Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council (PADDC)

12/27/2022

We are hiring a PADDC Project Officer! Candidates should have:

- Three years of professional experience developing, implementing, or evaluating a human services program that includes one year of experience in the development or implementation of programs serving the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities, and a bachelor’s degree; or;

- An equivalent combination of experience and training that includes one year of professional experience in the development or implementation of programs serving the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities.

Other Requirements:

You must meet the PA residency requirement. Apply by 01/05/2023. To read the job description and apply go to: https://tinyurl.com/PADDCProgramRep

12/21/2022

Residents with disabilities call out Pittsburgh's non-compliance with ADA

Advocates in Pittsburgh speak up for a more accessible city and compliance with the ADA.

Mayor Gainey is taking action to make Pittsburgh more accessible but the community, but says a lot of work still needs to be done.

12/19/2022

Don't Forget! Join us via Zoom this afternoon for the Self Advocate Spotlight, with a feature on guest Khylil Robinson!! Get the sign in information here ➡️ https://www.paddc.org/self-advocate-spotlight-series/

12/16/2022

The White House announced a new limited round of free at-home COVID-19 tests for the winter. Households can now order either standard at-home tests or tests that are more accessible for people who are blind or have low vision. Shipping is free. Order Accessible kits https://special.usps.com/testkits/accessible -OR-order regular kits https://special.usps.com/testkits

12/13/2022

We're excited for our last Self Advocate Spotlight of the year! It's on Monday and we'll interview Khylil Robinson. Please join us online via Zoom at 2 pm on Monday! Find out how to access this session here: https://www.paddc.org/self-advocate-spotlight-series/

12/09/2022

Autism Treatment Shifts Away from ‘Fixing’ the Condition

This article shares how medical, research, and therapeutic professionals are shifting away from past thinking about autism. They are being led by autistic people themselves, who are advocating for and defining their own desired outcomes.

There are different ways to be happy and function well, even if your brain is not typical

12/09/2022

Some people will never know.

...

ID: Drawing shows a disabled person sat in a wheelchair smiling. Across the top of the drawing it a title that reads: "These needs aren't special." All around the person are drawings and titles as follows: A safe stable place to live. Agency and say so around one's own future. A job that pays real money. Vacations. Pets. Beer. Money. Karaoke. To contribute. Dignity and respect. To participate. To be included. Romance and s*x. Friendships and relationships.

12/06/2022

Mark your calendar 📅 for December 19th so you can join us for Self Advocate Spotlight on advocate: Khylil Robinson. Learn more about Mr. Robinson and how to join us online for this spotlight session: https://www.paddc.org/self-advocate-spotlight-series/

12/05/2022

How Dehumanizing Administrative Burdens Harm Disabled People

Unnecessary barriers make accessing basic supports extremely difficult for disabled people across the country.

Unnecessary barriers make accessing basic supports extremely difficult for disabled people across the country.

12/03/2022

We celebrate International Day of People with Disabilities - working for an inclusive, accessible, & equitable world!

11/29/2022

The little-known tactics injuring thousands of students at school

A yearlong investigation by Hearst Newspapers gives an in depth look at how often restraint and seclusion are used in America's schools - and the resulting harm to children (mostly children with disabilities). They studied:
- federal data on restraint and seclusion,
- gathered records from all 50 state education agencies
- obtained tens of thousands of pages of school district documents.
- scoured news articles, court records, government reports and other sources,
- studied laws in all 50 states,
- spoke to researchers and policy makers, and,
- interviewed more than 70 parents, students, teachers and school administrators.

With scant oversight, schools routinely physically restrain students or confine them...

11/28/2022

Our December Self Advocate Spotlight will feature: Khylil Robinson

Khylil is trained as a Community Autism Peer Specialist (CAPS) and works as a CAPS for the Community Wellness Engagement Unit at the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS).

Find out how to join us here: https://www.paddc.org/self-advocate-spotlight-series/

11/25/2022

A growing focus on equitable oral care for people with disabilities | Penn Today

Many people with disabilities don't receive regular, comprehensive oral health care. Many dentists don't feel they can manage the sometimes-complex needs. This motivated the Penn dental school to start a care center, but also train students, working dentists, and caregivers.

