Our Priorities and Partners
Priorities
The Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program (ADAP) protects and promotes the civil rights of children and adults with physical, cognitive, and mental health disabilities in Alabama. We are Alabama’s only statewide, cross-disability, comprehensive legal advocacy organization. We believe that persons with disabilities are entitled to equal access to the opportunities afforded to all members of American society.
Annually, ADAP solicits input from persons with disabilities, their families, and other members of the disability community to identify priority issue areas on which we should focus. These priority issues frame the advocacy services that we undertake and to which we allocate ADAP’s resources.
Freedom from Abuse and Neglect
Persons with disabilities will have access to appropriate and individualized community-based services that will enhance their ability to live independently.
Community Access
Individuals with disabilities will be free from abuse and neglect and live in healthier, safer or otherwise improved facility or community settings.
Self-Determination
Persons with disabilities will have meaningful access to integrated employment and be paid at least minimum wage.
Education
Students with disabilities will be provided a free appropriate public education in their least restrictive environment to move them toward independent living and, depending on their individual goals, secondary
schooling or employment upon graduation.
Voting
Individuals with disabilities will be given equal opportunity to register to vote and vote privately and independently.
Our Partners
Administration for Community Living
- Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities (PADD)
- Protection and Advocacy for Assistive Technology (PAAT)
- Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury (PATBI)
- Protection and Advocacy for Voting Accessibility (PAVA)
Alabama Council for Developmental Disabilities (ACDD)
Alabama Council for Developmental Disabilities (ACDD) – By federal law, Councils on Developmental Disabilities are established in the 55 states and territories to engage in systems change in aspects of service/support to promote better lives for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. The Alabama Council on Developmental Disabilities (ACDD) has a mission to support independence, advocacy, productivity, and inclusion for Alabamians with developmental disabilities.
National Disability Rights Network (NDRN)
National Disability Rights Network (NDRN)– is the nonprofit membership organization for the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Systems and the Client Assistance Programs (CAP) for individuals with disabilities. Collectively, the Network is the largest provider of legally based advocacy services to people with disabilities in the United States. You can find a complete list of all protection and advocacy agencies online.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration– is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA’s mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities. SAMHSA administers the P&A’s PAIMI (Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness) program.
Rehabilitation Services Administration
- Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) – RSA’s mission is to provide leadership and resources to assist state and other agencies in providing vocational rehabilitation (VR) and other services to individuals with disabilities to maximize their employment, independence and integration into the community and the competitive labor market. RSA administers the P&A’s PAIR (Protection and Advocacy for Individual Rights) program.
- Client Assistance Program (CAP)
Social Security Administration
Social Security Administration (SSA) – serves Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries with disabilities who want to work by helping to remove barriers to employment. SSA administers the P&A’s PABSS (Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security) program. SSA also administers the PASPSSB (Protection and Advocacy for Strengthening Protections for Social Security Beneficiaries) program which ADAP is the monitor for on-site reviews of representative payees.
University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD)
Alabama’sUniversity Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities – employs a comprehensive and broad based approach to addressing the needs and expanding the resources and services available to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. The mission of the Civitan-Sparks Clinics is to improve the well-being and the quality of life of individuals and families affected by developmental disabilities through partnerships with consumers, professionals, organizations, and agencies.