Achieva, one of Pennsylvania's largest providers of services for children and adults with disabilities and their families, announced the retirement plans of Gary K. Horner, an esteemed leader with a nearly three-decade tenure at the organization.
Initial reaction to Governor Shapiro's announcement was very positive because it's rare that a governor will even acknowledge the IDA population, their families, or the direct support professionals (DSPs) who care for them, much less acknowledge there's a problem finding and keeping DSPs.
Some battles stretch on for decades in the realm of public advocacy. For people with intellectual disabilities and autism (ID/A) and for their families, this has been a harsh reality as they struggle navigating bureaucracy and underfunding.
Parents of adult children with disabilities know that their child's disability needs may change over the course of their lifetime. Planning for the future well-being of an adult child with disabilities is, therefore, a responsive, ongoing process.
Today, Achieva, one of Pennsylvania's largest providers of services for children and adults with disabilities and their families, announced the retirement plans of Nancy Murray, Senior Vice President of Achieva and President of The Arc of Greater Pittsburgh.
Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) play a crucial role in supporting and enhancing the lives of people with disabilities. Their dedication and hard work deserve recognition and appreciation.
Achieva's Cecil and David Rosenthal Memorial Fund and Achieva Family Trust's Charitable Residual Program positively impacted 784 families during the 2022-2023 Fiscal Year, making their wants and needs a reality.
Disability Pride Pittsburgh | Saturday, August 26, 2023 | 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. Saturday's festivities will begin with stage performances, emceed by comedian Gab Bonesso, and a parade around Schenley Plaza at 11 a.m.
Ron Abersol sometimes gets to work at Light of Life Rescue Mission two hours before his start time, but he doesn't complain. That's just the way the buses run. You might call him a dedicated employee — and he is — but his uncommon drive comes from an equally uncommon path.
The number of children with developmental disabilities is on the rise with new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showing that nearly 1 in 11 kids are diagnosed with autism, intellectual disability or developmental delay.
Non-profits like Achieva deliver home and community-based services to people with disabilities because the state has chosen it prefers to pay non-government entities to provide such services rather than having state-owned and operated facilities do it.
Gingerbread Man Running Co., a store for runners with locations in Indiana and Greensburg, has hosted the Run for Autism benefiting Autism Connection of PA since 2018.
July is Disability Pride Month. How does Achieva help people with disabilities? Who does it serve? What kinds of resources are available for disabled people in Western Pennsylvania?
Six days late, the legislature passed a state budget - one that had funding cut for services for people with intellectual disabilities and autism (ID/A). The governor's office, calling it "a budget that delivers on Governor Shapiro's key priorities" approves.
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When Jason DePalma starts work at 9 a.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday At the Kiski Valley Police barracks, everyone knows it: His positive attitude echoes through the halls as he greets everyone with a cheerful "hello."
Allegheny County has created a Whole-Home Repairs Program which began taking applications on May 30th, 2023. The program, administered by ACTION-Housing, has $12 million dollars available for grants for eligible Allegheny County homeowners.
Nancy Murray was honored for her advocacy and grassroots impact on the supports and services of people with disabilities. She received the M.J. Bartelmay, Jr. Excellence in Advocacy Award from The Arc of Pennsylvania.
The Arc of Pennsylvania executive director Sherri Landis and The Arc of Pittsburgh president Nancy Murray have been tireless advocates for state funding that acknowledges the dignity of people with ID/A, and the work of those who care for them.
Jordan is "profoundly affected by autism," which lends to incontinence and the need for an adult-sized changing table to stay anywhere for more than an hour or two. Because of advocacy by @Changing Spaces Pennsylvania and the Pittsburgh Pirates' dedication to accessibility, PNC Park now has one!
Families have become the safety net for the very system that was created to support them. The crisis in the ID/A community is getting worse every day, and we desperately need all of our legislators to make this a funding priority.
People with disabilities are one of the largest untapped labor pools in our economy. While the labor participation rate for adults with disabilities is typically half that of those without disabilities, the disability unemployment rate is consistently twice the rate of people without disabilities.
Nearly 60,000 Pennsylvanians with ID/A are at risk of losing or experiencing a reduction of essential services because there are not enough DSPs to care for them.
The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) has designated May "Elder Law Month." NAELA members are attorneys who are experienced and trained in working with the legal problems of aging Americans and people of all ages with disabilities.
Health and human services organizations ask General Assembly for $430 million increase to stop further termination of programs, closure of facilities.
