Federal funding cuts to advocacy services for people with disabilities will have serious impacts in North Dakota, according to the agency tasked with providing those services.

The cuts that take effect Oct. 1 will limit or eliminate access to certain programs of the Protection and Advocacy Project in North Dakota.

In federal fiscal year 2023-24, North Dakota Protection and Advocacy provided protection and advocacy services to 2,390 individuals, provided information and referrals so 6,126 individuals and provided training to 17,266 individuals.

“Cuts to Protection and Advocacy will have catastrophic consequences for North Dakotans with disabilities,” said Veronica Zietz, executive director at North Dakota Protection and Advocacy, Bismarck, in a prepared statement. “Proposed cuts are currently focused on P-and-A funding that is earmarked for services to people with physical, sensory, neurological, and mental health disabilities. Employment and voting programs are also proposed for elimination. P-and-A was put in place to ensure individuals with disabilities are free from abuse, neglect and exploitation, as well as to ensure individuals can live meaningful lives in the community. Cuts to funding will decrease available services that allow P-and-A to realize its purpose.”

The voting program set for elimination educates individuals with disabilities about their voting rights and trains them to use voting machines that accommodate their disabilities, said Jordan Wetsel, project coordinator at North Dakota’s Protection and Advocacy Project. The employment program includes helping individuals receive workplace accommodations and addresses rights violations, she said.

Protection and Advocacy serves North Dakota residents of all ages and disabilities at no cost. It provides protective services, assistance in navigating the criminal justice system and exercising fair housing rights, self-advocacy assistance, advocacy and legal representation, information and referrals, and training and education throughout the state. It also advocates for policy changes that better support people with disabilities.

With the coming cuts, Protection and Advocacy still could offer services.

“Of course, we would try to help as best as we can, but those funding cuts would make it so we aren’t able to provide those services like we have been,” Wetsel said.

Protection and Advocacy is a federally mandated program, funded with federal and state funds. In North Dakota, regional offices exist in Minot, Williston, Belcourt, Bismarck, Devils Lake, Grand Forks, Grafton, Fargo, Jamestown and Dickinson.

The cuts weren’t announced until after the state legislative session adjourned. The state Protection and Advocacy Project reported it has been in contact with the state’s federal delegation to educate them on its programs and explain how cuts will negatively impact North Dakotans with disabilities. Wetsel noted a fourth of the population is estimated to have some form of disability.