American Samoa Office of Protection & Advocacy

05/11/2025

Late Post | OPAD Community Outreach at the Marketplace 🎃
The Office of Protection and Advocacy for the Disabled (OPAD) conducted an outreach event at the marketplace on Halloween. The team engaged with community members to share information about OPAD’s programs and services that promote and protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in American Samoa.

We appreciate everyone who took the time to visit our table and learn more about our mission and ongoing efforts. 💙

25/10/2025

♿️ Accessibility & Public Notice from OPAD 🏥

The Office of Protection & Advocacy for the Disabled (OPAD) is sharing this important update from the LBJ Tropical Medical Center.

🚧 LBJ’s on-site parking will be temporarily closed as construction begins for a new Emergency Room and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) — an important project to improve healthcare for our community.

✅ Parking for patients and visitors has been relocated to Faga‘alu Park, with free shuttle services provided to and from the hospital.
🚐 Drop-off access will remain available for Dial-A-Ride, EMS, and individuals with serious mobility needs.

We encourage you to plan ahead, especially individuals with disabilities who may need transportation assistance.
Together, let’s ensure accessible and safe access to healthcare for all. 💙

For questions or support, contact 📞 (684) 272-6633 ext. 1141.

23/10/2025

Fa‘afetai tele lava to the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation for inviting OPAD to take part in today’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month celebration! 💙♿

Our team conducted an outreach at the event, where we had the opportunity to meet students from various schools, along with faculty members and agents who stopped by our booth. We shared information about OPAD’s programs and advocacy services, raising awareness about disability rights, accessibility, and equal employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

We were also honored to have our Director, Ms. Dora Ah Sue, attend and visit our booth, showing her continued support and encouragement for our outreach efforts and commitment to the disability community. 🙏

The photos capture inspiring moments of students engaging with our team, learning about inclusion, and joining the movement for a more accessible and equitable future.

Together, we stand for empowerment, inclusion, and opportunities for all. 🙌✨

18/10/2025

We all reach a point in life where things can change, where disability can become reality.
That’s when knowing your rights and where to get help truly matters. 💙
Through our PAIR Program, we advocated for Mr. Iosua to receive assistance, and with the help from OVR, made comfort possible again.
Because advocacy means standing up for every life that matters.

Disclaimer:
The Office of Protection and Advocacy for the Disabled does not provide direct services in offering mobility devices/equipment such as beds or wheelchairs. As the Protection and Advocacy Agency under the American Samoa Government, we offer advocacy services to assist and support individuals with disabilities.
Under the PAIR Program, we were able to advocate for the client by navigating services that provided a bed for mobility support, and to help improve quality of life for the client.

08/10/2025

🎥 Malamalama i le Polokalame a le Representative Payee 🇦🇸
O le Representative Payee o se tagata lea ua filifilia e feso’osoani I e ua maua latou Siaki ole saogalemu, e fa’asoasoaina a latou lava tupe. Ae paga lea, ua maua i nisi o suʻesuʻega ale malo, fa’apea ma P&A (Protection & Advocacy) agencies, o loo iai nisi Representative Payees ua fa’aaoga sese tupe, fa’atamala, ma sauāina i tagata e tatau ona latou fesoasoani i ai.
Ina ia fa’amalosia le va’ava’aiga ma puipuia aia tatau o i latou e maua i nei fesoasoani, na pasia e le Senate a le Iunaite Setete ia Mati 2018 le tulafono e ta’ua o le Strengthening Protections for Social Security Beneficiaries Act (H.R. 4547). O lenei tulafono ua tu’uina atu ai le malosi i fa’alapotopotoga e pei o le OPAD – American Samoa e fesosoani, su’esu’e, ma finau mo aia tatau o tagata o lo’o agava’a mo lenei pokalama.
👥 E galulue le ofisa o le OPAD ina ia mautinoa o tupe fesoasoani e tu’uina atu mo tagata e iai mana’oga fa’apitoa e faaaoga mo le puipuiga ma le tausiga moni, ae le mo le fa’aogaina sese.


Mo nisi fa’amatalaga po’o ni fesili e uiga i le matou Polokalame a le Representative Payee, fa’amolemole vala’au mai i le (684) 699-2441 po’o le 699-2442.
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🎥 Understanding the Representative Payee Program 🇦🇸

A Representative Payee helps manage Social Security benefits for individuals who are unable to do so on their own. Sadly, investigations have revealed cases where payees have misused funds or neglected the very people they were meant to protect.

To ensure stronger oversight and safeguard the rights of beneficiaries, the Strengthening Protections for Social Security Beneficiaries Act (H.R. 4547) was passed in March 2018. This law empowers Protection & Advocacy (P&A) agencies like OPAD – American Samoa to monitor, investigate, and advocate for individuals under the Representative Payee Program.

👥 Together, we work to ensure that every dollar meant to support a person with a disability truly serves its purpose — to protect, not exploit.



For more information or inquiries about our Representative Payee Program, please contact us at (684) 699-2441 or 699-2442.

You can find contact information for the Protection and Advocacy (P&A) agency in your state at: https://www.ndrn.org/about/ndrn-member-agencies/Or, by callin...

12/09/2025

Our Office of Protection & Advocacy was honored to attend the Annual Disaster Resilience Summit in American Samoa. The summit was a successful gathering that focused on building stronger communities, enhancing preparedness, and working together to ensure resilience for our islands. 🌏💙

Special acknowledgment to our team members Aitofi, Raymond, and Serita for representing OPAD at this important event. 👏

30/07/2025

Empowering our elderly with knowledge and advocacy 💙✨ OPAD had the privilege of visiting TAOA to share resources, rights, and support services for individuals with disabilities. Together, we’re building a more inclusive and informed community—one conversation at a time.