Summary

University Legal Services, Inc. received a $195,895 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. The organization delivers comprehensive legal advocacy and protection services designed to safeguard the legal and civil rights of individuals with disabilities throughout Washington, D.C. Core service offerings include legal representation, investigation of abuse and neglect incidents, information and referral services, and dispute resolution support to ensure eligible individuals have access to essential rehabilitation and community integration services.

As a designated protection and advocacy agency, University Legal Services fulfills statutory requirements to establish systems protecting disabled individuals' rights, develop annual priority statements with public input, implement client grievance procedures, and pursue legal and administrative remedies to enforce disability rights protections. The organization maximizes mediation and alternative dispute resolution procedures prior to formal legal action. This award complements the organization's existing portfolio of federal grants from OSERS, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and the Administration on Disabilities, enabling coordinated service delivery across multiple protection and advocacy programs including those focused on individuals with mental illness, developmental disabilities, traumatic brain injury, and voting access.