Skip to main content

Learn about TBI - For Individuals and Families

Advocacy Fact Sheet

Who to Contact

Disability Rights Washington (DRW)

800-562-2702
TTY: 800-905-0209

DRW provides free advocacy services to people with all kinds of disabilities. Contact DRW for:

  • Disability rights information
  • Information and referrals
  • Problem solving
  • Community education and training
  • Problems accessing services because of traumatic brain injury
  • Legal services for disability discrimination or violation of your rights
  • Discrimination, abuse or neglect against someone with a brain injury

You can also get information about advocacy and brain injuries from:

TBI Info and Referral line at 1-877-TBI-1766

How to Get What You Need

Many systems do not understand brain injury and persons with TBI often need an advocate to help them get the services they need, beginning as soon as they are injured. As well as helping to obtain services, an advocate can assist with day to day issues such as helping to correct a phone bill error. An advocate can be a family member, friend or neighbor, and sometimes the need for help from an organization that specializes in advocacy, or even a lawyer, may be necessary. Your social worker, case manager or religious leader may also be able to help with advocacy needs.

Organizations that Can Help

Advocacy organizations can help persons with TBI and their families determine what services they qualify for. Many informal support groups focus on advocating for rights of people with TBI or other disabilities. There also are professional organizations that focus on enabling individuals with disabilities.

Developing an Advocacy Plan

Learning to become a skilled advocate on behalf of an individual with brain injury takes time and practice. You can start the process on behalf of yourself, or a family member by developing an advocacy plan. Steps to an advocacy plan include: