Business Details
31 Years
experience
Disability Rights Advocacy in Nevada
The Nevada Disability Advocacy & Law Center (NDALC) is Nevada's federally mandated protection and advocacy system for individuals with disabilities. Established in 1995, we provide free legal and non-legal advocacy services to protect human, legal, and service rights. Our team offers information, referral services, technical assistance, training, monitoring, investigations, and systemic legal advocacy. We prioritize cases involving abuse, neglect, education, employment, healthcare, and voting rights.Funded by federal agencies including HHS, DOE, and SSA, we operate statewide with offices in Las Vegas and Reno. Our mission emphasizes empowering individuals with disabilities to live independently and equitably. We resolve disputes through negotiation, mediation, and litigation when necessary. All services align with federal program guidelines and annual priorities set by our Board of Directors.
Services
Legal Advocacy
Abuse Investigations
Rights Education
Systemic Reform
Voting Access
Special Education
Healthcare Advocacy
Employment Rights
Facility Monitoring
Self-Advocacy Training
Details
- Year established: 1995
Highlights and features
- We offer free services mandated by federal disability protection laws
- Our team includes specialized rights attorneys and trained advocates
- We maintain offices in both Las Vegas and Reno for statewide access
- Our priorities are set through public input and systemic need analysis
- We combine legal representation with self-advocacy education for long-term impact
What people say
Free legal services
Expert disability advocacy
Statewide impact
Comprehensive support
Policy expertise
Services
Legal Advocacy
We provide legal representation for individuals with disabilities facing discrimination or rights violations. Our attorneys specialize in disability law, focusing on education, employment, healthcare, and housing cases. Services include direct legal counsel, mediation, and courtroom representation when necessary.
Abuse Investigations
Our team investigates allegations of abuse and neglect in institutional and community settings. We conduct thorough examinations of reported incidents, gather evidence, and work with authorities to ensure safe environments for individuals with disabilities across Nevada.
Systemic Reform
We address widespread disability rights issues through systemic advocacy efforts. This includes challenging discriminatory policies, improving access to services, and working with government agencies to create lasting changes that benefit large groups of individuals with disabilities.
Voting Access
Our program ensures equal voting access for individuals with disabilities. We work to make polling places accessible, provide voting rights education, and address barriers to voter registration and ballot casting through legal and educational initiatives.
Special Education
We advocate for appropriate educational services for children with disabilities. Our services include helping families navigate IEP processes, addressing school discrimination, and ensuring compliance with federal laws guaranteeing free appropriate public education for all students.
People
Kate Osti
Executive Director
Kate Osti leads NDALC's statewide operations with over 15 years of disability rights experience. She oversees legal strategy, program development, and federal compliance while maintaining direct client advocacy responsibilities.
Jessica Crain
Deputy Director
Jessica Crain manages daily operations and supervises advocacy teams. With a background in policy development and systems reform, she ensures program effectiveness across NDALC's multiple federal grant mandates.
Janet Belcove-Shalin
Rights Attorney
Janet Belcove-Shalin provides legal expertise in disability rights cases. Her practice focuses on institutional abuse prevention, healthcare access, and employment discrimination, combining litigation with policy advocacy.
Questions
What services does NDALC provide for Nevada residents with disabilities?
We offer free legal advocacy, abuse investigations, voting rights assistance, special education support, and systemic reform efforts focused on disability rights across Nevada.
How does NDALC determine which cases to accept?
We prioritize cases that align with annual service priorities set through public input, involve systemic issues, and meet federal program eligibility requirements for our nine funding sources.
Are NDALC's services available statewide?
Yes, we operate statewide with offices in Las Vegas and Reno, providing services to all Nevada residents through both in-person and remote support options.
What types of disability discrimination cases does NDALC handle?
We address discrimination in employment, housing, healthcare, education, voting access, and institutional settings, focusing on cases that impact broader disability communities.
