Secondary Level Navigation

Support Disability Rights Florida

Make a donation today and help us continue to provide these great services.

Donate to Disability Rights Florida

Goals & Objectives 2012

Click Here to Listen to the Audio Version

Goal 1: Abuse and Neglect

Protect individuals with disabilities from abuse and neglect, including use of inappropriate restraint and seclusion, in facilities and community settings, by utilizing all appropriate strategies to remedy adverse conditions.

  1. Investigate complaints of abuse of adults with disabilities in public and private facilities, including forensic programs, jails, detention centers and prisons. (PADD, PAIMI, PAIR, PATBI)
  2. Investigate complaints of neglect of adults with disabilities in public and private facilities, including forensic programs, jails, detention centers and prisons. (PADD, PAIMI, PAIR, PATBI)
  3. Reduce the unnecessary incarceration of persons with disabilities utilizing strategies that increase opportunities for early identification, intervention and community case management. (PADD, PAIMI, PAIR, PATBI)
  4. Investigate complaints of abuse, including inappropriate restraint and seclusion, of youth with disabilities in facilities and community settings, including juvenile justice facilities, foster care, child competency restoration programs and educational settings. (PADD, PAIMI, PAIR, PATBI)
  5. Investigate complaints of neglect of youth with disabilities in facilities and community settings, including juvenile justice facilities, foster care, competency restoration programs and educational settings. (PADD, PAIMI, PAIR, PATBI)

Goal 2: Rights Protections

Protect and promote the rights of individuals with disabilities utilizing all appropriate strategies to prevent or remedy violations.

  1. Investigate complaints of violations of the rights of adults with disabilities in facilities. (PADD, PAIMI, PAIR, PATBI)
  2. Investigate complaints of violations of rights of youth with disabilities in facilities. (PADD, PAIMI, PAIR, PATBI)   
  3. Implement appropriate strategies to advocate for persons with disabilities, both youth and adults, in community settings to insure full enjoyment of available rights and privileges, with focus on publicly funded benefits and supports. (PADD, PAIMI, PAIR, PATBI, PABSS)
  4. Pursue appropriate remedies so individuals with disabilities waitlisted for services from state agencies will receive those services on a reasonably timely basis in an appropriately integrated setting. (PADD, PAIMI, PAIR, PATBI)
  5. Expand residential options for persons with disabilities, especially persons with severe and persistent psychiatric disabilities to expand the opportunity for individual choice in living options rather than reliance on institutionalized settings. (PADD, PAIMI, PAIR, PATBI, PABSS)
  6. Investigate complaints regarding inadequate access for persons with disabilities in both physical settings and program participation, including failure to provide access to assistive technology. (PADD, PAIMI, PAIR, PATBI, PAAT, Cy Pres Fund)
  7. Advocate for students with disabilities in community settings and facilities who are negotiating the transition process from secondary education to post-secondary education or employment to increase successful outcomes. (CAP, PADD, PAIMI, PAIR, PABSS)

Goal 3: Education

Protect and promote rights to educational opportunities for students with disabilities using appropriate strategies.

  1. Provide representation to students with disabilities to secure free and appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE). (PADD, PAIMI, PAIR, PATBI)
  2. Advocate for students with disabilities in the dependency system (foster care) in both community settings and residential facilities, who allege violations of educational rights. (PADD, PAIMI, PAIR, PATBI)
  3. Advocate for students with disabilities in the juvenile justice system who allege violations of education rights in both community settings and residential facilities. (PADD, PAIMI, PAIR, PATBI)
  4. Educate parents of students with disabilities to improve access to and utilization of dispute resolution mechanisms. (PADD, PAIMI, PAIR, PATBI)
  5. Provide representation to students with disabilities for reasonable accommodations, supports and related services to ensure students with disabilities access to the general education curriculum, education in the least restrictive environment. (PADD, PAIMI, PAIR, PATBI, PAAT)

Goal 4: Employment

Protect and promote rights to employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities by using all available strategies.

  1. Increase and expand access to integrated employment opportunities, with focus on workplace accommodations, competitive employments, employer awareness, Ticket to Work and self-employment for individuals with disabilities. (CAP, PABSS)
  2. Increase access to assistive technology, training and support services and worksite modifications that assist individuals with disabilities to prepare for and/or engage in employment. (CAP, PAAT, PABSS)
  3. Identify and carry out systemic advocacy with Vocational Rehabilitation Services to improve the quality of their service delivery process. (CAP, PABSS)

Goal 5: Empowerment

Promote self-determination, self-advocacy and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities using appropriate strategies.

  1. Investigate complaints of financial abuse of representative payees and promote through education, advocacy and representation economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities. (PADD, PAIMI, PAIR, PATBI, PAAT, PABSS)
  2. Use appropriate strategies, including education and outreach, to promote a person-centered approach to decision making for and about individuals with disabilities, including alternatives to guardianship. (PADD, PAIMI, PAIR, PATBI, PAAT, PABSS)
  3. Implement strategies to promote full participation by persons with disabilities in the political process, including education regarding accessible campaigns, voter registration, self-advocacy, and encouraging staff and administrators of facilities to support exercise of residents civil and constitutional rights. (PAVA)
  4. Educate policy makers and stakeholders on emergency planning to promote self-advocacy and independence in disaster planning and development of appropriate shelter facilities and monitor development of appropriate and accessible shelter facilities. (PADD, PAIMI, PAIR, PATBI, PAAT, PABSS)

Goal 6: Information, Referral and Outreach

Provide information, referral and outreach about Disability Rights Florida and available community resources.

  1. Increase callers’ direct access to intake specialists trained across grants and issue teams to provide prompt information and referral or team assignment. (All grants)
  2. Increase outreach efforts to military Veterans with disabilities and their families by participating in Veteran events, interacting with Veteran service organizations, and networking with Veteran organizations. Provide information about advocacy services for Veterans with disabilities, especially those that are homeless, have psychiatric disabilities, or have experienced a traumatic brain injury. (PAIMI, PAIR, PATBI)
  3. Implement statewide and local strategies utilizing a trained network of staff to educate policymakers, individuals with disabilities, families and other stakeholders on disability rights and protection and advocacy systems. (All grants)
  4. Increase public awareness about Disability Rights Florida through appropriate forums, including media, networking and exhibits. (All grants)