News

(Bismarck, ND) The Protection & Advocacy Project (P&A) is the leading civil rights organization for people with disabilities in North Dakota.  P&A’s mission is to champion the equality and inclusion of people with disabilities where we live, work, and play. 

(Bismarck, ND) The passage of House Bills 1263 and 1264 into state law memorializes the definition of Individual Justice Planning (IJP), allows the use of an IJP as an alternative to physical custody for justice involved adults, and requires the court to make an IJP referral for a child involved in the juvenile justice system.

(Bismarck, ND) With the passage of Senate Bill 2163, North Dakota joins 16 other states enacting plain language laws. This legislation will require that constitutional amendments and initiated and referred measures appearing on voting ballots to be written in plain language.

(Bismarck, ND) The Olmstead Commission, a governor-appointed board, is tasked with moving North Dakota towards greater community integration and inclusion for persons with disabilities. A robust direct support workforce is essential to achieving this goal. Seeing great challenges in this area, the Olmstead Commission wanted to explore challenges and find solutions to the issues facing the direct support workforce.

On December 12, 2022 Protection & Advocacy hosted a presentation with the Department of Health & Human Services to discuss the Department’s proposed budget for the next biennium.  DHHS staff provided an overview of priorities for their work with a focus on disability and mental health services. The recording of the presentation is now available for viewing.

(Bismarck, ND) As voters prepare to head off to the polls on November 8th, many people research the candidates, read the measures, and find the location of their voting site. People with disabilities do all these things, but they also face additional barriers to voting.

(Bismarck, ND) Every October since 1945 America has observed National Disability Employment Awareness Month.  As this month comes to an end, the North Dakota Protection and Advocacy Project (P&A) would like to recognize the valuable skills and talents that people with disabilities bring to the workplace.  People with disabilities make up the largest minority population in the United States at approximately 25% and remains one of the largest untapped labor pools.

The Protection & Advocacy Project (P&A) is the premier civil rights organization for people with disabilities in North Dakota.  P&A was established in 1977 and has grown to administer several federal programs to meet the needs of the disability community.  P&A strives to promote the equality and inclusion of people with disabilities where we live, learn, work, and play.

Recording Available for the Dept. of Human Services presentation on ARPA Spending Plans

Legislative Working Group met on June 24, 2022.  Representatives from the ND Department of Human Services shared information and progress on their plan for investing $31.6 million in home and community based services through the American Rescue Plan Act.

P&A’s Legislative Working Group is meeting virtually on June 24, 2022 at 4pm.  Representatives from the ND Department of Human Services will be sharing information and progress on their plan for investing $31.6 million in home and community based services through the American Rescue Plan Act.  Click here to join the meeting.