Kentucky Protection & Advocacy (P&A) is the designated protection and advocacy system in Kentucky. P&A, an independent state agency, protects and promotes the rights of Kentuckians with disabilities through information and referral, technical assistance, education and training, and legal advocacy.
P&A is not able to assist with the following issues or areas:
- Non-disability civil rights cases
- Divorce
- Child custody
- Getting certain benefits; Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Insurances (SSDI), Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits
- Criminal cases (we can provide technical assistance to you and your attorney, though)
For Students/Self-Advocates:
Right or No Right – (High School Student Version and Adult Version)
Hurry, hurry, step right up! Test your knowledge on adult rights and privileges in this interactive session that has received rave reviews.
Get Involved: It’s Your IEP. It’s Your Life.
This workshop takes youth through the IEP process, their rights and how to be involved in their IEP’S so they can be successful in school.
Your Rights
This training, which is done by an advocate and self-advocate covers basic human rights and protections for individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities living in institutional or community settings.
General:
Guardianship
This session provides information regarding guardianship of adults with disabilities and alternatives to guardianship.
Your Voice: Your Vote
Voting is a fundamental part of citizenship. This session explores voting rights through history, how laws impacted individuals with disabilities, and an interactive portion which tests participants’ knowledge in real-life scenarios.
Yes!! You Can Work
This workshop will address the benefits of working-both $$and social and dispel the myths about working and receiving SSI. It will also cover some ADA and employment rights including disability disclosure.
We will also show people at a variety of jobs including self or micro enterprise and give some work tips.
What is Protection and Advocacy?
This brief presentation gives an overview of information about the KY Protection and Advocacy and the services provided.
Waivers:
MPW: Michelle P. Waiver
This training goes through the history, eligibility, services, and how to apply for the MPW.
Getting the Help You Need for Your Child
We will share information on the Medicaid Waivers and other supports available for children and adults with intellectual, developmental or medical disabilities. We will talk about services under each of the Waiver programs and the Hart Supported Living Grant, eligibility and how to apply. The Consumer Directed Option, which gives people the opportunity to direct their own services, will also be shared.
Client Grievances
Appeal/Grievance Rights
A prospective or eligible client who is dissatisfied with the decision to deny services by P & A (complainant) shall have the right to appeal that action. Likewise, any client of P & A who feels that the advocacy services s/he has received are inadequate, unprofessional, or not in keeping with P & A standards shall have the right to file a grievance against the advocate. The basis for that grievance may include, but is not limited to, allegations of violations of professional practice standards. In addition, a prospective or eligible client who feels that P & A is not operating in compliance with the law may file a grievance.
Further if a prospective or eligible client also requests to speak to the supervisor of the advocate/attorney they shall be allowed to speak with/leave a message for the appropriate supervisor.
Notice
All prospective or eligible clients requesting services from P & A shall be informed orally of the right to file a grievance. Documentation shall be provided on the intake form that such notice was provided. A copy of the grievance procedure shall be provided to all prospective or eligible clients when a case is opened. Likewise, a copy of the grievance procedure and client evaluation form shall be provided to the client (as indicated in the “close” letter) when the case is closed.
A copy of the grievance procedure shall be provided to prospective or eligible clients who indicate dissatisfaction with services provided or with a decision to deny services.
A copy of the grievance procedure shall be provided to prospective or eligible clients who feel P & A is not operating in compliance with the law.
A copy of the grievance procedure shall be provided to persons who indicate dissatisfaction with the information and referral services provided, even after an explanation for the basis of the action.
All persons who request information in addition to the oral notice shall receive a copy of the grievance procedure.
Administrative Review of Appeal/Grievance
All complaints shall be filed in written form. If the complainant cannot or is not able to write, P & A will, on an individual basis, accommodate the complainant in expressing her/his complaint in written form.
The appeal/grievance shall be addressed to the appropriate supervisor. If the supervisor is the target of the grievance, it shall be addressed to the Director, in which case it shall be deemed an Executive Review, pursuant to the following section. The initial appeal/grievance will result in an Administrative Review by the supervisor (except as noted above).
