Office Protection & Advocacy For The Disabled

Office Protection & Advocacy For The Disabled (OPAD) is a U.S. government entity based in American Samoa that serves as a Protection & Advocacy system providing comprehensive advocacy and support services to individuals with disabilities. The organization operates as a state-level protection and advocacy agency responsible for advancing the rights, independence, and full community participation of individuals with various disabilities. Since registering with SAM.gov in May 2024, OPAD has become an active recipient of federal formula and project grants focused on disability rights protection and advocacy initiatives.

OPAD's federal grant funding encompasses a diverse portfolio of disability advocacy programs administered primarily through the Administration on Disabilities within the Department of Health and Human Services, complemented by funding from the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services and the SAMHSA Center for Mental Health Services. The organization receives ongoing formula grants for multiple advocacy programs including the Developmental Disabilities (DD) Act State Protection & Advocacy Systems (PADD), the Assistive Technology (AT) Act Protection & Advocacy program (PAAT), the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Protection & Advocacy for Voting Access (PAVA), the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Act Protection & Advocacy program (PATB), Protection & Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness, the Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights (PAIR) program, and the Client Assistance Program (CAP). Additionally, OPAD manages project grants from the Social Security Administration focused on advocacy and information services for Social Security beneficiaries. In fiscal year 2026, the organization maintains seven active grants with completion dates extending through 2030, demonstrating sustained federal investment in its advocacy infrastructure. The consistent pattern of annual formula grant awards since 2021, combined with multi-year project grants addressing specific advocacy needs, reflects OPAD's critical role in the national disability rights protection and advocacy network.