The Advocacy Center has a multi-disciplinary staff of lawyers, paralegals, client advocates and support staff who provide the following services:

1. Legal Representation - The Advocacy Center represents clients in areas of the law designated as priorities by its Board of Directors. Legal representation includes counseling, advice, research, negotiation, administrative review, administrative hearing, state office review, litigation and class action. If a person needs legal representation in a non-priority area, the staff can make referrals to other sources of legal representation.

2. Advocacy Assistance (non-legal) - Many persons with disabilities seek Advocacy Center's help by making a phone call to our office and speaking with Intake Staff. However, we know that it is not always easy to make that call. People in residential facilities, such as group homes, nursing homes and psychiatric hospitals, may not feel safe in calling us, or may not be able to verbalize their needs. So we have Ombudsmen who visit group homes and nursing homes, and Client Advocates who visit psychiatric hospitals. Ombudsmen and Client Advocates help solve problems, make complaints and achieve goals.

3. Information and Referral - The Advocacy Center knows that it is difficult to identify the right resource for each person's needs. Staff help people to access services by providing information about resources, and making referrals to legal, social, health, education, employment, and other related services.

4. Systems Advocacy - The Advocacy Center works to improve systems that are used by people who are elderly and/or have disabilities, including education, health, legal, social services, transportation, and vocational systems. Most of our systems advocacy work is carried out by teams of several staff who meet as needed to achieve a system enhancing objective. Occasionally a team will include persons from outside the agency. Other systems advocacy work may consist of individual Advocacy Center staff participating in task forces outside the Advocacy Center.

5. Education and Training - The Advocacy Center educates others about the legal rights of persons who are elderly and persons who have disabilities, through presentations to groups, participation on committees and task forces, media campaigns, technical assistance flyers, and educational booklets. Training offered by the Advocacy Center may be in response to requests from specific groups; or may be set up by the Advocacy Center in response to needs identified by the staff.

6. Self-Advocacy - The Advocacy Center helps to give clients the skills and knowledge to act on their own behalf.

7. Publications - The Advocacy Center provides a variety of booklets, reports, flyers, and other resources pertaining to persons 60 years or older and persons with disabilities. Special reports are published from time to time and usually focus on a specific issue or problem. An example is the 2003 report, Mental Health Rehabilitation Services: "Rehabilitation" or a "Get Rich Quick Scheme?" that looks at problems with Louisiana's mental health rehabilitation program.

8. Outreach and Training - The Advocacy Center often responds to community groups who ask for someone to talk to them about its work. Outreach includes the visits to residential facilities by ombudsmen and client advocates and various issues affecting people with disabilities.

All services are free of charge for persons with disabilities.

The Advocacy Center has a multi-disciplinary staff of lawyers, paralegals, client advocates and support staff who provide the following services:

1. Legal Representation - The Advocacy Center represents clients in areas of the law designated as priorities by its Board of Directors. Legal representation includes counseling, advice, research, negotiation, administrative review, administrative hearing, state office review, litigation and class action. If a person needs legal representation in a non-priority area, the staff can make referrals to other sources of legal representation.

2. Advocacy Assistance (non-legal) - Many persons with disabilities seek Advocacy Center's help by making a phone call to our office and speaking with Intake Staff. However, we know that it is not always easy to make that call. People in residential facilities, such as group homes, nursing homes and psychiatric hospitals, may not feel safe in calling us, or may not be able to verbalize their needs. So we have Ombudsmen who visit group homes and nursing homes, and Client Advocates who visit psychiatric hospitals. Ombudsmen and Client Advocates help solve problems, make complaints and achieve goals.

3. Information and Referral - The Advocacy Center knows that it is difficult to identify the right resource for each person's needs. Staff help people to access services by providing information about resources, and making referrals to legal, social, health, education, employment, and other related services.

4. Systems Advocacy - The Advocacy Center works to improve systems that are used by people who are elderly and/or have disabilities, including education, health, legal, social services, transportation, and vocational systems. Most of our systems advocacy work is carried out by teams of several staff who meet as needed to achieve a system enhancing objective. Occasionally a team will include persons from outside the agency. Other systems advocacy work may consist of individual Advocacy Center staff participating in task forces outside the Advocacy Center.

