History of Accomplishments

•  Played the lead organizational role in establishing Special Education in the United States.

•  Area's only agency of its type providing services throughout the entire lifecycle.

•  Provided counsel to the United States Department of Justice and advocated for the Americans with Disabilities Act to address discriminatory practices and lack of accommodations for people with disabilities.

•  Western Pennsylvania's largest provider of lifelong support for people with disabilities and their families.

•  Pittsburgh area's 6th largest Health and Social Service Non-Profit Organization.

•  Developed and internationally replicated the Parenting Education Program (formerly called ESPRIT) to provide supportive services for parents with cognitive disabilities.

•  Western Pennsylvania's largest provider of early intervention services to children with developmental delays serving approx. 3,000 infants and toddlers annually.

•  Created Pennsylvania's first comprehensive respite services, providing a break to family caregivers to enable them to attend to personal needs.

•  Obtained government approval to be the first in the country to provide trust services to help families plan and privately finance support for loved ones with disabilities.

•  Received national recognition for its services through "NBC's Nightly News with Tom Brokaw", "Real Life with Jane Pauley", "Public Eye with Bryant Gumbel", the "Sally Jesse Raphael Show", Discovery Health Channel, Canadian Broadcasting, PBS, Newsweek, and the New York Times Sunday Magazine.

•  Partnered with the Down Syndrome Group of Western Pennsylvania to establish the Down Syndrome Center at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

•  Advocated for community homes for people with intellectual disabilities and thus the closing of large state institutions.

•  Recognized by the Pittsburgh Business Times as a Community Outreach Award finalist for providing valued services in healthcare and education.

•  Received the Inaugural Award from the Allegheny County Office of Mental Retardation Spirit of Self-Determination for individual consumer accomplishments.

•  Obtained finalist status from The Forbes Fund for best managed non-profit in Pittsburgh.

•  Honored by The Arc of the United States for excellence in fund raising among 1,100 chapters.

•  Recipient of the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation employer of the year award.

•  Initiated the nation's first federally funded family support services program.

•  Achieved The Arc of United States' Fitzhugh Boggs Award for excellence in recreational programs for people with disabilities.

•  Recognized by Smart Business Network as an organization managed by a Pittsburgh CEO Pacesetter.

•  Highlighted on Public Television's "On Q" program for innovative Conductive Education, which is a systematic approach for teaching children with physical disabilities. First in the country to receive funding for this Early Intervention developmental therapy.

•  Initiated a federal demonstration program to integrate toddlers with intellectual disabilities with typical children in daycare centers.

•  Wrote and produced a documentary aired nationwide on a family's quest for disability services.

•  Featured on KDKA-TV's Sunday Business Page for innovative human services financing.

•  Provided consulting advice in 22 states through national and state boards and councils.

•  Received the largest gift from a single donor in the agency’s history from the Carl Ludwig Family. This gift created the Arthur and Ellen Ludwig Educational Endowment, The Carl Ludwig Children’s Therapy Room for preschool readiness, and the Ludwig Family Educational Enrichment Program for youth transitioning from school.