Legal CornerP&A activities are governed by several federal laws and regulations. Some of the most significant are as follows: The Protection & Advocacy for Developmental Disabilities (PADD) Program was created by the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights (DD) Act of 1975. P&As are required by the Act to pursue legal, administrative and other appropriate remedies to protect and advocate for the rights of individuals with developmental disabilities under all applicable federal and state laws. In 1994, amendments to the DD Act expanded the system to include a Native American P&A program. The Client Assistance Program (CAP) was established as a mandatory program by the 1984 Amendments to the Rehabilitation Act. Every state and territory, as a condition for receiving allotments under Section 110 of the Rehabilitation Act, must have a CAP. CAP services include assistance in pursuing administrative, legal and other appropriate remedies to ensure the protection of persons receiving or seeking services under the Rehabilitation Act. Appeal Rights The Protection & Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) Program was established in 1986. Each state has a PAIMI program which receives funding from the national Center for Mental Health Services. Agencies are mandated to (1) protect and advocate for the rights of people with mental illness and (2) investigate reports of abuse and neglect in facilities that care for or treat individuals with mental illness. The Protection & Advocacy for Individual Rights (PAIR) Program was established by Congress as a national program under the Rehabilitation Act in 1993. PAIR programs were established to protect and advocate for the legal and human rights of persons with disabilities. Although PAIR is funded at a lower level than PADD and PAIMI, it represents an important component of a comprehensive system to advocate for the rights of all persons with disabilities. The Protection & Advocacy for Assistive Technology (PAAT) Program was created in 1994 when Congress expanded the Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act (Tech Act) to include funding for P&As to "assist individuals with disabilities and their family members, guardians, advocates and authorized representatives in accessing technology devices and assistive technology services" through case management, legal representation and self advocacy training. Originally passed by Congress in 1988, the Tech Act set up a lead agency in each state to coordinate activities to facilitate access to, provision of and funding for assistive technology devices and services for individuals with disabilities. Protection & Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS) Program offers services to SSI/SSDI beneficiaries between the ages of 18-64 interested in securing a job or returning to work. PABSS advocates for persons age 18 to 64 who are current beneficiaries of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) who want to go to work, return to work, or maintain employment. Here are some of the ways PABSS can help SSI or SSDI beneficiaries:
Protection & Advocacy for Voters Accessibility (PAVA) Program will help "ensure the full participation in the electoral process for individuals with disabilities, including registering to vote, casting a vote and accessing polling places." The major goal of this program is to assure that individuals with traumatic brain injury receive appropriate services and support within their own communities. Other ResourcesACCESS TO COURTS
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