Pennsylvania Community Resources

AACCommunity.NetOpens in a new window – AAC community website on communication rights for Pennsylvanians with intellectual disability, autism, movement difficulties and other disabilities that create complex communication needs; funded by ODP

ACHIEVAOpens in a new window – part of The Arc’s network for services in Western Pennsylvania

Acronyms Opens in a new window– from PA Office of Developmental Programs, listed in alphabetical sections

The Arc of PennsylvaniaOpens in a new window – PA chapter of The Arc, the largest advocacy organization in the U.S. for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families; check out “Alexa’s Home” with amazing technology that enables independent living!

The Arc AllianceOpens in a new window – part of The Arc’s network and formerly known as The Arc of Montgomery, Berks and Bucks Counties

CLASSOpens in a new window (UCP CLASS) – services to individuals of varying abilities, fostering community inclusion for people with disabilities from independent living skills classroom training to community-based case management for social, recreational and residential supports; originally chartered as UCP of Pittsburgh

Community Options, Inc. (in PA)Opens in a new window – housing and employment supports for persons with disabilities; has several offices across Pennsylvania 

Community of Practice: Supporting Families throughout the LifespanOpens in a new window, previously The Partnership:  The Pennsylvania Training Partnership for People with Disabilities and FamiliesOpens in a new window – training and technical assistance families and self-advocates

Community Resources for IndependenceOpens in a new window – in Pennsylvania; good list of acronymsOpens in a new window

COMPASSOpens in a new window – website for Pennsylvanians to apply online for many health and human service programs that include Medical Assistance (“Medicaid”), the  Health Insurance Marketplace, CHIP, SSI, Pre-K Counts, and more

Disability Rights Pennsylvania (DRP)Opens in a new window – formerly known as the Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania, DRP is the statewide non-profit corporation designated as the federally-mandated organization to advance and protect the civil rights of adults and children with disabilities to live the lives they choose, free from abuse, neglect, discrimination, and segregation

D.R.E.A.M. PartnershipOpens in a new window – postsecondary education for people with intellectual disabilities

Education Law Center of PA (ELC-PA)Opens in a new window – Direct links to Fact SheetsOpens in a new window, ToolkitsOpens in a new window, and Resources & PublicationsOpens in a new window)

Everyday LivesOpens in a new window – a guide to the Office of Developmental Programs as it develops policy and designs programs. Providers of services will use these recommendations to support individuals and their families to achieve an everyday life.

FISA FoundationOpens in a new window – resources in Southwestern PA for girls, women, and people with disabilities

HealthChoicesOpens in a new window – Medical Assistance information from PA’s Department of Human Services (HealthChoices is the name of Pa’s managed care programs for Medicaid / Medical Assistance recipients. 

Imagine Different CoalitionOpens in a new window – a statewide coalition working to ensure that every child with a disability in Pennsylvania grows up in a family, at home, where he/she is loved and nurtured

Include Me Opens in a new window– an initiative by The Arc of PA with the PA Bureau of Special Education on inclusion from preschool through secondary transition

Institute on Disabilities at Temple UniversityOpens in a new window – PA’s “University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service” (UCEDDs are funded by HHS.)

Jean’s Story – “My Life–My Story” by Jean M. Searle, President of PennTASH (written September 2006)

Keystone Institute / Keystone Human ServicesOpens in a new window – education, consultation, and human services

“Kids on the Go!” ProgramOpens in a new window – adaptive mobility equipment for kids in Western Pennsylvania

Kids Together, Inc.Opens in a new window – school and community inclusion

Liberty ResourcesOpens in a new window – independent living in Philadelphia area

Lifesharing in PennsylvaniaOpens in a new window – information from PA’s Office of Developmental Programs (ODP)

Literacy Instruction for Individuals with DisabilitiesOpens in a new window – from Penn State University 

Medical Assistance Eligibility HandbookOpens in a new window – PA Department of Human Services publication

“My Bike” ProgramOpens in a new window – adaptive bikes for kids in Western Pennsylvania

Networks for Training and Development, Inc.Opens in a new window – employment, life in the community, person-centered skills

One PennsylvaniaOpens in a new window – unites low income and working class activists with a broad coalition of community, labor, faith, and students’ organizations including people with disabilities

PA Family NetworkOpens in a new window – family workshops and networking opportunities throughout PA, led by trained Family Advisors who all have family members with disabilities; under the leadership of Vision for EQuality, IncOpens in a new window.; overseen by PA ODP membership in the national Community of Practice: Supporting Families throughout the LifespanOpens in a new window

