FY2026 (padd) DD act state protection & advocacy systems

The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living awarded Disability Rights California $6,029,921 on October 1, 2025, under the Developmental Disabilities Basic Support and Advocacy Grants program (CFDA 93.630), a Formula Grant supporting Protection and Advocacy systems designated for the state.

Disability Rights California, the state's designated Protection and Advocacy system, delivers comprehensive legal advocacy and rights protection for individuals with developmental disabilities across California, including legal representation, systemic investigations, benefits counseling, training, information dissemination, and community integration support. The award runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027, with performance taking place in California.

The Developmental Disabilities Basic Support and Advocacy Grants program funds state-designated agencies to develop comprehensive, coordinated systems of services that enable individuals with developmental disabilities to become independent, productive, integrated, and included in their communities, while protecting their legal and human rights. States participating in the protection and advocacy program are eligible to receive funding under the basic developmental disabilities program, and the protection and advocacy agency designated to implement the state system cannot provide direct services to individuals with developmental disabilities but must have authority to access their records.