The Administrative Review shall be completed within fifteen (15) working days of receipt of the request. The decision of the Administrative Review shall set forth the issues, relevant facts, pertinent provisions on which the decision is based, and reasoning that led to the decision. The findings of the Review shall be written unless the complainant does not read. In such case, the Review shall be communicated in the complainant’s alternate communication format, i.e., audiotape, Braille, etc.
Executive Review of Appeal/Grievance
Should the complainant be dissatisfied with any determination made within an Administrative Review, the complainant may request an Executive Review by the director. This appeal/grievance shall be in written form unless the complainant cannot or is not able to write. In such a case, P&A will, on an individual basis, accommodate the complainant in expressing her/his complaint in written form.
The Executive Review shall be completed within thirty (30) working days after the receipt of the initial request for the review. The decision of the Executive Review shall set forth the issues, relevant facts, pertinent provisions on which the decision is based, and reasoning that led to the decision. Reasonable time extensions may be made for good cause shown by either party or at the request of either party with the approval of both parties. The findings of the Review shall be written unless the complainant does not read. In such case, the Review shall be communicated in the complainant’s alternate communication format, i.e., audiotape, Braille, etc
Actions which the supervisor or director may take include, but are not limited to
- determining that the complaint is invalid;
- meeting informally with the advocate to correct substantiated allegations;
- reassigning the case to another advocate;
- reflecting the substantiated grievance on personnel evaluations;
- changing P&A policy; and/or
- incorporating substantiated allegations into appropriate proceedings for termination of employment.
External Review of Appeal/Grievance
Should the complainant be dissatisfied with the determination of the Executive Review, the complainant may request within fifteen (15) working days an External review by the General Counsel for the Department of Public Advocacy. The External Review shall be completed within thirty (30) working days of receipt of requests for the review. The decision of the External Review shall set forth the issues, relevant facts, pertinent provisions on which the decision is based, and reasoning that led to the decision. The findings of the External Review shall be written unless the complainant does not read. In such case, the External Review shall be communicated in the complainant’s alternate communication format, i.e., audiotape, Braille, etc.
The External Review is the final determination of the agency; however, utilization of the appeal/grievance procedure does not preclude initiation of other grievance procedures that may be authorized by state or federal laws.
All grievances filed by PADD eligible clients are shared with members of the PADD Advisory Board on a quarterly basis. Confidentiality shall be protected.
All grievances filed by PAIMI eligible clients are shared with members of the PAIMI Advisory Council on a quarterly basis. Confidentiality shall be protected.
Transition Resources
Transition to Adulthood Web & Print Resources
Understanding Transition Part 1 – Power Point Presentation
Transition Part 2, Planning – Power Point Presentation
Transition Part 3, Employment – Power Point Presentation
General transition
This site at the Institute on Community Integration at the University of Minnesota has many resources for transition and self-determination.
The National Center on Secondary Education and Transition (NCSET) site has information related to secondary education and transition for youth with disabilities in order to create opportunities for youth to achieve successful futures. This site has links to many general and career exploration resources.
The National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center is a national site has many topics for youth and their families such as articles on how to get the most out of your IEP and questions to consider when planning for life after high school. There are lessons plans on a variety of topics such as self-management at the workplace, employability skills, social skills etc.
Pacer is an information and training center for families and youth. Their website has many resources for the student and their family on a variety of transition and self-advocacy topics.
This website has online trainings, materials/publications and resources on topics related to the transition from school to adult life for youth with disabilities.
