Advocacy Organizations

The KY Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing works to provide effective and efficient leadership, education, advocacy and direct services to eliminate barriers and to meet the social, economic, educational, cultural and intellectual needs of deaf and hard of hearing Kentuckians.

The Office of Victims Advocacy works to ensure crime victims are treated with respect and dignity as their case proceeds through the criminal justice system. The Victims Advocacy Division provides training, legislative and research support services, educational materials and project development, and technical assistance to enhance victims rights and services.

KPFC works to improve services for children in KY with emotional, social and behavioral challenges. Its mission is to empower families affected by behavioral health challenges to initiate personal and systems change. KPFC sponsors trainings for parent groups, and youth, youth councils, a dad's initiative and parent support groups, organized by county.

Kentucky Protection and Advocacy (P&A) is a group of advocates working together with people who have disabilities to promote and protect their legal rights. Through our information and referral services, they try to answer questions about your rights under disability laws. P&A is an independent state agency that was designated by the Governor as the protection and advocacy agency for Kentucky. P&A’s staff includes professional advocates and attorneys. KY Protection and Advocacy, along with HDI and the Commonwealth Council on Developmental Disabilities, is part of our state's Developmental Disabilities Network.

KY-SPIN is dedicated to promoting programs that will enable persons with disabilities and their families to enhance their quality of life. SPIN (Special Parent Involvement Network) is a statewide project of KY-SPIN, Inc. SPIN-PTI (Parent Training & Information Project) is funded by the U.S. Dept. of Education. SPIN provides training, information and support to people with disabilities, their parents and families, and information on all types of disabilities and topics for all age groups. All services of the SPIN-PTI are free to all participants. KY-Spin also has a wonderful on-line Resource Guide about self-advocacy, recreational/social groups, family support groups, Military Family resources, and IDEA information.

KAD is organized by and for the deaf community and is an affiliated member of the National Association of the Deaf (NAD). KAD's mission is for mutual assistance and encouragement of deaf people and to secure moral, intellectual and social improvement of their educational and vocational opportunities. The KY Association for the Deaf has been working closely with the KY Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the KY School for the Deaf Alumni Association and the KY Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. Videophone: 301‍-587‍-1788 (ZVRS) 301‍-328‍-1443 (Sorenson) 301‍-338‍-6380 (Convo) 301‍-453‍-2390 (Purple) TTY: 301‍-587‍-1789

The National Center for Prenatal and Postnatal Down Syndrome Resources, administered through HDI was created to insure that all parents and prospective parents receive accurate, balanced, and scientifically up-to-date information at the point of a prenatal or postnatal Down syndrome diagnosis.

The NDSC provides up-to-date information on topics of interest to people with Down syndrome, family members, friends, professionals and interested others. The Center works to promote the availability of and accessibility to a full range of opportunities and/or resources that meet individual and family needs.

The mission of the National Down Syndrome Society is to be the national advocate for the value, acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome.

Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) is a federal requirement to help ensure that individuals are not inappropriately placed in nursing homes for long term care. The Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities mandates a preadmission screening and resident review (PASRR) for all persons applying for admission to or residing in a nursing facility. PASRR is an important tool for states to use in rebalancing services away from institutions and towards supporting people in their homes, and to comply with the Supreme Court decision, Olmstead vs L.C. (1999), which held that that all individuals have the right to live in the “least restrictive setting” possible. PASRR can also advance person-centered care planning by assuring that psychological, psychiatric, and functional needs are considered along with personal goals and preferences in planning long term care.