As a person with a history of psychiatric disabilities, involuntary hospitalizations and a civil commitment, I know that I will always be vulnerable to the carceral whims of legislators. I am forever trapped in the trauma of my most desperate moment, a point in time where the state declared that I was mentally unfit to be free. And I will forever fear how easy it would be for someone to decide that I should be locked away and disappeared like that again. But over the past several years I have been privileged to talk with attorneys, advocates, and people with lived experience who are fighting to create change. Fighting to protect the rights, humanity, and dignity of the vulnerable people who are being forced into these systems. So as I continue to explore the work of Protection & Advocacy organizations throughout the United States I was incredibly grateful for the opportunity to speak with Nancy Murphy from the Disability Law Center. DLC is the P&A for Massachusetts and we spoke about the importance of Protection & Advocacy organizations and the complicated state and federal guardrails that they have to navigate.

Disability Law Center: https://www.dlc-ma.org/

Six Fundamental Rights: https://www.dlc-ma.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Six-Fundamental-Rights-2025.01.pdf

Representative Payee Program: https://www.dlc-ma.org/representative-payee-program/

Bridgewater Report: https://www.dlc-ma.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/DLC-BSH-Public-Report-to-Legislature-2.6.2025-Final-w.-Apps-1.pdf