helps people find attorneys for legal matters that other advocacy organizations may not be able to address.
Client Assistance Program (CAP)
Find information and services related to employment, vocational rehabilitation, and independent living.
- Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR): DVR helps eligible people with disabilities prepare for, find, and keep employment. Learn about DVR services, applications, and appeal rights.
- Wisconsin Independent Living Centers: Independent Living Centers provide advocacy, peer support, information, and independent living services for people with disabilities.
- Job Accommodation Network (JAN): Provides free information about workplace accommodations, disability employment issues, and options for making jobs more accessible.
- U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC): Enforces federal laws against employment discrimination, including discrimination based on disability. Provides information about workplace rights and how to file a discrimination charge.
Disability Benefits Program
Get help understanding or applying for benefits and resolving problems with benefits.
- Wisconsin Disability Benefit Specialists: Provide free assistance to Wisconsin adults with disabilities ages 18–59. They can help with Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, FoodShare, and other benefit programs.
- Find a Benefit Specialist: Find a local disability, elder, or work incentives benefit specialist who can answer questions about benefits and eligibility.
- Social Security Administration: Provides official information about Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), applications, appeals, and reporting changes.
- Wisconsin ACCESS: Apply for and manage Wisconsin public benefits, including Medicaid, BadgerCare Plus, and FoodShare.
Family Care and IRIS Ombudsman Program
Find assistance with long-term care services, program choices, and concerns about care.
- Wisconsin Aging and Disability Resource Centers: ADRCs explain long-term care options, provide information about Family Care and IRIS, and help people understand how to enroll in available programs.
- Wisconsin Department of Health Services – Family Care: Find official information about Family Care, eligibility, available services, member rights, and program options.
- Wisconsin Department of Health Services – IRIS: Learn about the IRIS self-directed long-term care program and find information for participants.
- IRIS: Who to Contact for Help: Find contact information for IRIS consultant agencies, fiscal employer agents, complaints, grievances, and other program questions.
- Wisconsin Board on Aging and Long Term Care: Provides ombudsman services for people age 60 and older who have concerns about long-term care services, including Family Care and IRIS.
SSI Managed Care External Advocacy Project
Find information about Medicaid health coverage, health plans, and problems getting needed care.
- Wisconsin Medicaid: Find information about Medicaid coverage, eligibility, member rights, and covered health services.
- Wisconsin Medicaid HMO Information: Learn about Medicaid health maintenance organizations (HMOs), choosing a health plan, and getting help with coverage questions.
HMO Member Advocates
Medicaid HMO members can contact their health plan and ask to speak with a member advocate. Member advocates can help answer questions about covered services, providers, appointments, and problems with care.
Provides health benefits counseling and legal advocacy related to health coverage, insurance denials, and access to health care.
Victim Advocacy Program
Find support if you have experienced abuse, neglect, violence, exploitation, or another crime.
- Wisconsin Department of Justice – Victim Services: Provides information about crime victims' rights, victim compensation, and services for victims and survivors of crime.
- End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin: Connects people with community organizations that provide domestic violence advocacy, safety planning, shelter, and other supports.
- Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault: Connects survivors of sexual violence with local sexual assault service providers and support resources.
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: Provides confidential support, safety planning, and referrals for people experiencing domestic violence. Call 800-799-7233 or text START to 88788.
- RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline: Provides confidential support and information for people affected by sexual violence. Call 800-656-HOPE (4673).
Still Need Help?
If you are unsure which organization to contact, visit our Get Help page to learn about the types of assistance DRW provides and how to request services.
DRW reviews requests based on the concern, our program priorities, eligibility requirements, and available resources.
These organizations are independent of Disability Rights Wisconsin. Their services, eligibility requirements, and availability may vary. Listing an organization does not guarantee that it can assist with your situation.