Federal Grant Award Summary

Disability Rights Wisconsin, Inc. received a $290,940 Formula Grant award from the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) under the Program of Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights (PAIR), CFDA 84.240, effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. As Wisconsin's designated protection and advocacy agency, the organization delivers comprehensive legal representation, advocacy services, and dispute resolution support to individuals with disabilities throughout the state. Services include direct legal assistance, information and referral services, investigative support, and systems advocacy aimed at protecting and advancing the legal and civil rights of vulnerable populations including individuals with developmental disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, and mental illnesses.

The PAIR grant requires Disability Rights Wisconsin to maintain an annual priorities and objectives statement developed through public comment, establish client grievance procedures, and utilize mediation and alternative dispute resolution approaches prior to pursuing formal legal remedies. The organization must supplement rather than supplant existing non-federal funding sources and maintain comprehensive financial records and supporting documentation for all award-related expenditures. As a formula-based grant distributed according to statutory criteria, the award represents ongoing federal commitment to establishing sustainable systems that protect the rights and promote the independence and community integration of individuals with disabilities in Wisconsin.