Types of Cases

The Disability Law Center may be able to help you if you are a person with a disability and have a legal issue related to the disability. Our intake process has moved completely online; to submit a request for assistance, complete our our Online Intake Form. If you require a reasonable accommodation in order to complete the form, please send us an email *akpa@dlcak.org) or leave us a phone message (907-565-1002 (in Anchorage) or 1-800-478-1234 toll-free Statewide) describing the accommodation you are requesting. A staff member will follow up with you to discuss your request. You can find out more about our intake process on our Intake Page.

The following are examples of issues/problem areas generally pursued by the Disability Law Center:

• Instances of neglect, abuse, or rights violations of individuals receiving treatment for significant mental illness. 
• Disability-related employment discrimination;
• Fair hearings & administrative appeals for Medicaid issues related to waiver service plans and personal care work;
• Medicaid income trusts that facilitate or support community integration of an individual;
• Access to appropriate Special Education programs;
• Disability-related housing accommodations;
• Service animal issues;
• Issues related to transitioning from institutional to community settings; 
• Complaints about the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation (TVR), or an Independent Living Center (through our Client Assistance Program):
• Access to voting
• Social Security applications for individuals with brain injuries and who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.)

Within available resources and consistent with agency priorities* and case selection factors, the Disability Law Center may:

• Respond to complaints of abuse, neglect or denial of rights;
• Provide self-advocacy training and education for consumers, family members, service delivery professionals, constituency groups, and the community;
• Intervene or assist individuals to advocate for their own rights;
• Provide legal representation if the problem cannot be resolved using other strategies;
• Organize workshops and distribute materials on legal rights, special education, public benefits, and other topics;
• Provide information on the rights of people with physical and/or mental disabilities and make referrals when appropriate.

*Priorities are established each year, in part based upon public comment.

The following are examples of issues/problems NOT pursued by the Disability Law Center:

• Divorce, custody, support, OCS, and other family law matters
• Wills, Medicaid asset trusts, and estate planning
• VA benefits
• Criminal issues/proceedings
• Legal or medical malpractice
• Alaska State retirement/disability benefits
• Workers' Compensation or collective bargaining
• Unemployment benefits
• Products liability
• Bankruptcy
• Indian/Tribal law
• Native Allotments
• Subsistence issues
• Automobile accidents/traffic violations
• Consumer protection
• General Tax matters
• Pension issues
• Property disputes or real estate
• Insurance disputes