Federal Grant Award Summary

Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights (PAIR) Program

Disability Rights Louisiana received a Formula Grant award of $225,384 from the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) under the Program of Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights (CFDA 84.240) for the performance period of October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. As Louisiana's federally designated protection and advocacy system, the organization delivers comprehensive legal and civil rights protection services to individuals with disabilities throughout the state. These services include legal representation, investigation of abuse and neglect incidents, information and referral services, dispute resolution and mediation, and advocacy for systemic change to ensure equal rights and access for disabled individuals of all ages.

The PAIR program is structured as an annual formula grant distributed by the Department of Education to designated protection and advocacy agencies in each state and territory. Grant recipients are required to establish grievance procedures, develop annual priority statements with public input, maintain comprehensive documentation of all costs and activities, and utilize alternative dispute resolution methods before pursuing formal legal remedies. The funding supports the protection and advocacy system's capacity to safeguard the legal, civil, and human rights of individuals with disabilities, supplementing—rather than replacing—nonfederal funding sources available for these essential advocacy functions.