Goals
2020-2021
Approved by Board of Directors – September 12, 2020
Effective October 1, 2020
Abuse and Neglect Goals
Reduce incidents of serious abuse, neglect, and exploitation of individuals with disabilities, including inappropriate restraint and seclusion in residential and day program settings.
Community Integration Goals
To facilitate the community integration of individuals with disabilities by protecting their rights to receive appropriate support and services in the most integrated settings.
Employment Goals
Individuals with disabilities will have meaningful access to integrated employment that pays at least minimum wage.
Individuals with disabilities who receive disability benefits from Social Security will overcome barriers to employment.
Individuals with disabilities will receive the vocational rehabilitation services they need to have meaningful access to integrated employment that pays at least minimum wage.
People with disabilities will have increased access to the employment accommodations and post-secondary educational modifications they need in order to work or prepare to work.
Individuals with disabilities will have increased access to the employment accommodations, vocational rehabilitations services, work support services and post-secondary educational modifications they need in order to work or prepare to work.
People with disabilities will have increased access to the assistive technology devices and services they need in order to work or prepare to work.
Education Goals
Public school students with disabilities will receive services (including appropriate behavioral interventions) they need to stay in school, receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE), and successfully transition to work or postsecondary education or living as independently as possible as adults.
Educational Impacts Due to COVID-19: COVID-19 has created and raised issues in the area of special education, including equal access to education, receiving a free appropriate public education (FAPE), accommodations, and addressing any regression as well as raise questions about how to provide services in a student’s least restrictive environment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Public school students with disabilities impacted by the SC Governor’s ordered school closures during the 2019/2020 year due to COVID-19 should receive appropriate services to address any regression and/or not appropriately receiving a free appropriate public education. The needs of students with disabilities should be addressed during the 2020/2021 school year, including receiving a FAPE, during the pendency of COVID-19 impacting public schools.
Individuals with disabilities will have improved access to the assistive technology (AT) devices and services they need for school or other activities not covered by community integration or barriers to employment.
Individuals with disabilities will be more independent and better integrated by receiving assistance to enforce their rights under Titles II and III of the ADA, the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 and other disability rights laws (federal and state).
Voting Goals
P&A will improve polling place accessibility.
P&A will increase voter registration among people with disabilities.
P&A will educate voters with disabilities.
P&A will facilitate community stakeholder collaboration to increase voting by people with disabilities
Case Selection Criteria
- Legal merit and likelihood of success;
- Attractiveness to private attorneys or others who might provide representation;
- Whether the fact situation offers an opportunity to use media to educate the general public and people with disabilities about disability rights and what can be done when rights are violated;
- Whether the client is willing to have the case used to educate and wants to be a part of this process;
- Whether P&A has the resources necessary to provide high-quality representation;
- Capacity of the individual for self-advocacy.
- Whether the case can be used to make systemic change to laws, regulations or agency rules and practices affecting individuals with disabilities.
If you would like to read a more detailed copy of our goals and priorities please email info@pandasc.org for a copy.