Federal Programs & Funding

Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities (PADD) Program

• Established in 1975, PADD is funded by the U.S. Administration for Community Living, and is the first program established by the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (DD Act).
• DRC-NH receives PADD funds to serve adults and children with developmental disabilities. DRC-NH helps with disability related legal issues in the priority areas outlined in our annual Statement of Goals & Priorities.

Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) Program

• Established in 1986, PAIMI is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and mandates P&As to protect and advocate for the rights of people with mental illness and investigate reports of abuse and neglect in facilities that care for or treat individuals with mental illness.
• DRC-NH receives PAIMI funds to serve adults and children with significant mental illnesses or emotional impairments, as determined by a mental health professional qualified under the laws and regulations of the State. DRC-NH helps with disability related legal issues in the priority areas outlined in our annual Statement of Goals & Priorities.

The Protection and Advocacy for Individual Rights (PAIR) Program

• Established in 1993, PAIR is funded by the Rehabilitative Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Education, and enables individuals who are not eligible under either PADD or PAIMI or the Client Assistance Program administered by the Governor’s Commission on Disability to receive services. With PAIR, the P&As are authorized to serve persons with all types of disabilities.
• DRC-NH receives PAIR funds to serve people with disabilities who are not eligible for the PAIMI (mental health) or PADD (developmental disability) programs. DRC-NH helps with disability related legal issues in the priority areas outlined in our annual Statement of Goals & Priorities.

Protection and Advocacy for Assistive Technology (PAAT) Program

• Established in 1994, PAAT is funded by the U.S. Administration for Community Living, and allows P&As to assist individuals who have difficulty accessing assistive technology devices or services.
• DRC-NH receives PAAT funding to help people with disabilities access assistive technology and related services. DRC-NH helps with disability related legal issues in the priority areas outlined in our annual Statement of Goals & Priorities.

Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS) Program

• Established in 1999, PABSS is funded by the Social Security Administration. Individuals assisted under PABSS must receive either SSI (Supplemental Security Income) or SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) and want to obtain, retain or regain employment. Eligible individuals may include students transitioning from school to work, clients of area agencies and mental health centers, or other persons with disabilities who have issues related to obtaining work or keeping their job.
• DRC-NH receives PABSS funds to assist beneficiaries of social security with barriers to employment. DRC-NH helps with disability related legal issues in the priority areas outlined in our annual Statement of Goals & Priorities.

Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Traumatic Brain Injury (PATBI) Program

• Establish in 2002, PATBI is funded by the U.S. Administration for Community Living, and provides protection and advocacy services to individuals with traumatic brain injury.
• DRC-NH receives PATBI funds to serve people with traumatic brain injuries. DRC-NH helps with disability related legal issues in the priority areas outlined in our annual Statement of Goals & Priorities.

Protection and Advocacy for Voting Access (PAVA) Program

• Enacted as part of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, PAVA is funded by the U.S. Administration for Community Living. The purpose of the program is to ensure full participation in the electoral process for individuals with disabilities, including registering or casting a vote, and accessing polling places.
• DRC-NH receives PAVA funding to help people with disabilities to vote more independently and privately.  This grant also funds training for people with disabilities, providers, family members and election officials regarding the voting rights of people with disabilities. DRC-NH helps with disability related legal issues in the priority areas outlined in our annual Statement of Goals & Priorities.

Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries with Representative Payees (PABRP/Rep Payee) Program

• The Strengthening Protections for Social Security Beneficiaries Act of 2018 authorizes the P&A system to monitor and investigate how social security representative payees are administering Social Security funds. The law directs P&As to conduct periodic, onsite individual or organizational representative payee reviews along with additional discretionary reviews. In addition, the P&As can conduct educational visits and reviews based on allegations they receive of payee misconduct.
• DRC-NH receives PABRP funding to review agency or individual representative payees of Social Security Beneficiaries and advocate as needed. DRC-NH helps with disability related legal issues in the priority areas outlined in our annual Statement of Goals & Priorities.