ADAP autism training is a great resource for Alabama residents. The ADAP runs a number of training programs that help Alabama residents with autism and their families find out how to protect their legal and civil rights. The ADAP also helps autistic individuals learn about their lawful right to education, employment and state and federal programs. What is ADAP and what services do they provide?
ADAP Overview
The Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program (ADAP) provides legal advocacy services to Alabama residents with disabilities, including autism. As part of a federally mandated protection and advocacy system, the ADAP provides services to defend and protect the rights of people with disabilities through both legal services and training programs. Training programs assist both people with disabilities and their families and caregivers. ADAP is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
ADAP Teams and Focus
ADAP is comprised of two teams - the Children's Advocacy Team and the Community Access Team. These teams focus on specific disability issues. Disability issues include:
- Mental health issues: This area deals with rights issues related to mental health issues.
- American with Disabilities Act (ADA) discrimination problems: Common concerns involve access to service animals, assistance at gas stations, ADA compliance at businesses and communication issues for the hearing impaired.
- Special education rights: Special education includes training programs for schools, families and support groups. Training programs to assist people with autism with education, employment and life issues are a part of the special education advocacy services. Education issues include assistance with independent education plans (IEP) and individualized service plans (ISP).
- Social security and return to work details: The ADAP provides guidance on social security and other benefits such as food stamps, Medicare and Medicaid.
- Voting rights: ADAP helps people with disabilities or conditions such as autism secure their voting rights.
- HIV and Aids issues: The organization advocates for people affected by HIV and Aids.
- Traumatic brain injury: Advocacy teams also help victims of traumatic brain injuries.
ADAP Programs
ADAP provides seven programs for eligible Alabama residents. The seven programs are as follows:
- Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PADD): The Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights (DD) Act of 1975 created the PADD program to protect the legal and civil rights of people with developmental disabilities.
- Protection and Advocacy for Individual Rights (PAIR): When Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act in 1993, PAIR was created as a national program to defend the legal and civil rights of people with disabilities.
- Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI): In 1986, Congress created the PAIMI program, which receives federal funding from the National Center for Mental Health Services.
- Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS): The Ticket to Work and Work Incentive Improvement Act of 1999 funds the PABSS program. Through PABSS, ADAP can provide work incentive assistance to beneficiaries of Social Security in order to seek employment, vocational training or other necessities for gaining employment.
- Traumatic Brain Injury Protection and Advocacy (PATBI): The Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 1996 established PATBI and it provides federal funding.
- Protection and Advocacy for Voter Accessibility (PAVA): PAVA ensures voter rights for qualified Alabama residents.
- Protection and Advocacy for Assistive Technology (PAAT): PAAT helps people with disabilities receive necessary assistive technology devices and services.
ADAP Autism Training Information
ADAP training can help a person with autism and their families learn about their legal and civil rights as well as to help them find helpful resources. Training programs can help people with autism and their caregivers learn about the following:
- Educational programs
- How to write and plan an IEP
- Health benefits
- Therapy and medical care options
- State and federal benefits
- Vocational training
- Right to legal assistance
For More Information
Visit the ADAP website for more information. The site has on online contact form in addition to providing the organization's phone number and address. You can also contact the Autism Society of Alabama for information on joint ADAP events and programs.
Conclusion
ADAP is good resource for legal and civil rights, important benefits and training programs for autistic people in Alabama. The advocacy organization not only provides legal services for people with disabilities. The ADAP helps people with autism and individuals with disabilities maximize their potential for a meaningful life through education, employment and citizenship.