Iowa P & A Board Adopts FY 2008 Priorities:

The mission of Iowa Protection & Advocacy Services, Inc. (Iowa P&A) is to defend and promote the human and legal rights of Iowans who have disabilities and mental illnesses.

Iowa Protection and Advocacy provides legal and advocacy services to Iowans with disabilities. Although the needs of Iowans with disabilities can be unlimited, Iowa P&A's funds are very limited and therefore we have to set guidelines to help decide whether we can provide advocacy or representation. The main factors examined for each intake are:

• The individual must be a qualifying person with a disability and he/she must have a disability rights issue (i.e. your problem or issue must arise from your disability);
• Iowa P&A must have funding and staff available to properly advocate for the individual’s issues;
• The individual’s advocacy or legal representation needs must fall within our Priorities. A summary of Iowa P&A’s priorities are set out below.

Regardless of the individual’s disability or their initial eligibility, Iowa P&A will not accept cases, but will only provide information and referral services, when the following issues are presented:

• Divorce, child custody, and adoption;
• Estate planning (wills and trusts);
• Criminal representation;
• Civil mental health commitment including appeals;
• Tax law, corporate or business law, consumer law, debtor-creditor law;
• Personal injury (other than injuries arising from abuse and neglect);
• Social security appeals;
• Worker’s compensation cases;
• Civil litigation that does not relate to the legal or civil rights of an individual with a disability;
• Initiation of guardianship or conservatorship of a person; and
• Cases involving inmates at state or federal correctional facilities (other than injuries arising from abuse and neglect or restraint/seclusion issues).

The following goals and objectives are used in conjunction with client eligibility requirements to determine the acceptance of cases for legal representation and non-legal advocacy:

EDUCATION:

Goal: Students with disabilities will have the right to enforce and protect their rights for special education and related services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Objective 1: Iowa P&A will assist students with serious emotional disturbances (SED) to ensure they receive a free and appropriate education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment appropriate to their needs.

Objective 2: Iowa P&A will assist students with serious emotional disturbances (SED) to ensure that Iowa public schools implement proper and legal disciplinary processes.

Objective 3: Iowa P&A staff will participate in outreach to increase awareness of the legal rights of students with disabilities.

ABUSE & NEGLECT:

Goal: People with disabilities, who reside in a facility, will be free from abuse and neglect.

Objective 1: Iowa P&A will ensure all Abuse/Neglect incidents are reported to and properly investigated by DIA.

Objective 2: Iowa P&A will participate in the Corrections Task Force, meetings & committees and other related Criminal Justice Issues.

Objective 3: Iowa P&A will advocate for Tanner’s Law, which will ban the use of prone restraints on children within facilities licensed by the State of Iowa.

Objective 4: Iowa P&A will monitor public and private facilities in Iowa and recommend positive change for individuals with disabilities within those facilities.

Objective 5: Iowa P&A will investigate any suspicious death in a public or private facility.

COMMUNITY INTEGRATION:

Goal: Iowans with disabilities will receive the necessary supports and services to live successfully in the least restrictive community based setting possible.

Objective 1: Iowa P&A will consider representation or advocacy to protect consumer’s civil rights, including substantive and due process rights, in appeals for reduction or termination of services.

Objective 2: Iowa P&A will advocate for persons with a disability who are institutionalized, or threatened with being institutionalized, to receive services in the least restrictive environment.

Objective 3: In accordance with the Conner Consent Decree, the settlement agreement between the Department of Justice and the State Resource Centers, as well as the United States Supreme Court Olmstead decision, Iowa’s two state DD institutions (Woodward and Glenwood) will implement comprehensive “transition to community living” training for all residents.

HOUSING:

Goal: Housing rights for Iowans with disabilities will be protected.

Ob jective 1: Iowa P&A will advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities to secure or maintain affordable and accessible housing.

Objective 2: Iowa P&A will promote awareness and provide education on Universal Home Design.

PABSS:

Goal: Beneficiaries of Social Security Disability Insurance and/or Supplemental Security Income will have their rights protected as employees and/or as consumers of return to work agencies.

Objective 1: Iowa P&A will collaborate with the Iowa WIPA program.

Objective 2: Iowa P&A will provide publicity and outreach on the PABSS program.

Objective 3: Iowa P&A will consider legal consultation and/or representation to beneficiaries with employment-related issues.

Objective 4: Iowa P&A will assist beneficiaries with overpayments due to work activity.

Objective 5: Iowa P&A will assist beneficiaries with resolving barriers to employment or employment-preparation services.

PAVA:

Goal: More Iowans with disabilities will know and understand their rights and responsibilities as voters.

Objective 1: Iowa P&A will provide information on the new law regarding same-day registration.

Objective 2: Iowa P&A will provide training on voter rights within facilities and the disability community.

Objective 3: Iowa P&A will target minorities with disabilities for voting outreach.

Objective 4: Iowa P&A will provide information and/or assistance on issues dealing with voting.

P&A FOR PERSONS WITH TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY:

Goal: To identify people with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and advocate for people with TBI.

Objective 1: Iowa P&A will advocate for individuals with TBI to receive appropriate services in the community.

OUTREACH/TRAINING:

Goal: To provide outreach to Iowans with disabilities and to educate those individuals who have direct contact with them.

Objective 1: Iowa P&A will provide information and outreach to minority populations in Iowa regarding protection and advocacy for individuals with disabilities.

Objective 2: Iowa P&A will provide outreach to military veterans and their families regarding appropriate services available from military or civilian providers.

Objective 3: Iowa P&A will provide outreach and training to Iowa Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA).

Objective 4: Iowa P&A will participate in the appropriate committees and programs to develop emergency planning for Iowans with disabilities.

EMPLOYMENT/ACCESSABILITY:

Goal: To promote and utilize state and federal laws on behalf of Iowans with disabilities who are discriminated against in employment, public accommodations and public services.

Objective 1: Iowa P&A will consider representation and advocacy for five individuals terminated from employment. (ADA, Rehabilitation Act and Iowa Civil Rights Law).

Objective 2: Iowa P&A will advocate for rights for persons to be free from discrimination due to disability in seeking, maintaining, or regaining employment.

Objective 3: Iowa P&A will advocate for individuals with disabilities to receive full access to public services and public accommodations.

GUARDIANSHIP:

Goal: Iowa P&A will advocate against inappropriate guardianships.

Objective 1: Iowa P&A will consider representation or advocacy for two individuals to end or limit inappropriate guardianships/conservatorships when they are no longer necessary.

Objective 2: Iowa P&A will provide advocacy for individuals to pursue alternatives to guardianships/conservatorships.

* Adopted by Iowa Protection and Advocacy Services, Inc. Board of Directors: August 4, 2007.

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