About IPAS
IPAS was created
IPAS was created in 1977 by state law (IC. 12-28-1-6 as amended) to protect and advocate the rights of people with disabilities and is Indiana's federally designated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) system and client assistance program. It is an independent state agency, which receives no state funding and is independent from all service providers, as required by federal and state law.
IPAS is governed by a 13-member commission, which sets the agency's Priorities and is advised on mental illness matters by a 10-member advisory council.
Individuals with disabilities have rights under the law
IPAS staff includes disability rights advocates and attorneys who have the authority to pursue appropriate legal and administrative remedies on behalf of people with disabilities, to ensure the enforcement of their constitutional and statutory rights. IPAS may be able to assist Hoosiers who have a disability and are being denied a right or are being discriminated against because of that disability.
Protected by law. Assisted by IPAS.
IPAS is a congressionally mandated, legally based disability rights agency. IPAS has the authority to provide legal representation and other advocacy services, under all federal and state laws to people with disabilities based on a system of Priorities. To defend the human, legal and civil rights of people with disabilities, Congress established Protection and Advocacy systems in each state. IPAS provides these services in Indiana.
Too often, individuals with disabilities are:
- abused or neglected by caregivers;
- denied appropriate medical, habilitation, or psychiatric treatment;
- denied free and appropriate public educational services;
- denied physical access to public places and governmental services;
- discriminated against when trying to obtain employment or housing
- denied the ability to make their own decisions and be a fully participating member of their community;
- denied the assistive technology services or devices they need to be more independent;
- having private information released to others without their consent; and
- denied the right to make their own choices as they prepare for employment through Vocational Rehabilitation or Ticket To Work training programs.
Committed to Client Satisfaction
IPAS is committed to continually improving its services and believes that a critical part of this is asking our clients how satisfied they were with our services. Each year IPAS mails hundreds of satisfaction questionnaires to individuals whom we represented or whom received information and referral services. In addition, IPAS has contracted with Indiana University, Institute on Disability and Community, to conduct telephone interviews with some of our clients. The interviews are aimed at determining how our services affected the lives of our clients. The results of all these efforts indicate that the vast majority of IPAS clients were generally satisfied with the help they received from IPAS. Most also indicated that things improved for them concerning the problem they brought to IPAS. The information collected from these assessments is shared with staff, the advisory council and commission and is used to improve our services.
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