THE P&A SYSTEM
AT WORK FOR OVER 50 YEARS
HISTORY
ThenationwideProtection&Advocacysystemwascreatedinthe1970sinresponseto anexposérevealingabuse,neglect,andthelackofservicesandsupportsinstate-run facilitiesattheWillowbrookStateSchoolinStatenIsland,NewYork.Willowbrookwasa stateinstitutionforpeoplewithintellectualanddevelopmentaldisabilities.
Congressheldhearingsandconcludedthatthestateswerenotcapableofoverseeing theservicedeliverysystemandestablishedanindependentoversightsystem.In1975, throughtheDevelopmentalDisabilitiesAssistanceandBillofRights(DD)Act,thefirst ProtectionandAdvocacyprogram,PADD,wasborn(ProtectionandAdvocacyforPeople withDevelopmentalDisabilities).
CongressauthorizedtheProtection&Advocacysystemtoinvestigateallegationsof abuse&neglectandtoadvocateforthecivil&legalrightsofpeoplewithdisabilities.
The TheProtection&AdvocacyProtection&AdvocacySystem System
Wewerecreated through Congressional authority
Weare independent, nonpartisan agencies
Wearelocated ineveryState andTerritoryin theUS
Werepresent peoplewith disabilities
Wecombine investigative oversightwith directadvocacy
Congresshas expandedtheP&A systemoverthelast 50years
FRAUD WASTE&ABUSE
Ourinvestigationsuncoverwasteinourstate systemsandouradvocacyremediesthesefailures.
Wefocusonthesegoalswithbothindividual andsystemicapproaches.
Wetargetthemosteffectivesolutionsforthe peopleweareserving.
CONGRESSIONAL MANDATES
CongresscreatedtheProtectionandAdvocacySystem toinvestigateallegationsofabuseandneglect, educatethepublic,andadvocateforthecivilandlegal rightsofpeoplewithdisabilities.
ABUSE
Weinvestigateanduncover negligentandabusiveactsthat mayleadtoseriousharmand deathandadvocatetoprevent futureharm.
Directcareabuse&neglect
SocialSecuritybenefitmisuse
Unlawfulseclusion
Improperphysical&chemicalrestraint
Unnecessaryinstitutionalization
Financialabuse
Financialfraudisoneofthefastest growingformsofabusetargeting olderAmericansandpeoplewith disabilities.Manyaresusceptible tofraudstersbecausetheylacka meaningfulunderstandingoftheir rightsorhowtoreportabuse.
Weconductover200financial reviewsperyearandproactively deliverKnowYourRightstrainings toraiseawarenessforthoseatthe highestriskofexploitation.
WASTE
Peoplewithdisabilitiesareoftenunnecessarily institutionalizedatgreatercosttotaxpayers.
Thecostofinstitutionalcarefarexceedsthecostofservicesinthe community.Whenpeopleareunnecessarilyinstitutionalized, taxpayersbeartheburdenofthiswaste.Wehavehelpedhundredsof peoplewhowerestuckinhospitals,nursinghomes,andother institutionswhowanttoreturntotheircommunities.
Taxpayerssaveanaveragecostof$7,400perpersonpermonthfor thosedischargedfromnursingfacilities,andanaveragesavingsof $19,000perpersonpermonthforthosedischargedfromhospitals,or intermediatecarefacilitiestocommunity-basedservices.
Inthelastsixyears,ouradvocacyhassavedthetaxpayers $1,210,602amonth.
725 Broadway, Suite 450
Albany, New York 12207-5001
MAILING ADDRESS: BROOKLYN
25 Chapel Street, Suite 1005 Brooklyn, New York 11201
ROCHESTER
44 Exchange Blvd, Suite 110 Rochester, New York 14614
Disability Rights New York, 279 Troy Road, Ste 9, PMB 236, Rensselaer, NY 12144
DRNY is supported at taxpayer expense by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, The Administration for Community Living; Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration; U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration; and, the Social Security Administration. This publication does not represent the views, positions or policies of, or the endorsements by, any of these federal agencies.
