Introduction
Federal law authorizes the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program (ADAP) to provide advocacy services to eligible individuals with disabilities in Alabama. We can help eligible individuals with disabilities by pursuing legal, administrative, and other appropriate remedies to protect their rights and by providing information about, and making referrals to, other programs that can help individuals with disabilities. We have a written statement about the types of cases we can take. This is called our Statement of Priorities. We develop a new Statement of Priorities each year with public input from stakeholders from across the state of Alabama. Our eligibility guidelines determine if an individual is eligible for our services. If your problem or concern is not covered by our Statement of Priorities and our eligibility guidelines, we will not be able to help you. If we cannot provide direct help, we will try to let you know about other agencies or persons who can.
Training
ADAP provides trainings for consumer, family member, and professional groups on a broad range of disability rights issues. Training requests are considered based on ADAP's annual priorities and our limited training resources.
Information and Referral (I&R) Services
ADAP answers all calls for technical assistance and information and referrals on disability rights.
Individual Case Advocacy
To be eligible for individual case advocacy services all four of the following statements must be true with regard to the individual's situation:
The individual with a disability must be eligible for services under one of ADAP's eight client service programs: PADD, PAIMI, PAIR, PAAT, PATBI, PABSS, PAVA, or CAP (see ADAP Program Eligibility Criteria, below).
The individual's situation must involve the abuse or neglect of a person with disability, a violation of a right granted to a person because that person has a disability, or discrimination based on disability.
Accepting the individual's case for advocacy services will further one of ADAP's annual priorities.
The individual's situation meets other case selection criteria, which include such considerations as the availability of other competent resources to advocate on behalf of the individual (including the individual's ability to pay for other legal services, or the individual's ability to advocate on their own behalf); whether there is a realistic prospect of success if the case is selected; the extent to which the potential client will benefit from satisfactory resolution of their case; the likelihood of a favorable impact on the legal rights of other individuals with disabilities; and the availability of agency resources.
PADD Program
Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Developmental Disabilities
To be eligible under the PADD program, an individual must have a developmental disability, which is defined by federal law as a severe, chronic mental or physical disability which occurs before the age of 22 and seriously limits that person's ability to function in at least three of the following major life activities:
- Self-care
- Receptive and expressive language
- Learning
- Mobility
- Self-direction
- Independent living
- Economic self-sufficiency
- OR the individual is under nine years old with only one major life functional limitation.
PAIMI Program
Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness
To be eligible for services under PAIMI, a client must have a significant mental illness or emotional impairment, as determined by a mental health professional qualified under the laws and regulations of the State of Alabama and be a resident in a facility rendering care or treatment, be in the process of being admitted to a facility rendering care or treatment (including persons being transported to such a facility), or living in a community setting, including their own home.
PAIR Program
Protection and Advocacy for Individuals Rights
To be eligible under the PAIR program, an individual with a disability must be ineligible for services under ADAP’s PADD or PAIMI programs and must need services beyond the scope of services provided by the Client Assistance Program (CAP) under section 112 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
PAAT Program
Protection and Advocacy for Assistive Technology
Any individual with a disability who needs assistive technology may request ADAP's help in accessing assistive technology devices or assistive technology services.
PATBI Program
Protection and Advocacy for Traumatic Brain Injury
Individuals may contact ADAP regarding its TBI services if there is a need for:
- Education, training or technical assistance about TBI and available services
- Information or referrals related to services and assistance that may be available to individuals with TBI and their families
- Individual or family advocacy or legal representation to eliminate barriers and increase access to comprehensive, coordinated programs and services
- Information about how to promote and support self-advocacy efforts of people with TBI and their families
PABSS Program
Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security
The PABSS program provides SSDI and SSI beneficiaries advocacy services for youth who want to transition to work or adults who want to return to work. To be eligible for the PABSS program an individual must be receiving SSI or SSDI or receiving Medicare or Medicaid still within their Extended Period of Eligibility and attempting to gain or maintain employment.
PAVA Program
Protection and Advocacy for Voting Accessibility
Individuals may contact ADAP regarding its PAVA services if an individual is of legal voting age, a person with a disability, and has experienced discrimination in access to/participation in the election process. ADAP provides information and referral services, public education programs, and individual case advocacy services.
Client Assistance Program
Protection and Advocacy for Client Assistance Program
The CAP provides information, advice, and advocacy to help people who have disabilities so they can understand their rights and get needed employment services from the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, Alabama’s Independent Living Centers, or other Rehabilitation Act Funded partners to prepare for work, get a job, keep a job, or advance in their career.