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USA / States / Free help
No-cost starting points

Free disability advocacy help in every state

Families should not have to know the whole system before asking for help. Every state has federally funded Parent Centers, a designated Protection & Advocacy system, and a state I/DD service structure.

What each route does: Parent Centers focus heavily on IDEA, IEPs and transition. Protection & Advocacy organisations provide legally based disability advocacy across areas such as education, community living, benefits, employment and VR. State I/DD agencies are the service-system route for developmental-disability supports, eligibility and community services.
StateParent CenterProtection & AdvocacyState I/DD service agency
AlabamaFind Alabama Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPDivision of Developmental Disabilities, Alabama Department of Mental Health
Current national state-agency directory
AlaskaFind Alaska Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPSenior and Disabilities Services, Alaska Department of Health
Current national state-agency directory
ArizonaFind Arizona Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPDivision of Developmental Disabilities, Arizona Department of Economic Security
Current national state-agency directory
ArkansasFind Arkansas Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPDivision of Developmental Disabilities Services, Arkansas Department of Human Services
Current national state-agency directory
CaliforniaFind California Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPCalifornia Department of Developmental Services
Current national state-agency directory
ColoradoFind Colorado Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPOffice of Community Living, Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing
Current national state-agency directory
ConnecticutFind Connecticut Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPConnecticut Department of Developmental Services
Current national state-agency directory
DelawareFind Delaware Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPDevelopmental Disabilities Services, Delaware Health and Social Services
Current national state-agency directory
FloridaFind Florida Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPFlorida Agency for Persons with Disabilities
Current national state-agency directory
GeorgiaFind Georgia Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPDivision of Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities, Georgia DBHDD
Current national state-agency directory
HawaiiFind Hawaii Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPDevelopmental Disabilities Division, Hawai‘i Department of Health
Current national state-agency directory
IdahoFind Idaho Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPBureau of Developmental Disability Services, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare
Current national state-agency directory
IllinoisFind Illinois Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPDivision of Developmental Disabilities, Illinois Department of Human Services
Current national state-agency directory
IndianaFind Indiana Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPDisability, Aging, and Rehabilitative Services, Indiana Family & Social Services Administration
Current national state-agency directory
IowaFind Iowa Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPDivision of Aging and Disability Services, Iowa Department of Health and Human Services
Current national state-agency directory
KansasFind Kansas Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPKansas Department for Aging and Disability Services
Current national state-agency directory
KentuckyFind Kentucky Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPDivision of Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities, Kentucky Cabinet for Health & Family Services
Current national state-agency directory
LouisianaFind Louisiana Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPOffice for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities, Louisiana Department of Health
Current national state-agency directory
MaineFind Maine Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPOffice of Aging and Disability Services, Maine Department of Health and Human Services
Current national state-agency directory
MarylandFind Maryland Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPDevelopmental Disabilities Administration, Maryland Department of Health
Current national state-agency directory
MassachusettsFind Massachusetts Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPMassachusetts Department of Developmental Services
Current national state-agency directory
MichiganFind Michigan Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPMichigan Department of Health and Human Services disability services system
Current national state-agency directory
MinnesotaFind Minnesota Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPDisability Services Division, Minnesota Department of Human Services
Current national state-agency directory
MississippiFind Mississippi Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPBureau of Intellectual Disabilities, Mississippi Department of Mental Health
Current national state-agency directory
MissouriFind Missouri Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPDivision of Developmental Disabilities, Missouri Department of Mental Health
Current national state-agency directory
MontanaFind Montana Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPDevelopmental Disabilities Program, Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services
Current national state-agency directory
NebraskaFind Nebraska Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPDivision of Developmental Disabilities, Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services
Current national state-agency directory
NevadaFind Nevada Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPAging and Disability Services Division, Nevada Department of Health and Human Services
Current national state-agency directory
New HampshireFind New Hampshire Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPDivision of Long Term Supports and Services, New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
Current national state-agency directory
New JerseyFind New Jersey Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPDivision of Developmental Disabilities, New Jersey Department of Human Services
Current national state-agency directory
New MexicoFind New Mexico Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPDevelopmental Disabilities Supports Division, New Mexico Health Care Authority
Current national state-agency directory
New YorkFind New York Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPNew York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD)
Current national state-agency directory
North CarolinaFind North Carolina Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPNorth Carolina Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services
Current national state-agency directory
North DakotaFind North Dakota Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPDevelopmental Disabilities Division, North Dakota Health and Human Services
Current national state-agency directory
OhioFind Ohio Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPOhio Department of Developmental Disabilities
Current national state-agency directory
OklahomaFind Oklahoma Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPDevelopmental Disabilities Services, Oklahoma Human Services
Current national state-agency directory
OregonFind Oregon Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPDevelopmental Disabilities Services, Oregon Department of Human Services
Current national state-agency directory
PennsylvaniaFind Pennsylvania Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPOffice of Developmental Programs, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services
Current national state-agency directory
Rhode IslandFind Rhode Island Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPDivision of Developmental Disabilities, Rhode Island BHDDH
Current national state-agency directory
South CarolinaFind South Carolina Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPOffice of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, South Carolina
Current national state-agency directory
South DakotaFind South Dakota Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPDivision of Developmental Disabilities, South Dakota Department of Human Services
Current national state-agency directory
TennesseeFind Tennessee Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPTennessee Department of Disability and Aging
Current national state-agency directory
TexasFind Texas Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPIntellectual and Developmental Disability Services, Texas Health and Human Services
Current national state-agency directory
UtahFind Utah Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPServices for People with Disabilities, Utah Department of Health and Human Services
Current national state-agency directory
VermontFind Vermont Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPDevelopmental Disabilities Services, Vermont Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living
Current national state-agency directory
VirginiaFind Virginia Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPDivision of Developmental Services, Virginia DBHDS
Current national state-agency directory
WashingtonFind Washington Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPDevelopmental Disabilities Administration, Washington DSHS
Current national state-agency directory
West VirginiaFind West Virginia Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPWest Virginia state I/DD services system, Department of Human Services
Current national state-agency directory
WisconsinFind Wisconsin Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPDivision of Medicaid Services, Wisconsin Department of Health Services
Current national state-agency directory
WyomingFind Wyoming Parent CenterFind state P&A / CAPDevelopmental Disabilities / HCBS Section, Wyoming Department of Health
Current national state-agency directory

When to contact which organisation

School / IEP problem

Start with the Parent Center. If the issue is serious discrimination, abuse, institutional rights or a system-level disability-rights issue, also consider the state P&A.

Adult services / waiver problem

Start with the state I/DD or Medicaid system. Keep the P&A route available if access, discrimination or legal rights become the issue.

VR dispute

The P&A/CAP network can assist with Vocational Rehabilitation rights. Also use the state VR agency's own review/appeal process.

Parent Center routes use the Center for Parent Information and Resources. P&A routes use the National Disability Rights Network member-agency locator. I/DD agency names use the current NASDDDS state-agency directory. Reviewed 24 August 2026.