Empowered Voices
Achieva’s Empowered Voices Leadership Group is comprised of self-advocates from around the Pittsburgh area.
Information, Support and Advocacy
Navigating through educational, medical, government, and adult service systems can be difficult and overwhelming when a family member has a disability. Achieva Advocacy can help.
For more than 70 years, Achieva's disability advocates have been working with families and self-advocates to ensure that:
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Families have access to information, support, and advocacy
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People with disabilities have access to quality education and community services
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Policymakers and legislators are informed about disability issues
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Ideas of self-determination, inclusion, and person-centered planning are the foundation of individual's supports
The Arc of Greater Pittsburgh has a waiting list due to high call volume. The quickest way to connect with the advocacy team is to complete our online intake form below. If needed there is an accessibility tool (see image on the right 
) to choose from over 40 languages, screen reader, contrast, dyslexia font, and more.
) to choose from over 40 languages, screen reader, contrast, dyslexia font, and more.Contact Achieva Advocacy
Call an Achieva Advocate
Our Initiatives
Planning for College
The Planning for College with Achieva Initiative provides information, resources and technical assistance to college-bound students and families.
Disability Healthcare Initiative
Providing statewide leadership on improving access to health care for disabilities through education, public policy and advocacy.
In The News
As Congress considers Medicaid cuts, Pennsylvania's health care advocates settle in for a fight
The Pennsylvania delegation in the U.S. House voted along party lines this week to narrowly pass a GOP budget blueprint that calls for $2 trillion in spending cuts, including reductions at the federal agency that oversees Medicaid and Medicare.
Medicaid on the chopping block: Proposed cuts threaten coverage of vulnerable Pennsylvanians
In Pennsylvania, where 3 million residents rely on Medicaid, advocates like Shana Jalbert, communications director of the Pennsylvania Health Access Network, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit that promotes affordable health care access, worry about the vulnerable populations that stand to lose coverage
Testimonials
I greatly thank you for your support and help this year!
I still think about how you made sure that we read Timmy’s strengths to him from his IEP and the look on his face, beaming with pride! Have a great summer!
The advocates were able to give me strategies to work with the school district. They were even able to help me figure out what to ask for in the IEP meeting. And they were able to get the school district to be more cooperative than they had been with just me.
My Achieva advocate was able to guide me step by step as to everything I needed to do to get help for my daughter. Before stopping to see her I had no idea to where to even begin. I am soo grateful for her knowledge and graceful personality!