Protection and advocacy of individual rights (pair)

The Department of Education Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services awarded Disability Rights Texas $1,529,555 under the Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights program (CFDA 84.240) on October 1, 2025.

Disability Rights Texas, the state-designated Protection and Advocacy system for Texas, delivers legal representation, advocacy investigations, and support services to individuals with disabilities whose needs fall outside the scope of other protection and advocacy programs or the Client Assistance Program. The organization protects the constitutional and statutory rights of Texans with developmental disabilities, mental illness, traumatic brain injuries, and physical disabilities while promoting their independence, self-determination, and full participation in community life. Services include legal representation, investigations of abuse and neglect, voter registration assistance, fair housing support, assistive technology advocacy, and counseling on benefits and work incentives.

The award covers the period October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026, with place of performance in Austin, Texas. The program is subject to a restricted indirect cost rate under 34 CFR 76.563 through 76.569. Disability Rights Texas maintains sub-grant partnerships with Travis County for juvenile justice advocacy services and the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs for pandemic-related legal services supporting housing access for disabled individuals.