Protection & Advocacy, Inc.Tollfree/TTY/TDD: 1-800-776-5746
100 Howe Avenue, Suite 185N
Sacramento, CA 95825-8202
Description of Protection and Advocacy, Inc., Services
Protection and Advocacy, Inc. (PAI) is a nonprofit agency that provides legal assistance to people with disabilities, including physical, developmental and psychiatric disabilities. Services available from PAI include: information and referral to other sources of assistance; peer and self advocacy training; representation in administrative and judicial proceedings; investigation of abuse and neglect and legislative advocacy. PAI is funded from federal and state agencies, and from private donations.
In 1978, PAI became the agency in California responsible for protecting and advocating for the rights of people with developmental disabilities under the federal Developmentally Disabled Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 1978 (PADD). PAI also provides clients rights advocacy services to persons with developmental disabilities at four regional centers under contracts with those centers.
The Protection and Advocacy for Mentally Ill Individuals Act of 1986 (PAIMI) extended PAI's mandate to persons with psychiatric disabilities, whose legal problems arose while they were living in a facility providing care and treatment or within 90 days of the day they were discharged from such a facility or who were being transported to such a facility.
The Office of Patient's Rights opened in 1993 after state legislation made it possible to contract with PAI for the provision of advocacy services to persons with psychiatric disabilities in state hospitals and statewide patient's rights support.
The Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights Act of 1992 (PAIR) extended PAl's mandate to persons with disabilities not covered under PAIMI or PADD Acts. Because of limited funding the program is smaller and not able to provide assistance to as many persons as the PADD or PAIMI programs.
In 1994, PAI received its first limited funds under the TechnologyRelated Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1988 (TRAID). This funding will help to assure that people with disabilities have access to new advances in technology which may help them.
In addition, PAI has timelimited grants from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the provision of training about and enforcement of fair housing rights for people with disabilities.
If you would like a copy of any of these the acts which govern PAl's work, please contact PAl's Sacramento office.
How PAI Advocacy Services Are Provided
PAI provides information, referral, shortterm and technical assistance and legal representation to persons with disabilities and their families.
Information
PAI will provide information about the legal and service rights of persons with disabilities, as well as information about procedures and sources of assistance in obtaining and enforcing those rights. This information is intended to assist people in addressing and resolving their problems independently. PAl's information services are not intended to and do not provide specific legal advice for individual problems. As part of this service PAI maintains a statewide tollfree number.
Referral
PAI will, whenever possible, refer Individuals who are not eligible for PAI services, whose problems are beyond the scope of PAI priorities and/or resources or for whom other sources of assistance are readily available to other places for assistance.
Short Term Assistance
PAI will provide shortterm assistance in the resolution of individual problems through the consultation or provision of advocacy and rights materials.
Legal representation
PAI will provide legal representation in administrative and judicial proceedings to uphold and enforce the rights of persons with disabilities within priorities identified in this plan. This representation is based on an attorneyclient relationship with the person with a disability or, as necessary, with the person's legally authorized substitute decision maker.
PAI also will provide ongoing technical assistance on a partnership basis with the person with a disability, their family member or advocate. In this capacity, PAI will provide such assistance as legal research, fact finding or hearing preparation.
PAI may also participate in impact litigation and as amicus curiae (friend of the Court) where the rights of persons with disabilities are implicated. PAI will address serious, recurring and systemic rights violations and problems through focused litigation efforts and amicus curiae briefs. Representation may be on behalf of an individual or group of individuals, organizations representing or serving persons with disabilities, or in PAl's own name.
Where to Obtain PAI Services
PAI serves persons with eligible disabilities throughout California. Currently PAI has offices in Sacramento, Oakland and Los Angeles. Staff are also located at Regional Centers and State Hospitals in various geographic locations in the state. PAI does not charge people with disabilities for its services. To request PAI services, phone tollfree from anywhere in California, or contact one of PAI's local offices.
Toll Free/TTY/TDD
1 8007765746