Mission and Vision
The mission of the Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law is to protect and advance the rights of adults and children who have mental disabilities. The Bazelon Center envisions an America where people who have mental illnesses or developmental disabilities exercise their own life choices and have access to the resources that enable them to participate fully in their communities.
Policy
The Bazelon Center pursues a progressive mental health policy agenda (see Where We Stand and In Congress), particularly at the federal level, to reform systems and programs to protect the rights of children and adults with mental disabilities to lead lives with dignity in the community. Policy staff promote these goals in federal legislation and regulation, policy analysis and research, and technical assistance to state and local advocates.
Legal
Attorneys at the Bazelon Center work on issues and cases (see In Court) that push the envelope to guarantee rights, consumer choice, access to services, and autonomy to people with mental disabilities. In doing so, Bazelon Center attorneys provide technical support on legal matters and serve as co-counsel on selected lawsuits with private lawyers, legal services programs, ACLU chapters, and state protection and advocacy systems.
Financial Information
As a nonprofit organization, the Bazelon Center annually files Form 990 with the Internal Revenue Service. This document provides the public with our financial information. You may view and download our most recent filing - for the 2013-14 tax year - by clicking here.
How Our Work Translates to Real Life
Choice in Housing: Coco's Story -- Created and Produced by the Coalition of Institutionalized Aged and Disabled, or CIAD, of New York.
How You Can Help
Please check our Action Alerts & Bazelon Updates, Press Releases and The Reporter for the latest news and how you can play a pivotal part in our work. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for other timely shares. Discover our history and our namesake: Judge David L. Bazelon.
See our brochure for a brief glimpse of the Bazelon Center. Click on the links below for our last three annual reports: