Missouri Protection & Advocacy Services

"MO P&A is a federally mandated system in the state of Missouri which provides protection of the rights of persons with disabilities through legally-based advocacy.

MO P&A was established in 1977 to address public outcry in response to the abuse, neglect, and lack of programming in institutions for persons with disabilities.

MO P&A is the only legal rights organization in Missouri exclusively for people with disabilities.

MO P&A provides nine federally-funded programs to protect the legal rights of persons with disabilities. Due to limited funding in each program, the protection and advocacy system establishes specific service priorities and objectives on an annual basis.

MO P&A is a member of the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN). To learn more about NDRN and other state protection and advocacy systems, visit their website at www.ndrn.org.  MO P&A provides assistance to individuals with disabilities in the following programs.

PADD: Protection & Advocacy for people with Developmental Disabilities – The PADD Program was created by the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights (DD) Act of 1975. MO P&A is required by the federal statute to pursue legal, administrative and other appropriate remedies to protect and advocate for the rights of individuals with developmental disabilities under all applicable federal and state laws.

The governor of Missouri designated MO P&A to be Missouri's P&A system, and provided assurance that the system was and would remain independent of any service provider.

CAP: Client Assistance Program – The CAP was established as a mandatory program by the 1984 Amendments to the Rehabilitation (Rehab) Act. The state of Missouri, as a condition for receiving allotments under Section 110 of the Rehabilitation Act, must have a Client Assistance Program.

CAP services include assistance in pursuing administrative, legal, and other appropriate remedies to ensure the protection of persons receiving or seeking services under the Rehab Act.

PAIMI: Protection & Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness – The PAIMI program was established in 1986. The PAIMI program receives funding from the National Center for Mental Health Services. MO P&A's federal mandate is to (1) protect and advocate for the rights of people with mental illness, and (2) investigate reports of abuse and neglect in facilities that care for or treat individuals with mental illness.

MO P&A provides advocacy services or conducts investigations to address issues which arise during transportation or admission to, the time of residency in, or 90 days after discharge from such 24-hour care and treatment facilities.

PAIR: Protection & Advocacy of Individual Rights – The PAIR Program was established by Congress as a national program under the Rehabilitation Act in 1993. PAIR programs were established to protect and advocate for the legal and human rights of persons with disabilities.

Although PAIR is funded at a lower level than PADD or PAIMI, it represents an important component of a comprehensive system to advocate for the rights of all persons with disabilities.                                                                                                                                           PAAT: Protection & Advocacy for Assistive Technology – The PAAT program was created in 1994 when Congress expanded the Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act (Tech Act) to include funding for protection and advocacy systems to ""assist individuals with disabilities and their family members, guardians, advocates, and authorized representatives in accessing technology devices and assistive technology services ""through case management, legal representation and self advocacy training.""

Originally passed by Congress in 1988, the Tech Act set up a lead agency in each state to coordinate activities to facilitate access to provisions of funding for assistive technology devices and services for individuals with disabilities.

PABSS: Protection & Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security- PABSS is a federally funded program operated by MO P&A. The primary focus of the program is to provide information and assistance to SSDI/SSI beneficiaries with disabilities who desire to return to work.

PATBI: Protection & Advocacy for Traumatic Brain Injury – In 2002, MO P&A received a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to serve survivors of traumatic brain injury and their families.

This is a new program, but MO P&A anticipates providing assistance in the following areas: information and referral, advocacy for special education and employment discrimination, selective litigation services, and education and training (with special emphasis in self-advocacy training for clients and their families).

PAVA: Protection and Advocacy for Voting Accessibility – PAVA was created by the Help America Vote Act of 2002. The primary focus of the program is to provide services that will ensure the full participation of individuals with disabilities in the electoral process.

Through the PAVA program, MO P&A provides information to voters with disabilities regarding registering to vote, changing voter registration, and how changes in voting law may affect voters with disabilities. MO P&A can also provide direct advocacy and legal services to voters with disabilities who feel their voting rights have been violated.

The Vote at Home project is an integral part of MO P&As PAVA services.

WIPA: Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) is a federally-funded program which provides information about work incentives to individuals who are receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) so they can make informed choices about work. MO P&A has trained Community Work Incentives Coordinators (CWICs) who provide information and referral, problem solving and advocacy, benefits analysis, work planning information, and benefits management.

These services are provided through MO P&A for specific counties in northern Missouri. This is the only program administered by MO P&A that is not statewide. If you have any questions about who provides WIPA services in your area, please contact the MO P&A Application Unit (800-392-8667)."

Application Unit: 573-659-0678 / 800-392-8667 / Fax 573-659-0677

MO Relay (TDD): 800-735-2966