5. Education and Training - The Advocacy Center educates others about the legal rights of persons who are elderly and persons who have disabilities, through presentations to groups, participation on committees and task forces, media campaigns, technical assistance flyers, and educational booklets. Training offered by the Advocacy Center may be in response to requests from specific groups; or may be set up by the Advocacy Center in response to needs identified by the staff.

6. Self-Advocacy - The Advocacy Center helps to give clients the skills and knowledge to act on their own behalf.

7. Publications - The Advocacy Center provides a variety of booklets, reports, flyers, and other resources pertaining to persons 60 years or older and persons with disabilities. Special reports are published from time to time and usually focus on a specific issue or problem. An example is the 2003 report, Mental Health Rehabilitation Services: "Rehabilitation" or a "Get Rich Quick Scheme?" that looks at problems with Louisiana's mental health rehabilitation program.

8. Outreach and Training - The Advocacy Center often responds to community groups who ask for someone to talk to them about its work. Outreach includes the visits to residential facilities by ombudsmen and client advocates and various issues affecting people with disabilities.

Information, legal advice and referral

The Arc of Louisiana advocates with and for all people with mental retardation and related developmental disabilities and their families that they shall live to their fullest potential

The goal of the Baton Rouge Autism Society of America's Website is to provide easy access to the most current information about resources, publications, news releases, events and other activities related to Autism Spectrum Disorder throughout the city of Baton Rouge and surrounding areas.

The Bayou Chapter is a local chapter affliated with the Louisiana State Autism Chapter (LSAC). We provide a network of families who offer support and experience.

To promote and advocate for the general welfare of persons with autism, to support the families of individuals with autism spectrum disorders and to raise awareness of all aspects of autism which affect the families.

The Center provides multidisciplinary evaluation and treatment for children with cerebral palsy, developmental delays, and learning disabilities.

LSAC provides information and referrals, advocacy, and training for parents, teachers, and service providers. We help families identify qualified professional and service providers in their community and assist them in securing benefits and services provided by law. We provide a network of families who offer support and experience.

We are known for our ABA and VB Therapy services, but also offer:
Consultations, Assessments, Academic Program, Summer Program, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Social Skills Training, Workshops, and IEP Advocacy

Volunteer support and advocacy group for those dealing with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and/or Learning Disabilities.

LSAC provides information and referrals, advocacy, and training for parents, teachers, and service providers. We help families identify qualified professional and service providers in their community and assist them in securing benefits and services provided by law. We provide a network of families who offer support and experience.

The purpose of Louisiana Citizens for Citizens with Disabilities (LCCD) is to unite and advocate on public policy affecting citizens with disabilities. LCCD will provide one voice representing the member organizations on common issues.

To ensure all individuals with disabilities benefit from supports and opportunities in their communities so they achieve quality of life in conformance with their wishes.

We are the state’s advocacy organization for families of children and youth with mental health needs. We represent children, youth, and families from diverse cultures and backgrounds. LAFFCMH is here to assist you in obtaining information and resources that will empower you to chose the best solutions for your child, yourself, and your family. Just as each child is unique and different the services each child with emotional, behavioral and mental disorders requires will be different and unique to that child and his/her family.

governmental agency

The mission of the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities* is to help Louisiana service and support resources to promote the community participation and quality of life desired by each person with functional disabilities.

We are a parent-driven support organization. Our primary goal is to increase public awareness and understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorders. We do not charge dues and support our work through donations. We have an extensive lending library of resources (check Local Resources on our web page). We host monthly support group meetings (child care is provided), host social events for our kids, publish a quarterly newsletter, and distribute autism news daily via e-mail.

ajrbcr2001@yahoo.com; ASA is dedicated to increasing public awareness about autism and the day-to-day issues faced by individuals with autism, their families and the professionals with whom they interact. The Society and its chapters share a common mission of providing information and education, and supporting research and advocating for programs and services for the autism community.