Disabilities Ombuds

About Us

We support people with disabilities and help them get the services they need and have legal rights to. We advocate for their rights and educate people about what those rights are.

File a Complaint

What we do

Listen
Educate
Mediate
Investigate
Advocate for change

Rights & Privileges

What are the rights of a person with a disability?

Persons with disabilities have the same rights as all people to non-discrimination, access, equality of opportunity, inclusion and full participation in society. These are the basic principles underlying the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Request Help

To get help from the Disabilities Ombuds, please fill out this form. You can tell us about a concern, make a complaint, or request information and resources. If you need any help filling out this form, please email dhhscustomerexp@utah.gov

The Disabilities Ombuds is not an emergency service. If you are experiencing an emergency and need immediate assistance, call 9-1-1.

Resources and Services

Division of Services for People with Disabilities
- The Division of Services for People with Disabilities (DSPD) promotes opportunities and provides supports for people with disabilities to lead self-determined lives by overseeing home and community-based services for more than 6,500 people who have disabilities. Support includes community living, day services, and supported employment services.

Division of Aging and Adult Services
- The Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) was created as Utah’s State Unit on Aging giving the Division the legal authority to establish and monitor programs that serve the needs of Utah’s seniors.

Utah Parent Center
- The mission of the Utah Parent Center (UPC or Center) is to help parents help their children, youth and young adults with all disabilities to live included, productive lives as members of the community.

Disability Law Center
- The Disability Law Center enforces and advances the legal rights, opportunities, and choices of Utahns with disabilities.

Institute for Disability Research, Policy and Practice
- We are working together to create inclusive communities and improve the lives of children and adults with disabilities and their families through sustainable innovation, collaborative research, responsive service, and interdisciplinary training and education.

Utah Developmental Disability Council
- The Utah Developmental Disabilities Council supports and empowers people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to achieve inclusive, meaningful, and self-determined lives in their communities through its ongoing support of leadership, education, policy, and advocacy actions.
Utah Statewide Independent Living Council
- We promote the full inclusion, independence, and empowerment of people with disabilities through statewide advocacy, system change, coordination, education, networking, resource development and enhancement of Independent Living Services.
Utah Center for Assistive Technology (UCAT)
- The Utah Center for Assistive Technology (UCAT) is a statewide resource offering information and technical services to help people with disabilities acquire and use assistive technology devices. UCAT offers free evaluations to anyone within the state of Utah.
Supported Employment Services
- We provide supported employment services for individuals with the most significant disabilities who require support to find, learn and keep a job.
Supported Employment | Substance Use and Mental Health
- Gainfully employed people in competitive work settings with mental illness and co-occurring disorders, may have an increased sense of purpose, higher self-confidence, and improved social acceptance!
Medicaid
- Medicaid is a program that covers medical expenses for certain groups of people who have limited income and resources.
Department of Workforce Services
- Utah became the first state in the nation to consolidate employment and public assistance programs by creating Utah Department of Workforce Services in 1997. Today, more than 2,200 Workforce Services employees assist individuals in preparing for and finding jobs, meeting workforce needs of Utah businesses, administering temporary assistance, and providing economic data and analysis.
Local MHAs
Health Departments
- UALHD supports Utah’s 13 local health departments in promoting and protecting public and environmental health through prevention and education.
Utah Antidiscrimination and Labor (UALD)
- Investigate and resolve employment and housing discrimination complaints and enforce Utah’s minimum wage, wage payment requirements and laws which protect youth in employment.
Paratransit Services
- UTA's Paratransit Service ADA program is a service of the Utah Transit Authority, for people with physical, cognitive or visual disabilities who are functionally unable to independently use the UTA fixed route bus service either all of the time, temporarily or only under certain circumstances.
Take Care Utah
- In this free program, in partnership with DHHS, trained linkage coordinators will help individuals with IDD identify their unmet health needs. Participants will then be linked to healthcare providers, mental health providers, and health promotion programs. Linkages will be based on participants’ needs and wants.
Ability 1st Utah
- Since January 2001, Ability 1st Utah has been providing services to individuals with all types of disabilities and of any age to help them achieve their goal of remaining independent in their homes and active in their communities. Our organization seeks to help individuals with disabilities to remove whatever limitations they may encounter along the way and turn them into opportunities for developing their abilities to enjoy independent living lifestyles.
Community Action Partnership of Utah
- Community Action Partnership of Utah (CAP Utah) is the statewide association for Utah's nine Community Action Agencies. The Community Action network envisions an end to poverty in Utah. Our member agencies work toward this vision every day by providing services to low-income families and individuals across the state.
Utah Community Action
- Founded in 1965, Utah Community Action is one of the largest nonprofit agencies dedicated to fighting poverty and its root causes in Utah. Today, we serve over 60,000 people annually through six core programs–Adult Education, Case Management & Housing, Head Start preschool, HEAT utility assistance, Nutrition, and Weatherization for homes. The mission of Utah Community Action is to empower individuals, strengthen families, and build communities through self-reliance and education programs.
Utah Dispute Resolution - Community Mediation Program
- UDR provides mediation services for a wide range of community disputes.