PA Link to Community CareOpens in a new window – for persons with disabilities and seniors (and families) to find information that connects them to supports and services in the community; access to many resources including a Home Care Directory of organizations that provide in-home services and supports

PA Online Voter RegistrationOpens in a new window and read “Voting Rghts” at Disability Rights Pennsylvania (DRP)Opens in a new window

PAROpens in a new window – see “Pennsylvania Advocacy and Resources for Autism and ID”

Parent Education Network (PEN)Opens in a new window – school inclusion

PATFOpens in a new window – refer to “Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation”

PEAL Center (The Parent Education and Leadership Center)Opens in a new window – information, resources & trainings on children with disabilities and special healthcare needs in Pennsylvania (PA’s PTI Center)

Pennhurst Memorial and Preservation Alliance (PMPA)Opens in a new window – website on the history, present and future of Pennhurst, the infamous institution (1908-1987) and site of precedent-setting major legal victories in national and global disabilities rights

Pennsylvania Advocacy and Resources for Autism and ID (PAR)Opens in a new window – a nonprofit that represents home and community-based service providers in Pennsylvania and reaches tens of thousands of individuals with intellectual disability and/or autism; its mission is to strengthen the capacity of its membership to provide person-centered services and supports

Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF)Opens in a new window – provides education and financing opportunities for people with disabilities and older Pennsylvanians to help them acquire assistive technology devices and services that improve the quality of their lives in order to go to work, be active participants in their communities, and live in their own homes. Refer to their “Cents & Sensibilities:  A Guide to Money Management”Opens in a new window for financial education resources

Pennsylvania Council on Independent Living (PCIL)Opens in a new window – independent living

Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council (PA DDC)Opens in a new window – a federally-funded planning, advisory, and funding body of people with disabilities, families, advocates, and cabinet secretaries appointed by the Governor

Pennsylvania Health Access Network (PHAN)Opens in a new window – statewide coalition of over 60 organizations, including disability rights communities, working to protect & expand health insurance coverage and to provide health care reform education & enrollment assistance to PA’s uninsured  

Pennsylvania Health Law Project (PHLP)Opens in a new window – consultants on access to health care for low-income consumers, the elderly, and persons with disabilities

Pennsylvania Inclusive Higher Education Consortium (PIHEC)Opens in a new window – created by Millersville UniversityOpens in a new window in collaboration with Penn State HarrisburgOpens in a new window and Mercyhurst UniversityOpens in a new window to develop campus settings in which education, authentic social experiences, independent living, and integrated competitive employment can be accessed by young adults with intellectal ddisabilities within inclusive and supportive environments    

Pennsylvania Medical Home InitiativeOpens in a new window – provides CYSHCN (Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs) with accessible, family-centered, continuous, comprehensive, coordinated, compassionate, culturally-competent health care services

Pennsylvania Waiting List CampaignOpens in a new window – to end PA’s Waiting List 

Pennsylvania’s Association of People Supporting Employment First (PA APSE)Opens in a new window – employment

Pennsylvania’s Education for All Coalition, Inc. (POpens in a new windowEAC)Opens in a new window 

“Pittsburgh Disability Connection” BlogOpens in a new window – features writer, speaker, and parent, Tina Calabro, specializing in disability issues, awareness, and support 

21 and AbleOpens in a new window – project to develop a systematic roadmap for young people with special needs transitioning to adulthood in Allegheny County (Western PA)

Speaking for OurselvesOpens in a new window – self-advocacy

TechOwl Opens in a new window(previously PIAT Pennsylvania Iniative on Assiteve Technology

United Cerebral Palsy (UCP)Opens in a new window – educates, advocates and provides support services for people with a spectrum of disabilities (not only cerebral palsy), advancing independence, productivity and full citizenship through its affiliate network

United Way of Southwestern PA (UWSWPA)Opens in a new window – focuses on pressing issues by mobilizing the entire community (policymakers, corporate leaders, agency partners and citizens) to assist people in need and develop long-term solutions; connects children and adults with disabilities to vocational, social and recreational opportunities. 

Vision for EQualityOpens in a new window – human services; leader under the PA Family Network (see above)

Western PA Disability History and Action ConsortiumOpens in a new window – preserves and shares the historic struggles of Western Pennsylvanians with disabilities to attain human and civil rights, and advocates with stakeholders across PA for policies and laws to ensure disability rights