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A federally mandated program designed to assist individuals with disabilities who encounter conflicts with Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Iowa Department for the Blind, and Centers for Independent Living. CAP advocates for the rights of people with disabilities to ensure they receive quality services by helping them identify resources, understand procedures, resolve problems, and protect their rights in areas such as rehabilitation, employment, and home services. The program provides consultation, advice, and advocacy, including mediation, negotiation, conflict resolution, and, when necessary, legal assistance. CAP also helps individuals navigate and understand their entitlements under public assistance programs, ensuring they receive the full benefits to which they are entitled by law.

Helps disabled Iowans with any disability rights issues they may have.  This is a federally funded program, as part of the nation-wide protection and advocacy system created by federal law, to serve people with developmental disabilities, mental illnesses, and other disabilities. Disability Rights Iowa may assist with abuse, neglect, education, employment, housing, or denial of services.

DOES NOT help with divorce, custody, adoption, bankruptcy, criminal representation, civil mental health commitment, consumer/business law, debtor-creditor law, personal injury, malpractice, etc. The issue must arise from the individual's disability.

Offers to educate businesses, the public, and legislature about issues important to people with disabilities. Staff aim to empower people with disabilities to assess their needs, identify potential risks, establish their own goals, evaluate available resources, and develop and implement a strategy to take control of their lives.

Assists people with learning disabilities in the following ways:

- Monitors and advises the Illinois State Board of Education on issues dealing with students with learning disabilities.

- Provides advocacy information and support to parents, individuals with learning disabilities and professionals.

- Provides scholarships for post-secondary education for students with learning disabilities.

- Provides the Robert Abbott Scholarship for students who are in school to become a teacher in the field of Special Education.

- Provides and support workshops and mini-conferences for educators and parents.

- Increases public awareness of learning disabilities throughout Illinois.

- Provides scholarships for membership and workshop fees for parents of children with learning disabilities, and for adults with learning disabilities.

- Individual advocacy focuses on the individual with a disability and services available within the community to assist them in living independently and to eventually become their own advocate.

- Systemic advocacy involves working together to eliminate barriers and allow people with disabilities to fully participate in their community.

Offers to advocate for community members with understanding civil rights and responsibilities when dealing with the government, employers, or other service providers. Examples of advocacy services, IEP advocacy for students, information on Social Security/Disability benefits application and appeals. Please note that we are not lawyers and we do not offer legal counsel.

Provides peer support counseling, information and referral to services that help disabled individuals, skills training, advocacy for persons with disabilities and their families and disability awareness and leadership education. Working with individuals in their homes or in locations convenient to the individual.

Created so that eligible children and adults who have a disability could obtain legal advice and representation to protect and enforce their rights guaranteed by Illinois' mental health laws. Attorneys provide needed assistance to persons with disabilities in a variety of settings:

- Mental health facilities.

- Residential programs.

- Community placements.

- Nursing homes.

Issues addressed include, but are not limited to: admission and discharge from hospitalization, adequate treatment, refusal of unwanted services, and confidentiality of mental health records. Assistance takes the form of information, referral, and legal representation in court hearings and administrative proceedings.

Offers to help individuals navigate through paperwork, funding sources, and eligibility for service requirements; attends IEP meetings at schools and advocates for your child's needs to be met; attends adult service agency staffing at your request.

Assist in advocacy for the implementation of current laws, promotion of needed legislation, and improvement of existing systems for people with disabilities while working to diminish negative attitudes that may threaten to impede equal access.

Individual Advocacy includes:

- Helping individuals find appropriate resources to solve problem.

- Assisting people with disabilities in dealing with conflicts.

- Helping them find ways to negotiate with various support systems.

Systemic Advocacy Includes:

- Working with community at large to remove both physical and attitudinal barriers that prevent people with disabilities from accessing and participating in our community.

- Working with local authorities to improve the enforcement of ADA and other relevant laws.

- Building strong relationships with local, state and federal elected officials.

Protection of individuals with disabilities when their civil and human rights are denied, especially those who are most vulnerable or who learn, live, or work in isolated, segregated, or congregated settings.

Legal advocacy, investigation, and representation to eligible persons whose disability related cases meet priorities set by our Board of Directors.

Information and referral.

Engaging people with disabilities in advocacy through education, information and training that builds self-advocacy skills, awareness, and understanding.

Policy advocacy, including analysis, monitoring, and recommend changes to state and federal legislation.

Offers to educate businesses, the public, and legislature about issues important to people with disabilities. Staff aim to empower people with disabilities to assess their needs, identify potential risks, establish their own goals, evaluate available resources, and develop and implement a strategy to take control of their lives.