A collection of newsletters, press releases, and media coverage.
National Special Needs Law Month and National Disability Employment Awareness Month
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A charitable non-profit corporation like Achieva is constantly thinking about financial resources to sustain its mission and provide high-quality services.
It was never a question of whether Kellyn Donahoe would go to college like her four older siblings. However, when her mother started to look for viable options for her daughter with Down syndrome near their home in northeast Ohio, she was surprised and disappointed...
The Rosenthal Family is sharing cherished pictures and memories of the four siblings: Cecil is the oldest, then Diane, then David, and Michele is the youngest. The sisters are also sharing what they say is their brothers' legacy of genuine kindness and true love for people.
School districts across the state, including those in Western Pennsylvania, could soon implement new curriculum focusing on political and historical contributions made by people with disabilities.
