Secondary Level Navigation

Support the Advocacy Center

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

Goals & Priorities

FY2010 Goals and Objectives

Goal 1: Abuse/Neglect

Protect individuals with disabilities from abuse and neglect, including inappropriate restraint and seclusion

  1. Provide services to individuals with disabilities who allege abuse/neglect in institutional settings. Identify and carry out systemic advocacy as indicated. (PADD, PAIMI) (ICT #1, ICT #2)
  2. Provide services to individuals with disabilities who allege abuse/neglect in community settings, with focus on publicly funded necessary supports and services. Identify and carry out systemic advocacy as indicated. (PADD, PAIMI, PAIR, PATBI, PABSS) (ICT #2, S-D #1)
  3. Provide services to youth with disabilities who allege abuse/neglect in foster care and/or Statewide Inpatient Psychiatric Programs (SIPPs). Identify and carry out systemic advocacy as indicated. (PADD, PAIMI, PAIR, PATBI) (ICT #4)

Goal 2: Rights Protections

Protect and promote the rights of individuals with disabilities

  1. Provide services to individuals with disabilities who allege rights violations in institutional settings.  Identify and carry out systemic advocacy as indicated. (PADD, PAIMI) (ICT #3)
  2. Provide services to individuals with disabilities who allege rights violations in community settings, with focus on publicly funded necessary supports and services. Identify and carry out systemic advocacy as indicated. (PADD, PAIMI, PAIR, PATBI, PABSS) (ICT #5, S-D #2, CARES #1, CARES #2, CARES #3)
  3. Provide services to youth with disabilities who allege rights violations in foster care and/or in Statewide Inpatient Psychiatric Programs (SIPPs). Identify and carry out systemic advocacy as indicated. (PADD, PAIMI, PAIR, PATBI) (ICT #4)
  4. Provide services to individuals with disabilities who allege violations of rights to access under the ADA, Section 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Older Americans’ Act, the Fair Housing Act and/or the Florida Building Code. Included are issues related to the use of assistive technology, universal design, transportation, disaster preparedness, post secondary education, and housing that is safe, affordable and accessible. Identify and carry out systemic advocacy as indicated. (PADD, PAIMI, PAIR, PATBI, PAAT, Cy Pres) (EAC #1, EAC #2, EAC #3, EAC #4, EAC #5)

Goal 3: Education

Protect and promote rights to educational opportunities for students with disabilities

  1. Provide services to students with disabilities to secure free and appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE). This includes the reduction of inappropriate or abusive use of restraints and seclusion. Identify and carry out systemic advocacy as indicated. (PADD, PAIMI, PAIR, PATBI) (ED #1, ED #2)
  2. Provide services to students with disabilities in or at risk of entering the “school to prison pipeline” in Hillsborough County. Identify and carry out systemic advocacy as indicated. (PADD, PAIMI, PAIR, PATBI)  (ED #3)
  3. Provide services to students with disabilities in the dependency system (foster care) who allege violations of educational rights. Identify and carry out systemic advocacy as indicated. (PADD, PAIMI, PAIR, PATBI) (ED #4)
  4. Provide services to students with disabilities in the delinquency system (DJJ) who allege violations of education rights. Identify and carry out systemic advocacy as indicated. (PADD, PAIMI, PAIR, PATBI) (ED #5)
  5. Provide services to parents of students with disabilities to improve access to and utilization of dispute resolution mechanisms. Identify and carry out systemic advocacy as indicated. (PADD, PAIMI, PAIR, PATBI) (ED #6)
  6. Provide services to students with disabilities to increase access to general education curriculum by ensuring reasonable accommodations for high stakes testing. Identify and carry out systemic advocacy as indicated. (PAIR, PAAT) (ED #7)

Goal 4: Employment

Protect and promote rights to employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities

  1. Provide services to individuals with disabilities to increase and expand access to employment opportunities, with focus on workplace accommodations, competitive employments, employer awareness, Ticket to Work and self-employment. (CAP, PAIR, PABSS) (EMP #1)
  2. Provide services to individuals with disabilities to increase access to assistive technology, training and support services and worksite modifications to assist individuals to prepare for and/or engage in employment. (CAP, PAAT, PABSS) (EMP #2)
  3. Provide services to youth with disabilities beginning at age 16 to increase successful outcomes in transitioning from school to college, post-secondary education and employment. (CAP, PAIR) (EMP #3)
  4. Identify and carry out systemic advocacy with Vocational Rehabilitation Services to improve the quality of their service delivery process. (CAP, PABSS) (EMP #4)

Goal 5: Empowerment

Protect and promote self-determination, self- advocacy and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities

  1. Promote economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities through asset development strategies and increased access to and control of publicly funded benefits and entitlements. Identify and carry out systemic advocacy as indicated. (PADD, PAIMI, PAIR, PATBI, PAAT, PABSS) (S-D #3)
  2. Promote self-determination through systemic advocacy and a person-centered planning approach to decision making for and about individuals with disabilities. (PADD, PAIMI, PAIR, PATBI, PAAT, PABSS) (S-D #4)
  3. Identify and carry out systemic advocacy to promote increased housing options for individuals with disabilities. (PubPol)
  4. Identify and carry out systemic advocacy to promote the enactment of state law regarding revision of requirements and limitations for optional coverage for mental health and substance abuse treatment. (PubPol)
  5. Identify and carry out systemic advocacy to promote the adoption of Medicaid Buy-In for eligible individuals with disabilities. (PubPol)

Goal 6: Voting

Protect and promote voting rights, voting accessibility and civic participation for individuals with disabilities

  1. Conduct voting rights projects that include promotion of accessible voting systems, polling place accessibility, voter registration, voting opportunities of institutionalized persons, accessible political campaigns and restoration of voting rights for persons with felony convictions. Provide services to individuals who allege voting rights violations. (PAVA) (S-D #5)

Goal 7: Information, Community Education and Outreach 

Provide information, community education and outreach about disability rights and community resources

  1. Provide quality information and referrals to callers who contact the Advocacy Center. (All Grants) (FIRST #1)
  2. Provide quality outreach regarding advocacy center services. (All grants)
  3. Provide quality education/training services to individuals with disabilities, their families and supporters. (All grants)
  4. Increase public awareness of the Advocacy Center through the use of media, as well as a redesigned website and electronic social networking.