New P&A Goals
2019-2020
Approved by Board of Directors – September 14, 2019
Effective October 1, 2019
GOAL 1: Reduce incidents of serious abuse, neglect, and exploitation of individuals with disabilities, including inappropriate restraint and seclusion in residential and day program settings.
GOAL 2: To facilitate the community integration of individuals with disabilities by protecting their rights to receive appropriate supports and services, in the most integrated settings
GOAL 3: Individuals with developmental disabilities will have meaningful access to integrated employment that pays at least minimum wage.
GOAL 4: 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.
GOAL 5: People with disabilities will have increased access to the employment accommodations, , vocational rehabilitation services, work support services, and post-secondary educational modifications they need in order to work or prepare to work.
GOAL 6: Individuals with disabilities will be more independent and better integrated by receiving assistance to enforce their rights under Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Fair Housing Act, Section 504, and other federal and state disability rights laws.
GOAL 7: Individuals with disabilities will have increased access to the assistive technology (AT) devices and services they need to for community integration, for work or preparing for work, and for school and other activities.
GOAL 8: P&A will assist people with disabilities so they may fully participate in the voting process.
*Note: Goal 4 is for individuals eligible for the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities (PAIDD) program, the Protection and Advocacy for Individual Rights (PAIR) program, or the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) program. Education cases for students with other disabilities may be considered under Goal 6 or under other funding.
Community Feedback
If you have comments about these goals or other goals you believe P&A should have in the future you may take this quick online survey, or you may send them to us via email or mail to:
Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities, Inc.
3710 Landmark Drive, Suite 208
Columbia SC 29204
Case Selection Criteria
While priority issues will be a major factor in deciding to accept a particular case, the following will also be considered:
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- 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.