Through global outreach, enhanced student training, continuing education for practitioners, and the busy Care Center for Persons with Disabilities, the School of Dental Medicine is working to break down barriers to care.

11/24/2022

Happy Thanksgiving from the PADDC!

11/21/2022

Bill looks to address violent incidents between police and people with disabilities

Pennsylvania U.S. Senator Bob Casey recently introduced "The Data on Interactions and Accountability for Law Enforcement with Individuals with Disabilities (DIALED) Act". The act would develop a data collection system to get an accurate account of how people with disabilities are affected by interactions with law enforcement. The data would include information on use-of-force and fatal interactions. Learn more about the DIALED Act here:

Washington, D.C. — A bill that aims to address the rate of violence involving law enforcement and people with disabilities has been introduced by U.S. Sen. Bob Casey.

11/18/2022

Social Security aid to disabled Pa. residents crashed during the pandemic | Thursday Morning Coffee - Pennsylvania Capital-Star

SSI and SSDI payments are “critical lifelines” to millions of people living with disabilities. Research released by Community Legal Services of Philadelphia shows that SSI awards for Pennsylvanians with disabilities fell by more than a quarter (26 percent) between 2019 and 2020, *the steepest decline of all 50 states.*

Pennsylvania saw the steepest drop of all 50 states, particularly hitting Black and brown residents, new research shows.

11/18/2022

📣 Mark your calendar for Monday - We will be interviewing Advocate THOMAS HASSELL. Thomas is director of Spectrum Friends of Greater Harrisburg, a self advocate led organization, and board member of both the Autism Society Greater Harrisburg Area and United for Autism Foundation.

Go to this page for log in information: https://www.paddc.org/self-advocate-spotlight-series/

11/17/2022

NOVEMBER is National Family Caregivers Month, a time to honor the thousands of family caregivers of all ages. Please read about our COUNCIL IN FOCUS on Family Caregiving through this link: https://www.paddc.org/council-in-focus-nov/

Learn about:
- Our view on changes needed to support caregivers
- A Council member who embodies the spirit of family caregiving, and,
- How you can share your own ideas to inform the National Strategy for Family Caregiving.

11/17/2022

This Montco woman is giving exposure to local businesses

Congratulations to Heather Michaelson and the folks at Integrate for Good on this CBS news item featuring Heather and the Facebook Live show that she hosts on the organization's page every Monday and Friday, as well as her fabulous artwork and other accomplishments. Last week, Heather won Integrate for Good's first ever leadership award. (*Integrate for Good is a past grant recipient of the PADDC)

Heather Michaelson runs a Facebook Live show on the "Integrate for Good" page, where she interviews local business owners.

11/16/2022

NCD urges HCBS strengthening, calls for ‘Community Living Bias’ in view of COVID-19 death toll

The National Council on Disability released a report explaining the inter-connection of the direct care workforce, an adequate accessible, affordable housing inventory, and how Home and Community Based service is safer, costs less, and is the preference of most individuals over institutional settings.

They make special note of the danger that congregate settings posed to people with disabilities due to Covid-19 and will likely pose again if there is no systemic change.

The Council has key recommendations for what they call the "Community Living Bias". Read about it through the link below:

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today the National Council on Disability releases a report examining weaknesses in the home- and community-based services (HCBS) ecosystem, taking stock of the preventable disproportionate death toll in congregate settings during the COVID-19 pandemic. S...

11/16/2022

Handcuffs in Hallways: Hundreds of elementary students arrested at U.S. schools

In elementary school, “Children with documented disabilities were four times more likely to be arrested at school, according to CBS News' analysis of the 2017-2018 Education Department data. “

These types of statistics are why we, PADDC, have funded and continue to fund efforts to break the school to prison pipeline.

Black children and kids with disabilities were disproportionately impacted, according to CBS News analysis of Education Department data.

11/14/2022

Why Do People With Disabilities Have to Sue To Get Accessible Sidewalks?

