THE MISSION of the Protection and Advocacy for Individual Rights (PAIR) program at University Legal Services (ULS) is to ensure that people with disabilities are afforded the full rights and entitlements accorded to them by the Constitution, local, and federal law. Among these rights are the rights to self-determination, to be free from harm, to be afforded due process, to develop physically, emotionally, and intellectually, and to be included in community life with the opportunities and choices these rights imply.

The following priority and objectives reflect ULS’ commitment to promote individual choice, autonomy, and inclusion in community life.

1. Advocate on behalf of people with disabilities to ensure their access to DC government services and supports in the most integrated settings appropriate to their needs, public accommodations, and wheelchair-accessible, integrated, federally-subsidized housing.

a. Advocate and litigate on behalf of people with disabilities to challenge improper Medicaid home health service terminations and reductions.

b. Pursue legal advocacy to enforce Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act in federally-funded housing developments in the District of Columbia to make them wheelchair-accessible to individuals with mobility disabilities.

c. Work to ensure that public accommodations, polling sites, and governmental facilities are accessible to people with mobility, hearing, and visual disabilities in the District of Columbia under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

d. Investigate and remedy allegations of abuse and/or neglect against people with disabilities who transition from nursing homes and/or live in the community.

e. Provide outreach and education to administrative and policy-making bodies, advocates, and underserved individuals to promote self-determination, consumer choice, and high quality services for people with disabilities in the most integrated, appropriate settings.

f. Represent plaintiff class members with mobility disabilities under the Young v. DC Housing Authority case to ensure the completion of the remaining 90 accessible public housing units pursuant to the July 2008 Amended Consent Order.

g. Represent prospective class members in Day v. District of Columbia to promote their rights under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to information about alternatives to nursing facility placement, transitional assistance, and quality home-based personal care services and supports through the Elderly and Physical Disabilities (EPD) Medicaid Waiver Program and the DC Medicaid State Plan to enable them to move out of nursing facilities.

CASE SELECTION CRITERIA

1. ULS accepts cases related to protecting the legal and human rights of individuals who reside in the District of Columbia who have disabilities that fall within the aforementioned priorities.

GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

While we recognize that every situation is important, please note that case acceptance is dependent upon available resources, including staff time. If your case is not accepted and you wish to file a grievance, please submit your grievance in writing to the Executive Director. Current clients may also submit a grievance to the Executive Director about the quality of ULS’ representation. A client may lodge an oral grievance with a ULS staff member who shall put the grievance in writing and submit it to the Executive Director. The Executive Director may be reached at:

Jane Brown, Executive Director
University Legal Services
220 I Street, N.E., Suite 130
Washington, D.C. 20002
(202) 547-0198 Phone
(202) 547-2662 Fax
(202) 547-2657 TTY

The Executive Director shall respond in writing within thirty (30) days of receipt of a grievance from any client or prospective client, or community member who has an interest in the operation of the protection and advocacy program.

A grievant may appeal the Executive Director’s decision to the ULS Board of Directors within ten (10) days of the written decision of the Executive Director. The decision of the ULS Board of Directors shall be final and not subject to further appeal or review. Client confidentiality shall be maintained.

The Executive Director shall report grievances to the Board of Directors annually.