Navigating the Disability Law Center Services in Boston MA

Inside the Disability Law Center

The Disability Law Center (DLC) is a nonprofit law firm and the Protection and Advocacy agency for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It has a mission to "achieve, protect, and enhance the human and legal rights of people with disabilities in Massachusetts through individual and systemic advocacy." The DLC has been designated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as the Protection and Advocacy agency for Massachusetts residents who are unable to address the discrimination and abuse they face as a result of their disability. The DLC helps with advocacy, information, advice and counsel for legal rights that individuals with disabilities might have. Referrals are provided for cases that require representation by private attorneys , and the DLC has a list of attorneys compiled of those willing to take these kinds of cases and are familiar with the needs of disabled clients.
Many individuals can ask for help from the Disability Law Center of Massachusetts, including those who are elderly and those who have disabilities. This can include individuals on government assistance programs such as Supplemental Security Income as well as families of individuals living with developmental disabilities and individuals receiving Vocational Rehabilitation services. Types of cases the DLC will assist with include housing, income or food benefits, abuse or neglect, education, transportation and voting rights.

What Services They Provide

The Disability Law Center (DLC) in Boston, MA provides a wide range of legal services and areas of advocacy for individuals with disabilities throughout the Commonwealth. Clients interested in receiving legal representation from the DLC will be screened over the phone by a paralegal/information coordinator. If the individual is eligible for services, they will be assigned to a staff attorney and/or Advanced Legal Intern. The DLC represents clients in the following areas of the law: Mental Health, Community Living, Child Advocacy, Governmental Benefits, Discrimination, Employment, Transportation, Public Accommodations, Special Education, Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities, Medical Advocacy, Social Security, Telecommunications, Institutional Conditions and Rape and Sexual Violence.
For those who are not eligible for representation by a staff attorney at the DLC, there are other non-representational legal services provided by the office. The office provides information about legal rights and remedies; assistance with filing administrative complaints; assistance with Medicaid, private health insurance and Medicare; coordination and facilitation of computer based "law clinics" for its clients and members of the affordable housing community; and assistance and referral to private attorneys through its pro bono program. To further educate the public on the law, the DLC also hosts outreach programs throughout the year, including training for health care providers, presentations to trade organizations, task forces, panels, conferences and workshops.

How to Obtain Their Services

Individuals seeking assistance with disability law matters can access services at the Disability Law Center in Boston, MA. The center provides free civil legal services to individuals with disabilities, as well as policy advocacy and educational information at no cost to consumers.
To be eligible to receive services, clients must have a low income and a disability, or a disability-related legal need. The center’s staff considers an individual’s unique situation to determine the most appropriate means of service. The center’s staff may provide services through one of the following avenues:
Individuals seeking legal assistance should initially contact the center by phone. If it is determined that an individual’s legal needs fall under the center’s scope of services, a representative will schedule an appointment for an intake interview.
Intake interviews are completed over the phone and include questions pertaining to the potential client’s area of need. Individuals should be prepared to answer questions regarding their legal issues, as well as their income and financial resources, in order to determine eligibility for service. Following the intake interview, the center will contact the individual to update him or her on the determination regarding eligibility and available service options.
Although the center has established office hours from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays, individuals can reach out at any time. The center is committed to providing services in a timely manner and typically returns calls the same day they are received.

How Their Services Have Made a Difference

The Disability Law Center has been a powerful advocate for individuals with disabilities in the Boston, MA area for many years. Their team of dedicated lawyers has successfully tackled a wide range of cases in which individuals were subjected to discrimination based on their disability. One such case involved an individual who had faced unfair treatment from their employer due to their disability. The Disability Law Center was able to negotiate a settlement that not only compensated the individual for their distress and lost wages but also helped them receive accommodations in the workplace that would allow them to perform their job duties effectively . Another success story involves someone who had been denied adequate access to public transportation. The Disability Law Center was able to file a civil lawsuit against the transportation authority, resulting in a change to their policies to provide better accessibility options for individuals with disabilities. The case also forced the authority to be more flexible in their applications for certain services in order to allow more individuals to take advantage of them.

Resources and Contact Information

The Disability Law Center is located in the Boston area of Massachusetts.
The physical address for the Disability Law Center is:
The Disability Law Center
11 Beacon Street Suite 823
Boston, MA 02108
If you have an issue to discuss with this center or if you need to request assistance from them, you can reach out to them through their phone number.
The main phone number is:

(617) 693-8455

If you need to fax over any request or information, you can also fax The Disability Law Center at this number:

(617) 482-4376

For individuals who are hearing impaired, they can utilize TTY by calling:

(617) 482-4681

If you simply want a little more information about the Disability Law Center or need a source of reference information, visit their website at:
www . dlc-ma.org
Individuals who are in need of immediate assistance can also contact the Customer Service Center at any time at:
1-800-1777
(If calling within Massachusetts)
1-800-342-3701
(city of Boston)

(617) 727-2200

(Outside the local Boston area)
Organizations that cannot be reached at the other numbers can also reach the Disability Law Center at the following phone number:
1-800-626-4204
(Boston area)