NDALC sets annual service priorities based on input from individuals with disabilities.  For a complete list of the Current Service Priorities (Fiscal Year 2008), please use the following links:     

 

             FY2008 NDALC Service Priorities:    English       Spanish

 

 

Additionally, in August of every year, NDALC disseminates a Questionnaire to collect input and public comment about our current and future Service Priorities.  To receive this Questionnaire, please email your request to survey@ndalc.org.

 

Nevada Disability Advocacy & Law Center (NDALC)

(Nevada's Protection & Advocacy System for Individuals with Disabilities)

Service Priorities

2008 Service Priorities

 

Key to grant programs (PA = Protection & Advocacy for)

 

PAAT: Assistive Technology                PABSS: Beneficiaries of Social Security

 

PADD: Individuals with Developmental Disabilities                 PAIMI: Individuals with Mental Illness

 

PAIR: Individual Rights                         PATBI: Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury

 

PAVA: Voting Access

 

 

ACCESS

 

1. NDALC will assist individuals with disabilities to secure greater physical and programmatic access to entities covered under Title II or Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). (PAIR, PAVA)

 

• NDALC will provide direct representation and advocacy, as resources permit, to persons with disabilities to ensure compliance with Title II and Title III of the ADA.

 

• NDALC will collaborate and coordinate with other disability rights organizations to ensure compliance with Title II and Title III of the ADA.

 

• NDALC will provide voter registration assistance/education and advocate for accessible polling places.

 

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

 

1. NDALC will work with individuals with disabilities, their families, and others to obtain needed and appropriate assistive technology devices and services, and to ensure that such devices and services are provided on a timely basis. (PAAT)

 

• NDALC will provide direct representation and advocacy, as resources permit, to individuals with disabilities to assist them with obtaining needed and appropriate assistive technology devices and services.

 

• NDALC will provide direct representation and advocacy, as resources permit, to families of children with disabilities to assist them in obtaining needed and appropriate assistive technology devices and services from school districts.

 

EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES

 

1. NDALC will advocate to ensure that children with developmental disabilities obtain appropriate and timely early intervention services and transition services. NDALC will only provide direct representation at Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) meetings in select cases that address egregious systemic issues. (PADD)

 

• NDALC will provide direct representation and advocacy, as resources permit, to children with disabilities to improve access to needed early intervention services available under Part C of IDEA.

 

• NDALC will provide direct representation and advocacy, as resources permit, to children with disabilities to improve timely transition services from Part C to Part B of IDEA.

 

• NDALC will develop materials and provide training to families of children with disabilities to improve access to needed early intervention services available under Part C of IDEA.

 

EDUCATION

 

1. NDALC will advocate for students with disabilities who are being denied the opportunity to be educated in the least restrictive environment with the appropriate supportive and related services. NDALC will only provide representation at select individualized education plan (IEP) meetings. (PADD, PAIMI)

 

• NDALC will provide direct representation and advocacy, as resources permit, to students with disabilities to ensure that school districts are providing the services and supports necessary for them to be educated in the least restrictive environment.

 

• NDALC will develop materials and provide training to educate students with disabilities, their families and schools about the requirements of IDEA. NDALC will focus on students and school districts located in rural areas and students in institutional settings.

 

2. NDALC will advocate for students to receive appropriate transition planning services from the school district. NDALC will only provide representation at select individualized education plan (IEP) meetings. (PADD)

 

• NDALC will provide direct representation and advocacy, as resources permit, to students with disabilities to assist them in obtaining adequate transition services as required under IDEA.

 

FACILITY MONITORING

 

1. NDALC will monitor facilities and other supervised living arrangements of individuals with disabilities to ensure healthy and safe living environments, free from abuse and neglect. (PAIMI, PADD)

 

• NDALC shall conduct targeted monitoring of group home policies, procedures and operations to identify serious rights violations and deficiencies. NDALC shall develop and implement a limited number of advocacy strategies, including direct representation, to redress identified problems and deficiencies.

 

• NDALC shall conduct targeted monitoring of inpatient facility and residential treatment facility policies, procedures and operations to identify serious rights violations and deficiencies. NDALC shall develop and implement a limited number of advocacy strategies, including direct representation, to redress identified problems and deficiencies.

 

GUARDIANSHIPS

 

1. NDALC will advocate for individuals under a guardianship who want to live more independently. (ALL)

 

• NDALC will provide information and technical assistance to individuals under a guardianship regarding their personal rights under federal and state law.

 

• NDALC will develop materials and provide training to individuals who are under a guardianship about their personal rights under federal and state law.

