PAI Advocacy Plan 2008-2012 (htm) or (pdf)

What we do

10 critical services that PAI provides free of charge:

  1. telling people with disabilities about their many legal, civil and service rights;
  2. technical assistance, training, publications and advocacy support for Californians with disabilities, their families and representatives;
  3. legislative advocacy to ensure that laws benefit Californians with disabilities;
  4. investigating complaints about serious physical and sexual abuse and neglect-related deaths in institutions;
  5. outreach to traditionally underserved ethnic and disability communities;
  6. peer self-advocacy services for people with psychiatric or developmental disabilities;
  7. patients' rights advocacy for state psychiatric hospital residents, technical assistance and training for county advocates;
  8. rights advocacy for clients with developmental disabilities who are receiving services at regional centers;
  9. bringing impact litigation and acting as amicus curiae in disability-related cases; and
  10. individMay 30, 2008 case selection criteria.

Examples of problems PAI can help with

PAI helps people with disabilities to solve disability-related problems. If you have a disability and qualify for services, PAI can help you with problems like:

  • Rights to basic support, personal care, therapy and health care - like Supplemental Security Income (SSI), In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), Medi-Cal, and California Children's Services (CCS).
  • Discrimination in housing, transportation, employment, and access to public and private programs and services.
  • Abuse, neglect, and rights violations in an institution.
  • Least restrictive environment, dignity, privacy, choice, and other basic rights.
  • Special education rights.
  • Mental health and support services that provide individualized treatment.
  • Regional center eligibility and services that promote independence -- such as supported living and family supports.
  • Voting registration, vote casting and accessible polling places
  • Access to technology -- like communication devices and power wheelchairs.

If we can't be of direct assistance, we refer people to other sources of help.

PAI also takes its services into the community, wherever children, youth and adults with disabilities live or go to school or obtain services.

What is PAI? - What we do, who we help and how to get help in other languages.