This KY website provides resources for transition from school to community and positive post school outcomes. Transition newsletters and website list are included. Click on high school to community .
http://supporteddecisionmaking.org/
National Resource Center for Supported Decision-Making
Supported Decision-Making is a way people can make their own decisions and stay in charge of their lives, while receiving any help they need to do so as an alternative to guardianship. This site has information including people and organizations that may be able to help and answer questions.
http://www.parentcenterhub.org/repository/transitionadult/: Transition to Adulthood Suite
This suite is made up of 9 webpages of resources on the entire transition and postsecondary process, including transition planning in secondary school, getting students involved in writing their own IEP, independent living, finding adult services, and connections to employment and postsecondary education connections.
This website at the University of Massachusetts has a variety of good information about transitioning to the adult world.
Print Resources:
Journey to Adulthood – a Transition Travel Guide : This book is a comprehensive transition guide that maps out potential destinations, routes, points of interest and types of services and resources.
Life After High School: The Next Chapter: workbook that helps youth plan for transition
Recreation Manual (HDI): a resource manual for all ages
What’s Next: Life After High School: a one page that discusses transition rights and how to start planning
Kentucky Directory of Transition Services: Arc of Kentucky’s Directory of Resources and Services: Transition from School to Adult Life :
Employment
The Job Accommodations Network provides free information on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues for people through online chat and/or by phone. This site has resources specific to a particular disability, and information on products and services.
ODEP is the federal Office of Disability Employment Policy. This site has a variety of resources including information on Customized employment solution for Youth with Disabilities and the publication and video series on Skills to Pay the Bills.
This is the Human Development Institute’s supported employment web site. This site has information that promotes personalized employment opportunities for people with disabilities when they need support to discover personal interests and contributions so they can find or negotiate a job that fits things they like to do.
The National Center on Leadership for the Employment and Economic Advancement of People with Disabilities (LEAD Center) is dedicated to improving competitive, integrated employment and economic self-sufficiency for all people with disabilities. This site has free ongoing and archived trainings on a variety of topics.
The National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability site has lots of information about youth with disabilities and employment including the newsletter Intersection: Navigating the Road to Work.
O*NET On Line is a site for career exploration and job analysis. This site has detailed descriptions of the world of work for use by job seekers including students.
This is the state government site of Kentucky’s Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. OVR exists to assist people with disabilities to find and maintain employment. Counselors start working with students in the transition years to help them achieve employment goals.
Print Resources:
Going to Work and Keeping Benefits: this book will give you information about supports so you can go to work and still keep your Social security benefits
Students Who are Working after High School: this one page has some basic information
Post-Secondary Education
www.knowhow2goky.org/index.php
The site gives students information on how to get ready for college and motivational content to encourage them to get ready for college.
Supported Higher Education in Kentucky is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education to help students who have intellectual disabilities to attend participating post-secondary schools in KY. This site give information about the program and current colleges participating.
http://www.washington.edu/doit
The Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology Center site promotes the success of individuals with disabilities in postsecondary education and careers, using technology as an empowering tool.
Print Resources:
504: A College/Vocational School Student’s Guide: This book has information about eligibility, planning, accommodations etc. for students going onto post-secondary education
Students Going to College or Vocational School: this one page has basic information on rights and services
Futures Planning and Advocacy
https://futureplanning.thearc.org/
The Arc’s Center for Future Planning website is to encourage and support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families as they plan for the future.
The Kentucky Person Centered Network Home Page. This site has resources and articles about person centered planning and personal futures planning methods that explain how to use a person centered approach central to personal choice and self-determination. There is also a facilitators list of people who can help with this process.
http://www.ossesecondarytransition.org
Increase the involvement of youth with disabilities in their Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and prepare them to take a more active role in planning for their futures.
This site is for self-advocacy for people with ID/DD
http://www.youthhood.org/index.asp
This is a website for youth to help them plan for the future.
Print Resources
I Get What I Want: this booklet will give you ideas on how to become a self-advocate
The 411 on Disability Disclosure : A Workbook for Youth with Disabilities is designed for youth and adults working with them to learn about disability disclosure. It helps young people make informed decisions about whether or not to disclose their disability and understand how that decision may impact their education, employment, and social lives.
Your Voice, Your Vote: information you need to know about voting in KY.