ACHIEVA's Disability Healthcare Initiative

In 2005, with the support of the FISA foundation, ACHIEVA started the Disabilities Health Policy Forum, now the Disability Healthcare Initiative, and began its work on access to dental care as its first issue. Oral health is the number one unmet need for individuals with disabilities.

Since then, ACHIEVA has developed the Advancing Oral Healthcare project, supported by the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council and the FISA Foundation. The goal of this project is to identify barriers to accessing quality dental care for people with developmental disabilities and promote promising strategies for systemic change, ensuring access to affordable, equitable services. Several of the initial stakeholder initiatives are now being realized.

With the continued support of the FISA Foudnation, ACHIEVA is launching another project on access to healthcare for women with disabilities. Women face significant barriers when trying to access general healthcare.

ACHIEVA works with all stakeholders, across all disabilities on viable solutions: individuals with disabilities and their families, medical professionals, hospitals and health centers, government agencies, educators, insurance companies, foundations and advocates.

For more information about ACHIEVA's Disability Healthcare Initiative, please contact Mary Hartley at (412) 995-5000 x569 or via email: mhartley@achieva.info.