--- title: 'P&A centers: A source of legal help' description: Protection and Advocacy Centers advocate for people with disabilities. They can provide legal help to parents of kids with learning and thinking differences. slug: pa-centers-a-source-of-legal-help author: Andrew M.I. Lee, JD published: '2019-08-05T16:00:39.339Z' thumbnail: https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/B782B142AAA04F0C8AF460440929DDD4/7d0ca31d21952fbb0803a4ea753ee0af/116030756.jpg source_url: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/pa-centers-a-source-of-legal-help lang: en --- # P&A centers: A source of legal help If you have a dispute with the school about your child’s education, it can be hard to know where to look for help. One useful resource is the Protection and Advocacy (P&A) System and Client Assistance Program (CAP). Congress created the P&A System and CAP to advocate for the legal rights of people with disabilities. Find out if these resources could help you and your child. ## What protection and advocacy centers offer P&A centers provide legal representation and advocacy services to anyone with a disability. These centers help all kinds of people, from those who use wheelchairs to children with developmental delays. Children and adults with learning and thinking differences may qualify for assistance. Here are a few examples of situations in which a P&A center may offer help: - Your child hasn’t been evaluated even though you [requested an evaluation](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/evaluation-rights-what-you-need-to-know). - Your child was suspended or expelled from school because of behavior related to learning and thinking differences documented in an IEP or 504 plan. - Your child was placed in an alternative school and isn’t receiving the services she needs. - Your child is receiving services at school, but they aren’t meeting her needs. CAP agencies are like P&A centers, but they focus on government vocational rehabilitation (“VR”) programs. VR programs help people with disabilities find jobs or careers. If your child is having problems getting help from a VR program, a CAP agency may offer legal or advocacy help. Keep in mind that although these centers offer help, sometimes the wait lists can be long. And you are not guaranteed legal help. The centers usually will screen your case. But the only way to find out if your state’s P&A center can help your child is to contact them. ## Where to find a P&A center in your state Every state has a P&A center. Some have a combined P&A and CAP center. There is also a Native American P&A center in the four corners region of the Southwest. You can find the P&A center in your state by visiting the [National Disability Rights Network](https://www.ndrn.org/about/ndrn-member-agencies/) (NDRN). (The NDRN is a network of all the P&A and CAP centers across the country.) P&A and CAP centers are important resources for parents of children with learning and thinking differences. There are other places to get help, too. [Parent Training and Information Centers](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/parent-training-centers-a-free-resource) (PTIs) give parents information about the special education process. You can also take a look at [other legal resources](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/where-to-find-legal-help). --- ## Explore related topics and articles - [Vocational rehab: What you need to know](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/vocational-rehab-what-you-need-to-know) - - Every state has a vocational rehabilitation \(VR\) agency. - VR services can help your child transition from high school to work and independent living. - Qualifying for VR services is different from qualifying for special education. When high school students have an IEP, the Individuals with Di - [Where to find legal help](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/where-to-find-legal-help) - - Knowing where to find legal help is vital to protecting your childs rights. - There are websites that can help you locate lawyers and advocates in your area. - Online resources usually offer general information and may not give you details about your particular state or school. Knowing where - [10 steps to take if your child is denied services](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/10-steps-to-take-if-your-child-is-denied-services) - Your child was evaluated, and the school denied special education services. The decision may be upsetting. But now its time to look forward. How can you get the help your child needs? What are your options? Here are 10 steps you can take. Understand the schools reasons. 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