Disability Rights Louisiana (DRLA), formerly known as Advocacy Center of Louisiana, is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization organized in 1977 to protect, empower and advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities and senior citizens in Louisiana. The agency was founded pursuant to a federal law establishing protection and advocacy systems in each state and territory in the U.S. The mandate of the protection and advocacy systems is “to pursue legal, administrative, and other appropriate means to ensure the rights of persons with development disabilities in the state.” Since 1977, we have added other populations to our client base including persons with other mental and physical disabilities and senior citizens.