DISABLED PEOPLE ADVOCATE OFFICE.

LEGAL AUTHORITY

Reorganization Plan No. 1 of June 22, 2011; created the Office of the Advocate of Patients, Office of the Ombudsman Elderly, Office of the Disabled Persons Investigating Official, Veteran's Advocate Office and the Ombudsman Administration Office.


MISSION

Safeguard, guarantee and protect the rights of disabled people so that they can achieve complete integration into our society.


ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

  • Administration
  • Advise Board
  • Advocate's Office
  • Assistant Advocate's Office
  • Education and Community Relations Office
  • Examiner's Office
  • Governor's Committee for Employment of Disabled People
  • Legal Affairs
  • Planning Office
  • Regional Offices
  • Technology and Information


PROGRAM

Protection and Defense of citizens with disabilities rights

Program Description

Provide guidance, referrals, professional assistance, mediation, legal and administrative remedies to disabled persons with respect to programs or services available under state and federal laws.


Statistical Data 2011 2012 2013

 

Administrative hearings 229 250 250
Information (guidance) and referrals 22,638 25,000 30,000
Internal formative and summative assessments 24 24 24
Legal matters attended 1,376 1,000 1,500
Monitoring and inspection of public and private facilities 679 650 800
Newsletters 22,331 15,000 15,000
Persons impacted in Educational activities 30,053 20,000 20,000
Promotion, employment guidance and intercession 6,965 6,000 8,000
Public awareness campaign (beneficiaries) 500,000 500,000 500,000
Public hearings 4 4 4
Requests attended 3,562 3,800 4,500
Staff development 941 1,000 1,500
Systemic changes (technical support) 39 40 65

The statistical data was provided by the Agency during the Fiscal Year 2012-2013 budget formulation process.

Customers

Per the 2010 Census, 726,334 disabled people in Puerto Rico



FISCAL YEAR 2012-2013 PROPOSED BUDGET

The adopted consolidated budget for Fiscal Year 2012-2013 amounts to $3,733,000. This amount includes $1,163,000 from the Joint Resolution General Fund, $225,000 from Special Appropriations General Fund and $2,345,000 in Federal Funds.

Operational expenses reflect a decrease of $464,000 when compared to funds assigned in fiscal year 2011-2012. Human and fiscal resources were restructured and redistributed to the Ombudsman Administration Office, which resulted in a reduction to the Payroll and Related Expenses category.

The funds from the Joint Resolution General Fund will be used to guarantee needed services to the disabled. It also includes funding to complete Ombudsman Reorganization Plan. An additional Special Appropriation will be used to provide orientation and education services related to the Individuals with Disabilities Bill of Rights.

Contributing federal programs include: the Rehabilitation Services Client Assistance Program, the Program of Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights, the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness, the Protection and Advocacy for Traumatic Brain Injury, the Training and Technical Assistance to Improve Voting Access for Individuals with Disabilities, the Social Security Benefits Planning, the Assistance and Outreach Program, the Assistive Technology and the Development Disabilities Basic Support and Advocacy Grants.

SUMMARY OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES

Consolidated Budget  (thousands $) 2010 2011 2012 2013

 

Program  
Operational Expenses Actual Actual Budget Proposed
Protection and Defense of citizens with disabilities rights 4,780 4,076 4,197 3,733
Subtotal, Operational Expenses 4,780 4,076 4,197 3,733
Total, Program 4,780 4,076 4,197 3,733
 
Funding Sources  
Operational Expenses  
Joint Resolution - General Fund 903 481 1,972 1,163
Special Appropriations - General Fund 225 225 225 225
Local Stabilization Fund 1,575 1,658 0 0
Federal Grants 2,077 1,712 2,000 2,345
Subtotal, Operational Expenses 4,780 4,076 4,197 3,733
Total, Funding Sources 4,780 4,076 4,197 3,733
 
Expense Category  
Operational Expenses  
Payroll and Related Expenses 3,690 3,030 3,162 2,679
Rent and Utilities 117 104 95 119
Purchased Services 611 609 489 489
Transportation Expenses 22 24 21 21
Professional Services 40 154 41 41
Other Expenses 56 78 110 107
Previous Years Debt Payments 1 1 0 0
Equipment Purchases 9 24 15 15
Office Supplies and other Materials 6 51 36 34
Advertising and Media Expenses 228 1 228 228
Subtotal, Operational Expenses 4,780 4,076 4,197 3,733
Total, Expense Category 4,780 4,076 4,197 3,733