Our network of Protection and Advocacy (P&A) agencies around the country are on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring that people with disabilities have equal access to testing and treatment, and that their rights are protected.

Now, we need you to ask Congress to provide funding so that we can continue our critical work.

Congress created the P&As and gave them strong authority to protect people with disabilities no matter where they live, work, or receive services, and even in these uncertain times, P&As are working to fulfill this critical mandate.  But, as a result of the pandemic, additional costs and expenses have arisen that require extra resources this year. 

We need you to ask Congress to include $50 million to support activities authorized in the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (DD Act) in this next COVID-19 relief package. The Protection and Advocacy (P&As) agencies, as well as the State Councils on Developmental Disabilities (Councils), and the University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs) are all federally-funded programs under the DD Act. This additional $50 million will ensure that these three programs have clear and dedicated funding streams as they continue to work to mitigate the health and economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals with developmental disabilities.

With a quick email, you can tell your Representative and Senators that you want them to include funding for the nation’s Protection and Advocacy agencies, Councils and UCEDDs in their COVID relief legislation.

What do we need this funding for?

P&As are fighting to get people with disabilities equal access to treatment and vaccinations. P&As are working to stop the spread of the virus in nursing homes and other places where people with disabilities live. They are being called upon to help students displaced from special education services. They are assisting people who have lost their jobs, are in danger of losing their housing, need Medicaid, depend on public transportation systems that are cutting services, and so much more.

We know we have asked a lot of you lately. And we know that no one is escaping the effects that COVID-19 is having on Americans’ lives.

But we need your assistance one more time. Can we count on you to send an email to your lawmakers?

Congress must act to support these critical programs!