Welcome to ADAP

The Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program (ADAP) is part of the nationwide federally mandated protection and advocacy (P&A) system. ADAP's mission is to provide quality, legally based advocacy services to Alabamians with disabilities in order to protect, promote and expand their rights. ADAP's vision is one of a society where persons with disabilities are valued and exercise self-determination through meaningful choices, and have equality of opportunity.

Trainings

"What's Next?" Transition Training
Register now to attend free monthly workshops for youth with disabilities and their families. The workshops will focus on transition issues like job supports, SSI/SSDI, Medicaid waivers, education planning, and health needs. Mark your calendar for the next workshop A Special event only for youth! Taking care of myself: health, sexuality and hygiene on February 7, 2012. Workshops are being held in convenient locations throughout the state. Travel and child care subsidies are available for families. CEUs are available for social workers and nurses. Seating is limited so reserve your seat now! Register for training in your area.

These trainings are sponsored by ADAP, Family Voices of Alabama and Children's Rehabilitation Services (CRS) with grant support from the Alabama Council for Developmental Disabilities.

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Partlow News

The W.D. Partlow Developmental Center, which was home for thousands of intellectually disabled residents, closed December 28, 2011 after 88 years in operation in Tuscaloosa. For complete story, click here.

ADAP is monitoring the transition of all Partlow residents as they move into the community.You can view the forms that ADAP will be using in this monitoring.There are two protocols: one for residents and one for community program staff. Click here to see a copy of the Community Monitoring Interview form, Staff Interview form or Staff Specific Client Interview form

Governor Robert Bentley announced on June 16, 2011 that the W.D. Partlow Developmental Center in Tuscaloosa will close on or before November 30, 2011. For more information, click here

Close Partlow Rally
To view the photographs from the "Close Partlow Rally" in Montgomery on March 22 in, please visit and become a Facebook friend to "Alabama Disabilities"

ADD/NDRN Community Monitoring Project ( THE LONG WAY HOME), February - September 2011,click here

ADAP Advocacy News

New Study Urges Closure of  Alabama's Juvenile Girls Facilities - In a just-released report, two national juvenile justice experts concluded that delinquent girls committed to facilities run by the Department of Youth Services (DYS) would fare better in their own communities where they could receive more targeted and individualized rehabilitative services. The study reveals that these girls are low-risk, high-needs youth who have endured multiple traumas in their lives - including sexual and/or physical abuse, family disruptions, domestic violence, and school failure. Many of the girls studied by the experts had experienced repeated psychiatric hospitalizations. The study recommends closing two DYS facilities and creating alternative programs that emphasize trauma-informed systems of care that bring together families and community supports while, at the same time, keeping communities safe.  The report was underwritten with support by ADAP, the Center for Public Representation (www.centerforpublicrep.org) and the Southern Poverty Law Center ( www.splcenter.org) under a generous grant from the Public Welfare Foundation, an organization dedicated to ensuring fundamental rights and opportunities for people in need (www.publicwelfare.org). 

ADAP E-News is now available to you! We will be publishing a new issue monthly. If you are not on our mail list and would like to receive a copy, please click here, or call our office at 1-205-348-4928.

  • February 2 - "2012 Mental Health and Disabilities Legislative Day", click here.
  • January 26 - "Services for People with Disabilities Threatened", click here.

Advocacy Priorities - ADAP has developed its advocacy priorities for the 2012-2014 fiscal years. These priorities were identified after reviewing months of public comment received through surveys, focus groups and meetings.ADAP welcomes your ongoing input into the work we do.To share your ideas, click here.

Under New Agreement, Montgomery Public Schools Will Work to Provide Better Services to Children with Mental Illnesses, for more information, click here.

Alabama Advocates Call for Passage of Haylee's Law - At the age of 21, Haylee Cain was faced with living her life in a nursing home.She didn't qualify for community-based care services that would allow her to live at home; Alabama's eligibility criteria for community care exclude Haylee because of the nature of her disability. At a press conference on May 23, 2011 Haylee and her family spoke out about Haylee's Law,legislation that is pending in the Alabama Legislature (SB 470) that would expand the eligibility criteria for such community-based care. Haylee's Law was introduced by State Senator Tammy Irons. ADAP, the Disability Leadership Coalition of Alabama and United Cerebral Palsy of Huntsville/Tennessee Valley and United Cerebral Palsy of Northwest Alabama co-hosted the press conference. For more information click here.To view a video on Haylee, click here

Lawsuits Filed on Behalf of Students with Emotional Disturbance On behalf of Montgomery school children, ADAP, the Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, and the Law Offices of Sears & Sears, PC, filed three complaints on May 31, 2011 with the Alabama State Department of Education, citing systemic failures by Montgomery Public Schools to educate children with emotional disturbance. These failures constitute violations of federal civil rights laws prohibiting discrimination against people with disabilities. To read more, click here

Medicaid Waivers - To learn how to apply for a Medicaid waiver for persons with intellectual disabilities, click here

For information on the Susan J Settlement Agreement, click here