The National Protection and Advocacy (P&A) system was established through federal legislation in response to the abuse, neglect and lack of programming endemic in institutions for persons with disabilities. Since 1975 Congress has created several distinct statutory programs to address the needs of different populations of persons with disabilities.

     The governor in each state selected an agency to be the P&A system. Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. (CLASI) was designated to be Delaware's P&A system, and provides legal advocacy services through its Disabilities Law Program. Since 1977 the Disabilities Law Program has grown to include seven specialized programs:

• Protection and Advocacy for persons with Developmental Disabilities Project (PADD);

• Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness Project (PAIMI);

• Protection and Advocacy for Individual Rights Project (PAIR);

• Protection and Advocacy for Assistive Technology Project (PAAT);

• Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security Project (PABSS);

• Protection and Advocacy for Traumatic Brain Injury Project (PATBI);

• Protection and Advocacy for Voter Access (PAVA).