Who We Are:

The Protection and Advocacy for Individual Rights (PAIR) program is a federally funded legal and nonlegal advocacy program authorized through the Rehabilitation Act (as Amended). In New York State the program is coordinated by the Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities (CQCAPD). Legal Services of Central New York (LSCNY) is under contract with CQCAPD to provide legal assistance to eligible individuals in the Central New York region, which includes the following counties: Broome, Cayuga, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, Otsego, Schuyler, Tioga, and Tompkins.

Individuals who have a physical disability as a result of injury, including traumatic brain injury, and other individuals with adult onset disabilities are eligible for legal assistance through the PAIR program. This service is available to all eligible individuals without charge, regardless of the ability to pay. An otherwise disabled individual is eligible for assistance if the legal problem for which assistance is sought is related to the individual's disability. Case acceptance is further evaluated on the merit of the claim and available resources at LSCNY.

The PAIR program is staffed half-time by two staff attorneys. The Executive Director, Litigation Director and Managing attorneys provide additional resources for the PAIR program at LSCNY.

Legal Assistance Provided by the PAIR Program

The PAIR program legal assistance may range from information & referral, to counsel and advice, to full representation before administrative agencies, state courts, or federal courts. Examples of the types of cases that may be evaluated for case acceptance include:

• ADA compliance and systemic issues
• Medicaid durable medical equipment denials or Medicaid related services
• Fair housing claims where a disabled individual are denied housing on the basis of disability
• Access to public and private transportation for disabled individuals
• Employment discrimination based on disability
• Parental rights where it is alleged that disability precludes custody or visitation
• Avoiding or transitioning out of unwanted institutional placement