Protection and advocacy of individual rights (pair)

The Department of Education Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services awarded Disability Law Center Inc. $348,637 under the Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights (PAIR) program (CFDA 84.240) on October 1, 2025.

Disability Law Center Inc., the designated Protection and Advocacy agency for Massachusetts, delivers legal advocacy, information and referral services, technical assistance, and representation to individuals with disabilities throughout the state. The organization provides comprehensive civil rights protection across multiple disability categories, including developmental disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, mental illness, and significant emotional disturbances. Services encompass legal representation and administrative advocacy, investigation of abuse and neglect, and protection of rights for vulnerable populations ineligible for services from other protection and advocacy programs or whose needs fall outside the Client Assistance Program scope.

The award covers the period October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026, with performance taking place in Boston, Massachusetts. This is an annual formula grant. Disability Law Center Inc. is a tax-exempt nonprofit headquartered in Boston and has been registered to receive federal awards since August 2004. The organization holds concurrent funding under multiple federal protection and advocacy programs administered by the Department of Education, the Administration on Disabilities, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, with awards extending through 2027 or 2030 depending on the program.