The University of Alabama School of Law and the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program are pleased to announce they have reunited.
ADAP was housed at the Law School for 28 years. In 2004, ADAP moved from the Law School to the Office of Academic Affairs, where the program’s director reported to the provost. Under the new agreement, ADAP offices will remain at Martha Parham West, and Director James A. Tucker will report to Dean Mark E. Brandon.
“We at the School of Law are pleased to be reuniting with the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program,” Brandon said. “ADAP’s mission – to provide advocacy and representation for Alabamians with disabilities – is consistent with law’s highest aspirations. Our students will benefit enormously from opportunities to work with the program.”
In August 2017, the Law School and ADAP plan to launch a law clinic for children with disabilities. The clinic will provide practical experience to law students under the supervision of licensed attorneys and will support the guarantee that every student at UA Law has the opportunity to gain clinical experience before graduating.
“We’re really looking forward to offering a clinical experience to students and to exposing a broad range of students to the issues that people with disability encounter in the legal system,” Tucker said. “I think law graduates will then be able to be well-positioned to serve persons with disabilities as they move forward with their practice and be attuned to disability issues throughout their careers.”
ADAP is a federally funded advocacy organization that provides legal services to Alabamians with disabilities. It has 20 full-time employees, including 10 lawyers and four advocates.