Public Policy

Parents Opportunity to Impact Policy

By DRI

  Idaho Voices for Children is conducting research into Idaho’s Behavioral Health System, and they want to hear directly from families that have experience interacting with this system. With wait times of up to one year to see a children’s behavioral health specialist, service backlogs, and provider shortages, families across the state are facing multiple barriers when trying to seek the care that their children need.   Your valuable input and experience can help us solve this challenge.   We are conducting focus group sessions with parents who’s children frequently interact with the behavioral health system to ask parents about … Continue reading Parents Opportunity to Impact Policy

Proposed Work Goals and Priorities for Fiscal Year 2023

By DRI

DisAbility Rights Idaho Needs Your Help! Please see the below link labeled “DRI FY2023 SGP Handout” to DisAbility Rights Idaho’s (DRI) proposed work goals and priorities for fiscal year 2023 to begin on October 1, 2022.  As these are proposed work priorities, we are looking to you for an opinion on whether we have captured the issues currently affecting Idahoans with disabilities. To provide your comment, please click the below link labeled “Survey”. The link will take you to a Google form which has 6 questions. If you would like a hard copy of this survey, please call our office … Continue reading Proposed Work Goals and Priorities for Fiscal Year 2023

Children’s Residential Treatment Facilities – Youth Rights

By DRI

Youth MOVE Idaho and Disability Rights Idaho have collaborated to create a series of videos to inform youth about their rights to access mental health care. In this video, Madeline, the Youth Programs Coordinator for Youth MOVE Idaho, discusses with Kayla, an attorney from Disability Rights Idaho who is in the youth unit, issues related to Children’s Residential Treatment Facilities (CRTFs). Specifically they discuss: 1. What is a CRTF? 2. What are the different levels of youth mental health care? 3. Are youth sometimes sent to unsafe or ineffective CRTFs? 4. What are a minor’s rights while in CRTFs? 5. … Continue reading Children’s Residential Treatment Facilities – Youth Rights

2022 primary Election Information

By DRI

Click here to download a PDF containing 2022 Primary Election information. DisAbility Rights Idaho (DRI) is a private, non-profit organization that is designated as Idaho’s Protection and Advocacy System. Funding authorized by the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) allows DRI to ensure that voters with disabilities have the opportunity to participate in every step of the electoral process. Inside This Issue Page 2 – Voting Options & Deadlines Page 3 – Voting Rights Page 4- Addressing Barriers Voter Hotline Information Transportation Resources Page 5 – COVID-19 Safety Tips DRI Contact Information DRI ELECTION DAY HOTLINE: 1-866-262-3462 Click here to download … Continue reading 2022 primary Election Information

Comments on SB1376, Absentee Ballots

By DRI

Click Here to Download a PDF Version of these Comments RE: SB1376, Absentee Ballots DisAbility Rights Idaho is the designated Protection and Advocacy system for the State of Idaho. As such, DRI advocates for and educates on the rights of Idahoans with disabilities. We have reviewed proposed bill SB1376; a bill which would prohibit and criminalize the delivery of another person’s absentee ballot outside of certain exceptions. We would like take this opportunity to address the effects changes in this bill would have on the lives of eligible Idaho voters who have disabilities and require assistance in completing their fundamental … Continue reading Comments on SB1376, Absentee Ballots

Comments on SB1375

By DRI

Click Here to Download a PDF Version of these Comments RE: SB1375 DisAbility Rights Idaho is the designated Protection and Advocacy system for the State of Idaho. As such, DRI advocates for the rights of Idahoans with Disabilities and would like to provide education on how proposed legislation will affect the lives of Idahoans with disabilities. DRI has reviewed SB1375 and the changes to voter registration, absentee registration and voting. DRI would like take this opportunity to provide comments on the effects changes in this bill would have on the rights of eligible Idaho voters with disabilities. Such strict limitations … Continue reading Comments on SB1375

Comments on HB693, Prohibition of Drop Boxes

By DRI

Click Here to Download a PDF Version of these Comments RE: HB693, Prohibition of Drop Boxes DisAbility Rights Idaho is the designated Protection and Advocacy system for the State of Idaho. As such, DRI advocates for and educates on the rights of Idahoans with Disabilities. We have reviewed the proposed bill HB693; a bill which would prohibit drop boxes for the collection of absentee ballots. We would like to take this opportunity to address the effects changes in this bill would have on the lives of eligible Idaho voters who have disabilities and require assistance in completing their fundamental right … Continue reading Comments on HB693, Prohibition of Drop Boxes

Comments on HB441

By DRI

Download a PDF Version of this Comment by Clicking Here RE: HB441 DisAbility Rights Idaho is the designated Protection and Advocacy system for the State of Idaho. As such, DRI advocates for and educates on the rights of Idahoans with Disabilities. We have reviewed the proposed bill HB441; a bill which would grant absentee ballot assistance to Nursing, Residential and Assisted Living facilities. DRI would like to take this opportunity to address the effects changes in this bill would have on the lives of eligible Idaho voters who have disabilities and require assistance in completing their fundamental right to vote. … Continue reading Comments on HB441

Voting in Idaho 2022

By DRI

Click here to download a PDF version of this post What is Voting? Voting is a way for adult citizens to make decisions regarding an important issue or to pick someone for an office. Who Can Vote? You can vote if: you are a United States Citizen, 18 years old or older, registered to vote, and living in Idaho and the county you reside in at least 30 days before the election. How Do I Register to Vote? You can register to vote on Election Day at your polling place. You can also register online at www.voteidaho.gov or by filling … Continue reading Voting in Idaho 2022

DRI comments lead to changes in Idaho’s Crisis Standards of Care Guidance

By DRI

Click here to download the PDF version of this post. On September 15, 2021, Idaho activated Crisis Standards of Care (“CSC”) statewide in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and overwhelming surge on Idaho’s healthcare system. Crisis standards of care are guidelines that help healthcare providers and systems prioritize and triage delivery of care during extraordinary circumstances of an overwhelming disaster or public health emergency. The very fact that these guidelines were implemented represents an unprecedented and unwanted point in our state’s history. On behalf of all Idahoans with disabilities, DRI wrote to Governor Little on September 28, 2021 urging that … Continue reading DRI comments lead to changes in Idaho’s Crisis Standards of Care Guidance