Many question why it took legal action for Philadelphia (and *other cities*) to, "step up and meet the modest standards set out in the Americans with Disabilities Act, which has been the law of the land for more than 32 years." https://usa.streetsblog.org/2022/11/14/why-do-people-with-disabilities-have-to-sue-to-get-accessible-sidewalks/

Philadelphia is the latest U.S. city to agree to make its sidewalks accessible to people who use assistive devices — though the win would be more significant if people with mobility challenges were…

11/14/2022

One week until our November Self Advocate Spotlight. Mark your calendar! Find out more and how to join in by going to: https://www.paddc.org/self-advocate-spotlight-series/

11/13/2022

Trouble Getting Care? File a Complaint - Pennsylvania Health Access Network

Trouble Getting Care? File a Complaint - Pennsylvania Health Access Network

As the state’s leading consumer driven organization, PHAN is focused on making our health care system more affordable and accessible for all Pennsylvanian’s.

11/12/2022

Confronting Ableism on the Way to Justice

🔥Below is a POWERFUL *must read* article from justice leader Keith Jones - CEO of SoulTouchin Experiences LLC

He writes, "The unfortunate truth is that a barrier of ableism exists within the fight for justice. Even now, as intersectional struggles seek to be more inclusive, the disability community often must ask “the movement” to include us. So, what happened on the way to justice?"

Don't miss this article!

To build a society that advances the human rights of all people requires the social justice movement to be intentional in including intersecting identities and diverse equity struggles.

11/10/2022

Last month's issue of "Health Affairs" focused on the relationship between Disability and Health.

All articles in this issue are "Open Access". (This means that anyone can read them versus articles only viewed with a paid subscription or pay a fee for the article).

A few of the topics are:
- A Foundation For Health And Well-Being: Meaningful Employment
- Advancing Health Equity And Reducing Health Disparities For People With Disabilities In The United States
- The Links Between Disability, Incarceration, And Social Exclusion
- Identifying And Exploring Bias In Public Opinion On Scarce Resource Allocation During The COVID-19 Pandemic

The journal articles can be accessed through this link:
https://www.healthaffairs.org/toc/hlthaff/41/10

11/09/2022

How voters with disabilities are being blocked from the ballot

Although the election is now behind us, we need to continue to improve voting access for people with disabilities. This program reviews how recent changes in alternative voting systems in some places affected voters with disabilities this year.

A report from the Government Accountability Office found that 60 percent of polling stations had an inaccessible voting area.

11/07/2022

Disability Activists Are Sharing How We Can Make Our Workplaces More Inclusive

How can we be better allies to people with disabilities in the workplace? This article is a collection of ideas on making our workplaces more inclusive.

"Disabled isn't a bad word. We're not differently abled, special needs, disAbled, or any other euphemism that makes you less uncomfortable."

11/06/2022

Lois Curtis, who won a landmark civil rights case for people with disabilities, died

From this article: "The argument behind the Olmstead decision was that when people live fully integrated in their communities, they live better, more fulfilling lives.

Curtis proved it. She moved into a series of houses, needing help from a caregiver with things like cooking, shopping and other care. And there she discovered her talent as an artist—something she didn't get to develop when she lived in state hospitals."

Lois Curtis, an artist with an intellectual disability who brought a landmark civil rights lawsuit that gave people with disabilities the right to live outside of institutions, has died.

11/04/2022

Disability Community Remembers Pioneering Advocate Lois Curtis | ACL Administration for Community Living

Today it was reported that Lois Curtis - the “L.C.” in Olmstead v. L.C. Supreme Court case, has died. The Olmstead decision recognized the rights of people with disabilities to live in their own homes and receive services in their own communities. This decision led to many more people being served in the community of their choice. Lois Curtis has an unforgettable place in the history of disability rights.

November 4, 2022 Photo by Robin Rayne/ZumaThe Administration for Community Living, Office for Civil Rights, Office of General Counsel, and HHS leadership and staff join the disability community in mourning the loss of one of our nation’s greatest advocates, Lois Curtis, who passed away last evenin...

