Wednesday, March 3, 2021
Resources
Episode 91 Resources: Protection and Advocacy Systems for People with Disabilities
Recording & Transcripts
Soundcloud
Listen: SoundCloud ADA Live! -Episode 91: Protection and Advocacy Systems for People with Disabilities
Transcripts
- Interactive Transcript for Episode 91
Web: bit.ly/adalive91-captioning - Episode 91 Transcript (PDF file)
Speaker
Curt Decker, Executive Director, National Disability Rights Network
Description
The Protection and Advocacy (P&A) System is on the front line in defending the personal and civil rights of people with disabilities. P&As empower and ensure individuals with disabilities have the right to make choices, contribute to society, and live independently. They guard against abuse, advocate for basic human rights, and ensure access and accountability in health care, education, employment, housing, transportation, voting rights, and within the juvenile and criminal justice systems.
P&As are represented at the national level by the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), an organization established by Congress to protect the rights of people with disabilities.
On this episode of ADA Live! our guest will be Curt Decker, founder and Executive Director of the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN). Mr. Decker will discuss the history of the Protection and Advocacy (P&A) System, some important legislation they have supported, current projects, and how this advocacy system works to protect the rights of people with disabilities.
Featured Organization
National Disability Rights Network
The 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.
As the national membership association for the P&A/CAP network, NDRN has aggressively sought federal support for advocacy on behalf of people with disabilities, and expanded P&A programs from a narrow initial focus on the institutional care provided to people with intellectual disabilities in facilities to include advocacy services for all people with disabilities no matter the type or nature of their disability.
P&As and CAPs work to improve the lives of people with disabilities by guarding against abuse; advocating for basic rights; and ensuring access and accountability in health care, education, employment, housing, transportation, voting, and within the juvenile and criminal justice systems.
We’re the only legally based advocacy organization established by Congress to protect the rights of all individuals with disabilities. As part of that mandate, our network includes agencies in every state and U.S. territory, working to provide legal protection and advocacy services for people with disabilities.