HELP GOVERNMENT FEEL THE POWER OF THE DISABILITY VOTE 2008 IS AN ELECTION YEAR AND YOUR VOTE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE Check out our Voter's Guide for People with Disabilities

For more information on your voting rights and how your vote can make a difference visit our PAVA (Protection and Advocacy for Voting Access) pages

What We Do

Vermont Protection and Advocacy is a statewide agency dedicated to advancing the rights of people with mental health and disabilities issues.

We support human and civil rights by investigating:

• complaints of abuse and neglect (physical or sexual assault, verbal & physical abuse, restraint and seclusion, forced treatment, and harassment.)
  
  
• complaints of violations of individual rights (the right to refuse treatment, right to privacy, access to medical records, confidentiality, etc.)

Vermont Protection & Advocacy is separate and independent from all state agencies, hospitals, and community mental health centers. We do not work for them. We work for you.

Vermont Protection and Advocacy works towards a system that honors the dignity and needs of all people with disabilities.

All communication with us is confidential.

How We Help

Vermont Protection and Advocacy can offer you:

• Information
  
  
• Support
  
  
• Referrals to other agencies and services
  
  
• Assistance preparing a durable power of attorney for health care (legal document stating your treatment  wishes in case you become unable to make your health care decisions)
  
  
• Advocacy and legal representation*

*Vermont Protection and Advocacy is not able to serve every individual calling for assistance and uses the following case acceptance criteria:

• complaint falls within VP&A program priorities
  
  
• lack of alternative representation
  
  
• immediacy and severity of potential harm to client
  
  
• VP&A intervention will have a system-wide impact

Who We Help

We work with individuals with disabilities and individuals with mental health issues.

This can include individuals residing in or receiving services from hospitals, nursing homes, residential care homes, community facilities, board and care homes, homeless shelters, prisons/jails or their own homes.

Individual living in the community may call us for information and advice.

Where We Are

For confidential and free information, call us toll-free at 1-800-834-7890, Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm.

Call or write to us for more information:

Vermont Protection & Advocacy
141 Main Street / Suite 7
Montpelier, VT 05602
802-229-1355

If you think your rights have been violated or that you have been treated unfairly, one of our advocates may be able to help.

You can also meet with an advocate during our regular visits at:

• Vermont State Hospital
  
  
• Central Vermont Hospital
  
  
• Fletcher Allen Health Care
  
  
• Windham Center for Psychiatric Care
  
  
• Rutland Regional Medical Center
  
  
• Brattleboro Retreat
  
  
• Prisons and jails around the state