Disability Rights NC is always looking at what causes bad things to happen to people with disabilities. Is the cause a rule or regulation that is not protective enough or is being interpreted badly? Is there poor training for facility staff or not enough staff? Whatever the cause, when the potential harm is to large numbers of people, it is the overall situation, that needs to be fixed, not just one part of the problem.. We call this ‘systems change’. System change is a critical function of Disability Rights NC because frequently, ‘the system’ is the only place people with disabilities can get the service they need.

Disability Rights NC uses systems advocacy to change the policies of agencies, organizations or departments that are part of the government. We also monitor non-governmental agencies that are paid with federal or state money. Our advocacy efforts might be directed at the local, state or federal level. We might try to change written or unwritten policy or law. Where we work and what we do will depend on the nature of the problem and who has the ultimate authority over the problem area.

While systems advocacy works to improve ‘the system’ to the benefit of individuals with disabilities, often it is a long-term approach to problem solving and requires sustained effort – including collaboration.