Rocky Mountain ADA Center
- The Rocky Mountain ADA Center (RMADAC) provides information, guidance, and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) tailored to meet the needs of individuals and organizations in our region.
Americans with Disabilities Act
- From answers to common questions to official legal documents, ADA.gov has everything you need to understand your rights and responsibilities under the ADA.
ADA National Network
- The ADA National Network provides information, guidance and training on how to implement the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in order to support the mission of the ADA to “assure equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities.”
Administration for Community Living
- The Administration for Community Living was created around the fundamental principle that older adults and people of all ages with disabilities should be able to live where they choose, with the people they choose, and with the ability to participate fully in their communities.
Contact the Department of Justice to report a civil rights violation
- If you believe you or someone else has experienced a civil rights violation, please tell us what happened.

US Department of Housing and Urban Development
Housing Authorities: Utah | HUD.gov / U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Salt Lake City Housing Stability Division
- 801-535-7712 | HousingStability@slcgov.com
Salt Lake County Housing Problems
Utah Non-Profit Housing Corporation
- 801-364-6117 • 223 West 700 South Suite C
- Provides safe and affordable housing for low-income individuals and families.
Salt Lake City Housing Stability Division
Salt Lake City Resources for Rental Assistance & Eviction Prevention

Salt Lake City Homelessness
- If you or someone you know is experiencing or is at risk of experiencing homelessness, call: 801-990-9999.
End Utah Homelessness
- Our Vision for the Homeless response system in Utah is to make homelessness rare, brief, and non recurring; that all people experiencing homelessness can thrive to their fullest potential; and that our communities are stable and safe for everyone.

Utah Courts Self Help
- Free resources to research Utah laws, court rules, and cases, as well as assistance with navigating court forms and rules.
- Utah State Law Library Matheson Courthouse
- 450 S. State Street, Room W-13
- Call: (801) 238-7990 Text: (801) 432-0898 library@utcourts.gov
Utah Legal Services
- Free legal help to eligible Utahns involved in: family law, public benefits, housing, consumer, expungement, senior, migrant farmworkers, and Native American law cases. No criminal matters are handled
- Monday–Friday 9:-00 AM–2:00 PM
- (801) 328-8891
Tuesday Night Bar Tuesday
- Free legal advice provided by volunteer attorneys on any topic, including criminal issues. Appointments are required; call to schedule an appointment at least one week in advance.
- 5:30–7:00 PM Utah Law & Justice Center 645 S. 200 E. Salt Lake City, UT 84111
- (801) 297-7037
Legal Aid Society of Salt Lake
- Low-cost and free legal representation for individuals in family law and domestic abuse cases. Apply online.
- (801) 328-8849

Contact Us

Ombuds: Angie McCourt
By Phone: 801-538-4580
By Email: dhhscustomerexp@utah.gov
By Mail:
Multi-Agency State Office Building
195 N 1950 W 1st floor
Salt Lake City, UT 84116

Complaint Process

The Disability Ombuds reviews each complaint to determine next steps. The Disability Ombuds will review, but may not investigate, every complaint.

How to file a complaint

You may file a written, oral or electronic complaint with the Utah Department of Health and Human Services Office of Ombuds. The events leading up to the complaint must have occurred within the last 3 months. You will be contacted by the Office of Ombuds within 3 days of submitting your complaint. Your information will remain confidential.

File a Complaint

By Phone: 801-538-4580
By Email: dhhscustomerexp@utah.gov
By Mail:
Writing to 195 N 1950 W 1st floor
Salt Lake City, UT 84116

Tips for making a complaint

Be Timely
Check to make sure you are submitting your concern to the right agency
Provide the details of your concern - share the facts
Be clear and specific
State what you want as the result
Be polite
Be patient

Disabilities Ombuds

About Us

What we do

Listen

Educate

Mediate

Investigate

Advocate for change