What is the

Office of Clients’ Rights Advocacy?

and what can your

Clients’ Rights Advocate

do for you?

 Artwork: Bob Sulin woodcut

OCRA

The Office of Clients’ Rights Advocacy (OCRA) is a statewide office run by Protection & Advocacy, Inc., through a contract with the California Department of Developmental Services. OCRA employs a Clients’ Rights Advocate (CRA) at each regional center. The CRA is a person trained to help protect the rights of people with developmental disabilities.

Who can get clients’ rights advocacy services?

Any person with a disability, family member, or interested person may ask a CRA about the rights of a person with a developmental disability. The CRA will answer your question or refer you to another resource.

Your Clients’ Rights Advocate:

  • Can consult with and help people who have developmental disabilities and their families get services.
  • Can directly represent people with developmental disabilities in administrative hearings.
  • Can provide training about rights to consumers, their families, regional center service providers, and interested community groups.
  • Can investigate complaints about the denial of any right to which a consumer is entitled, if the complaint involves a facility.
  • Can assure compliance with the law involving a denial of rights in a facility.

    • What service issues/agencies can my CRA help me with?

    Schools
    Social Security
    Medi-Cal
    Neglect
    Rehabilitation Mental Health
    Discrimination
    Regional Centers
    In-Home Services
    Private Insurance
    Guardianship
    Abuse
    Day Care
    Criminal Matters
    Personal Autonomy
    Conservatorship and Alternatives
    Other miscellaneous areas of law

    How will the CRA decide whether to represent me directly?

    In deciding to represent you directly, OCRA will consider:

  • • The merits of your claim
  • • Your ability to advocate for yourself
  • • Availability of OCRA resources
  • • Other advocacy sources you could use

    • You may file a grievance if you are not satisfied with the services provided to you by OCRA.

    www.pai-ca.org

    Your CRA’s name and phone number are:

     

     

     

    or you can call: 1-800-390-7032

    916-575-1615 Voice
    877-669-6023 TTY
    916-575-1623 FAX

    Bob Sulin’s artwork adorns the cover. A Sacramento resident, Sulin’s art has been shown in exhibits all over California. He works mainly with paints, ceramics and block prints, and is well known for his deadpan humor and political satire. Sulin is a student at Short Center North and an Alta California Regional Center consumer.

    Publication #5015.01
    Revised May 2003