Protection and advocacy of individual rights (PAIR)

The Department of Education Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services awarded Disability Rights Tennessee $354,143 in formula grant funding on October 1, 2025, under the Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights (PAIR) program (CFDA 84.240). The award funds legal advocacy and investigative services protecting the legal and human rights of individuals with disabilities in Tennessee who are ineligible for services under other protection and advocacy programs or whose needs fall outside the Client Assistance Program scope. Disability Rights Tennessee, the designated protection and advocacy system for Tennessee, delivers legal representation, investigates allegations of abuse and neglect, and provides rights protection across the state. The award period runs through September 30, 2026, with performance based in Nashville, Tennessee. PAIR is a formula grant program distributed to state-designated protection and advocacy agencies; this award is subject to a restricted indirect cost rate under 34 CFR 76.563–76.569 and a statutory non-supplanting requirement.