We, the undersigned, represent a group of clients, former clients, families of people with disabilities, community members, partner organizations, professionals in the medical, legal and disability fields, and we support the Disability Law Center as the Protection and Advocacy Agency for the State of Utah.

Unfortunately, Senator Todd Weiler has introduced SJR 7, which is an attempt to take away the DLC’s designation as the Protection and Advocacy Agency. Without this designation, Utahns with disabilities would lose the DLC as a critical resource and the only agency that provides free legal assistance to thousands of people across the state. No other agency, non-profit, or law firm in the state has the decades of experience protecting the rights of people with disabilities by:

• Monitoring, investigating, and reporting on abuse and neglect in facilities where people with disabilities live and receive services;
• Helping people using Medicaid and DSPD services to live in the community;
• Representing clients who have faced workplace or housing discrimination;
• Representing families with children in special education who have been denied critical services at school; and
• Assisting individuals who have been denied the right to have their service animal.

Thus, we urge you to vote NO on SJR 7. The DLC provides services to all people with disabilities, and we oppose any legislation that would cause the DLC to lose its designation, lose its federal funding, and lose its ability to help our communities.