About Us

The Ohio Legal Rights Service (LRS) is an independent agency of the State of Ohio. LRS is designated under federal law as the system to protect and advocate the rights of people with disabilities and as the Client Assistance Program under the Rehabilitation Act. The LRS Commission is the governing authority of LRS.

Our mission and vision

Our mission is to protect and advocate, in partnership with people with disabilities, for their human, civil and legal rights.

We envision a society in which people with disabilities enjoy the same rights and opportunities as all people. Everyone is entitled to make decisions about where, how and with whom they will live and work as full and equal members of their communities.

What we do

LRS provides legal advocacy and rights protection to a wide range of people with disabilities. This includes assisting individuals with problems such as abuse, neglect, discrimination, access to assistive technology, special education, housing, employment, community integration, voting and rights protection issues with the juvenile and criminal justice systems. See also LRS' priorities, programs and statement of philosophy.

LRS is Ohio's federally mandated Protection and Advocacy System for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI). The federal mandate requires the establishment of an advisory council. Read more about the LRS PAIMI Advisory Council.

Read these publications to learn more about LRS:

• Annual Report
• Agency Overview Presentation (PDF file)
• Brochure (English and Spanish)
• Contact Information Poster (PDF file)
• Ohio Public Records Act

From the media?

See the Media Inquiries section for a press kit and contact information for LRS' Community Affairs Officer.

LRS is authorized and funded to provide services by, and manages this Web site with funds through, the following State and federal laws: Ohio Revised Code section 5123.60; Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act), Public Law 88-164, 42 USC 6000 et seq., administered by the Administration for Children and Families; Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) Act, Public Law 99-319, 42 USC 10801 et seq., administered by the Center for Mental Health Services of the U.S. Department of Human Services; and Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, Public Law 93-112, 42 USC 701 et seq., administered by the Office of Education Services and the Rehabilitation Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Education.

Legal Rights Service does not discriminate in provision of service or employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, military service, disability, or age.

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