Nebraska Advocacy Service, Inc. (NAS), The Center for Disability Rights, Law and Advocacy, operates seven federally funded protection and advocacy (P&A) programs . The P&A system is a nationwide network of Congressionally created, legally based disability rights agencies.

As the protection and advocacy system in Nebraska, NAS has the authority to provide legal representation and other advocacy services to people with disabilities.

NAS investigates incidents of abuse and neglect and may provide legal representation to protect the legal and human rights of people with disabilities. Through a variety of other activities including public education, information and referral, and public policy analysis, Nebraska Advocacy Services, Inc., works to change public attitudes and increase public awareness of the legal and human rights of people with disabilities.

NOTE: The information on this site is a general summary of the protection and advocacy services offered by Nebraska Advocacy Services, Inc. Please contact us to learn more about how we can help.

The following services are offered through Nebraska Advocacy Services, Inc. (NAS), The Center for Disability Rights, Law, and Advocacy. Additionally, NAS offers a description of facts and eligibility information in the following fact sheets.

• Legal advocacy
• Public policy advocacy
• Consultative Services
• Fact Sheet FY 2010
• en Español
• Abogacía Legal
• Abogacía de Política Públic a
• Servicios Consultivos

Client Eligibility Requirements

Nebraska Advocacy Services, Inc. provides services to persons with disabilities regardless of race, religion, color, sex, disability, national origin, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, age, or ancestry. Each of our funding sources sets basic eligibility requirements for individuals who may be served using their funds:

• PAAT (Protection and Advocacy for Assistive Technology): Any person denied assistive technology devices or services designed to meet the specific needs of an individual with disabilities.

• PABSS (Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security): Any person with a disability receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and who wants to return to work despite their continuing disabilities.

• PADD (Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities): A developmental disability means that an individual must have a severe mental or physical impairment which occurs before the age of 22, is likely to be life-long, results in functional limitations in at least three areas of major life activity (self-care, receptive and expressive language, learning, mobility, self-direction, capacity for independent living and economic self-sufficiency), and needs an individually tailored plan for care, treatment or other services for an extended period of time.

• PAIMI (Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness): Any person with a significant mental illness, as determined by a Licensed Mental Health Professional, who is currently an inpatient or resident of a facility providing care and treatment for mental illness, including persons who have been discharged from a facility within the last 90 days or who present an issue that arose during their stay at a facility or within 90 days after discharge or the person lives in the community. Priority is given to those who present an issue while in a facility. NAS can provide services to people who are confined in a jail for reasons other than serving a criminal sentence.

• PAIR (Protection and Advocacy for Individual Rights): Any person with a physical or mental disability that substantially limits one or more major life activities, or with a record of such impairment, or who is regarded by others as having such impairment and who is not eligible for assistance under the CAP (Client Assistance Program), PADD and PAIMI programs. The Client Assistance Program provides assistance to individuals related to vocational rehabilitation services. The CAP office is located in the Nebraska Department of Education, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (800-742-7594).

• PATBI - (Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury):This program focuses on information, referral, advice, outreach, self-advocacy, family advocacy, and legislative advocacy to individuals with traumatic brain injury.

• PAVA (Protection and Advocacy for Voting Access): NAS receives federal funding under the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) to ensure the right of individuals with disabilities to participate in the electoral process, including registering to vote, casting a vote and accessing polling places. HAVA funds are not permitted to be used to litigate voter access issues. However, those issues can be addressed through our other protection and advocacy programs.

The following objectives are used in conjunction with client eligibility requirements to determine the acceptance of cases for legal representation.

• Priority Area: Inclusion, Access, and Transition
  • Represent people with disabilities in acquiring assistive technology devices and services, including systemic litigation.

  • Represent people with disabilities in public accommodations and employment discrimination cases.

  • Secure vocational, employment and other support services for Beneficiaries of Social Security Disability Income programs through the Federal Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Act for Beneficiaries of Social Security programs.

  • Help America Vote Act- Assist people with disabilities to file voting complaints.

  • Represent people with disabilities who have been terminated from Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) benefits and have an overpayment of benefits issue.

  • Represent students with behavioral impairments, or students in special education, who have multiple suspensions.
    
• Priority Area: Isolated & Vulnerable Individuals
  • Investigate and respond allegations of practices that cause or contribute to serious physical, emotional, or financial abuse, neglect, or death of any individuals with a disability in Nebraska..

  • Continue to monitor the Memorandum of Understanding between Nebraska Advocacy Services and the State of Nebraska concerning the Lincoln Regional Center.

  • Maintain a regular presence at the Lincoln Regional Center twice a month.

  • Maintain a presence within community-based inpatient and residential facilities for persons with mental illness in Omaha, including Douglas County Community Mental Health Center and the Lasting Hope Recovery Center.

  • Maintain a regular presence at Beatrice State Developmental Center (BSDC) facility twice a month and conduct monthly visits to one privately- run ICF/MR and the Bridges program in Hastings.

  • Implement or coordinate the recommendations of the Beatrice State Developmental Center (BSDC) report relating to the on-site review visit by CMS surveyers.