About
Who We Are
We are the Protection and Advocacy system (P&A) and the Client Assistance Program (CAP) for South Carolina. We are here to help people with disabilities understand and defend their rights. We provide a variety of services to include information and referral, training, abuse & neglect investigation, legal support, and advocacy for change. DRSC was founded in 1977 and is a private, non-profit independent of all agencies providing treatment or other services to people with disabilities. Our services are free.
Mission
We protect and advance the legal, civil, and human rights of people with disabilities in South Carolina
What is a Protection and Advocacy System?
P&As are the only legally based advocacy organization established by Congress to protect the rights of all individuals with disabilities. As part of that mandate, there is a P&A agency in every state and U.S. territory, working to provide legal protection and advocacy services for people with disabilities.
What is a Client Assistance Program
The Client Assistance Program (CAP) at DRSC works to advise, assist and advocate for individuals who receive or want to receive services from the South Carolina Department of Vocational Rehabilitation (SCVRD), the South Carolina Commission for the Blind (SCCB), or Centers for Independent Living (CILS). There are currently three CILS in South Carolina: Able SC, Walton Options, and AccessAbility. This program helps people understand their federally protected employment rights, such as their rights to reasonable accommodations and to be free from disability-related discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. CAP is a federally designated program in which DRSC has been appointed by the Governor for the state to run.
The History of the Protection and Advocacy System in the US
Our Vision For the Future
We envision a society where all people, regardless of type or severity of disability:
- Live free from abuse, neglect, and exploitation
- Are empowered through self-determination and self-advocacy
- Have equal access to services such as education, public transportation, and health care
- Are productive members of society in which competitive, integrated employment is the first and preferred option
- Live, learn, work, and play independently in an integrated barrier free community