Federal Grant Award Summary

Community Legal Aid Society Inc., doing business as Legal Aid, received a $195,895 formula grant from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services under the Program of Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights (PAIR, CFDA 84.240) for the period October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. As Delaware's designated state protection and advocacy agency, Legal Aid delivers comprehensive legal services and advocacy to protect the civil and statutory rights of individuals with disabilities throughout the state.

The grant supports Legal Aid's provision of legal representation, information and referral services, dispute resolution and alternative dispute resolution procedures, investigation of abuse and neglect cases, and systemic advocacy efforts designed to ensure protection of constitutional and statutory rights for eligible populations. Legal Aid operates this PAIR program in conjunction with multiple other federally funded protection and advocacy initiatives serving individuals with mental illness, developmental disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, assistive technology needs, and voting access concerns. The organization is required to maintain annual priority statements informed by public comment, establish client grievance procedures, retain comprehensive financial records for three years, and prioritize mediation and alternative dispute resolution approaches before pursuing formal legal remedies.