 

• NDALC will provide direct representation, as resources permit, to advocate to remove or limit a guardianship so individuals with disabilities who have appropriate support services available can live more independently in the

community.

 

HOUSING

 

1. NDALC will work with individuals with disabilities to prevent discrimination in housing and will assist such individuals in obtaining reasonable accommodations and/or modifications in housing. (PAIMI, PAIR)

 

• NDALC will provide direct representation and advocacy, as resources permit, to individuals with disabilities to protect against discrimination in housing and to assist them with obtaining reasonable accommodations and/or modifications in housing.

 

• NDALC will collaborate and coordinate with disability and fair housing organizations to ensure that individuals with disabilities are protected against discrimination and obtain needed assistance in securing accommodations and/or modifications in housing.

 

• NDALC will develop materials to provide information to assist individuals with disabilities in accessing reasonable accommodations and/or modifications in housing.

 

INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS

 

1. NDALC will advocate to ensure that the rights of individuals with psychiatric disabilities are not denied without them first being afforded due process of law. (PAIMI)

 

• NDALC shall conduct targeted monitoring of court proceedings involving individuals with psychiatric disabilities to identify due process violations or deficiencies.

 

• NDALC shall provide information, technical assistance, and advocacy including direct representation to protect the legal rights of individuals with psychiatric disabilities whose rights are being violated by entities or individuals who are providing care, treatment or services.

 

• NDALC shall monitor civil commitment to ensure the protection of clients’ rights.

 

INSTITUTIONS

 

1. NDALC will advocate for the personal rights, mandated by federal and state law, for individuals in institutional settings. (PADD, PAIMI)

 

• NDALC shall provide information, technical assistance, and advocacy, including direct representation, to individuals with disabilities in institutions for the purpose of enforcing personal rights mandated by federal and state law.

 

• NDALC will develop materials and provide training to individuals with disabilities in institutions about personal rights mandated by federal and state law.

 

• NDALC will advocate for the elimination of the use of seclusion and restraint against individuals with disabilities and will support efforts of mental health professionals to eliminate seclusion and restraint as a treatment option.

 

2. NDALC will advocate for the development of comprehensive, consumer-driven and appropriate discharge plans for individuals with psychiatric disabilities. (PAIMI)

 

• NDALC shall evaluate mental health inpatient facility policies, procedures and practices with respect to discharge planning and identify systemic and serious problems and deficiencies.

 

• NDALC shall develop and implement a limited number of advocacy strategies, including direct representation in selected cases, to redress identified problems and deficiencies.

 

INVESTIGATIONS

 

1. NDALC will investigate incidents involving death or serious bodily injury to persons with disabilities in public and private facilities. (ALL)

 

JUVENILE JUSTICE:

 

1. NDALC will advocate for juveniles with disabilities in the juvenile justice system to ensure they receive appropriate treatment and services. (PADD, PAIMI)

 

• NDALC will develop materials and provide training on the rights of juveniles with disabilities to all family court personnel, juvenile justice personnel, judges, prosecutors, public defenders, and other community advocates.

 

• NDALC will monitor county juvenile justice facilities and state youth correctional facilities on a regular basis.

 

• NDALC will communicate and collaborate with other community advocates in sharing general information about issues and advocacy strategies in the juvenile justice system.

 

• NDALC will provide technical assistance, but does not provide direct representation in criminal matters.

 

MOST INTEGRATED SETTING

 

1. NDALC will advocate to prevent the unnecessary institutionalization of individuals with disabilities so that they can live in the community of their choice. (PADD, PAIMI, PAIR, PATBI)

 

• NDALC will provide direct representation and advocacy, as resources permit, to individuals with disabilities to prevent unnecessary institutionalization and obtain appropriate, quality community-based services and supports.

 

• NDALC will monitor Olmstead implementation activities to ensure that individuals with disabilities have quality community-based services.

 

• NDALC will provide direct representation and advocacy, as resources permit, to individuals with disabilities in rural communities who have been denied access to quality community-based services and supports.

 

RETURN TO WORK

 

1. NDALC will advocate on behalf of individuals with disabilities, who receive social security disability benefits, to remove barriers preventing them from obtaining or maintaining employment. (PABSS)

 

• NDALC will provide direct representation and advocacy, as resources permit, to protect the rights of social security disability beneficiaries when there are complaints of inadequate/improper services by a service provider, employer

or other entity involved in the beneficiaries’ return to work efforts.

 

• NDALC will collaborate and coordinate with other agencies and organizations involved with assisting social security disability beneficiaries in obtaining or maintaining employment.

 

• Develop materials, as needed, to assist individuals with understanding the Ticket to Work program and their rights as a ticket holder.