11/03/2022

Be sure you mark your calendar! The November "Spotlight" will be on Thomas Hassell, director of Spectrum Friends of Greater Harrisburg! To get the access information and learn more go to: https://www.paddc.org/self-advocate-spotlight-series/

11/02/2022

Longtime central Pa. disability activist named to national council: ‘We don’t need to be fixed’

Long time Pennsylvania advocate Theo Braddy was appointed by President Biden to serve on the National Council on Disability (NCD). Read about his life and his plans for advocacy as part of the NCD.

After 40 years of advocating for disabled residents in central Pa., Theo Braddy was tapped by President Joe Biden to serve a larger role for millions of people across the country.

11/01/2022

Timeline photos

November is National Family Caregivers Month. Every year at least 53 million people provide informal care and support to aging family members and people of all ages with disabilities. Read the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers to learn more: ACL.gov/CaregiverStrategy

10/30/2022

The Intersection of Race and Disability

This Wednesday November 2nd, Western Pennsylvania Disability History and Action Consortium and Heinz History Center are having a presentation and panel discussion exploring the intersection of Race and Disability. This is a "hybrid" event, (happening both in person and online), and is free. Learn more & register through the link below:

In January 2022, the Western Pennsylvania Disability History and Action Consortium launched The Intersection of Race Disability Project, which shares the stories of five Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) Western Pennsylvanians whose lives are impacted by issues facing their communities....

10/28/2022

Supreme Court To Weigh In On Special Ed Disputes

The US Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case on how families and schools resolve disputes over services for students with disabilities. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are involved in this case. The court will look at two questions:

1. Can families that have settled IDEA claims pursue lawsuits under the ADA without fully exhausting all administrative proceedings under IDEA?

2. Do families have to exhaust administrative procedures under IDEA before seeking monetary damages that are not available under that law?

The U.S. Supreme Court will soon hear arguments in a case centering on how families and schools go about resolving disputes over services for students with disabilities.

10/26/2022

We want to spread the word about this work of our grantee Delaware County Advocacy & Resource Organization that produced the new documentary film "Divided Attention: When the Children Who Need the Most, Receive the Least". Funding came through us for our "Combatting the School to Prison Pipeline" objective. Read about the film & request a screening: https://tinyurl.com/DividedAttentionRequest

10/25/2022

October is Disability Employment Awareness Month and the PA Employment First Oversight Commission has issued its 2022 Report to Governor Tom Wolf and the General Assembly. The Employment First Act (Act 36) is to “ensure that individuals with a disability be given the opportunity to achieve economic independence through jobs that pay competitive wages in community integrated settings.” The report is long. It covers topics such as new employment initiatives, set backs, progress toward measurable goals, and a set of recommendations. To read the report, click through this link: https://tinyurl.com/2022Employment1stReport

10/25/2022

Defying odds, quadriplegic woman in Virginia has twins

"The most disabling thing is not my medical diagnosis, but stigma and social attitudes,” Dani says. “People rarely see disabled people represented in caregiving roles. I want them to see me and realize that disability is just a normal part of life.”

Since Dani Izzie got pregnant, she’s had to deal with strangers saying she’s selfish and she can’t possibly take care of her babies

10/24/2022

Black students with disabilities deserve better school experiences

Black students with disabilities often have extremely different — and more difficult — school experiences than their peers, disabled or otherwise.

By Maya Pottiger, Word in Black From the lack of proper diagnosis and support for students with dyslexia and ADHD to the stigmatization of disorders like autism and Down syndrome, […]

10/24/2022

Join the us for the November Self Advocate Spotlight Series. The series is a chance to hear from leaders with developmental disabilities about the many things they do to make Pennsylvania a better place to live.

The November Self Advocate Spotlight Session features Thomas Hassell. He is director of Spectrum Friends of Greater Harrisburg, a self advocate led organization. He is also a board member of both the Autism Society of Greater Harrisburg and United for Autism Foundation.

Date: Monday, November 21, 2022
Time: 2 – 3 p.m. online with Zoom.

Find the log in to join us here: https://www.paddc.org/self-advocate-spotlight-series/