Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council (PADDC)

Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council (PADDC) We envision a commonwealth where all people are valued and thrive. Comments that misrepresent issues core to the Council’s work may warrant a public reply.

PADDC Value Statements ─ Guiding Principles, What We Stand For, What We Believe

Empowerment – We engage in activities which meaningfully involve people with disabilities from start to finish. Inclusion – We prefer activities to be integrated with people without disabilities in regular and generic settings. Systems Change – We promote activities that make wide reaching changes through broad social

and cultural systems. Cross-disability – We fund activities in common areas such as housing, health, employment, and community inclusion. Natural Part of the Human Condition – We believe disability is a natural part of the human condition – we see disability as a difference, not a deficit. Intersectionality – We believe that the skills involved in understanding disability are related to the skills of embracing all forms of diversity. Generic Social Change – We work to change generic systems for all people in ways that do not relate solely to disability.

------------------
PADDC Social Media Guidelines
As a rule, the Council does not respond to inflammatory or personally offensive comments. Comments that meet the following criteria may be deleted or hidden by the Communications/Publications grantee:
- Profanity (if not caught by automatic filter – for example, contained in an image)
- Defamation – provably false claim against a person or organization
- Threats
- Sexual content – other than educational
- Ads
- Information that endorses illegal actions
- Comments that contain HIPAA-protected information will be hidden. Guidelines for Hiding/Blocking Individuals or Organizations
If an individual or organization regularly or routinely posts inappropriate comments that meet the criteria to be hidden or deleted, PADDC reserves the right to block that entity from making future comments or posts. This action will be taken only in extreme circumstances and after consultation with PADDC executive staff members.
_____________

NOTICE: The Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $3,095,416.00 with 100 percent funding by ACL/HHS. Council efforts are those of the grantee and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

John Tague was a tremendous champion and disability rights activist. His contributions can be felt throughout Pennsylvan...
06/12/2026

John Tague was a tremendous champion and disability rights activist. His contributions can be felt throughout Pennsylvania and beyond. Our deepest sympathies to his family.

Celebrate the life of John Tague Jr. and join others in sharing memories, stories, and condolences.

We are excited to be working on this collaborative project!Pennsylvania Department of Human Services
06/11/2026

We are excited to be working on this collaborative project!

Pennsylvania Department of Human Services

"It was so great to have Shawn Aleong join us at the DHS Executive Staff meeting this week in Harrisburg to discuss the work he does to help make sure that voices of people with lived experience are included in policy making. Shawn sits on the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities and is interning with the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) at DHS.

"Currently, ODP and PA’s Developmental Disability Council are collaborating on a project to improve the foundation for an effective statewide network of skilled advocates with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who will influence system change. Shawn is supporting this work by conducting an environmental scan and facilitating focus groups of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We are honored to have him on this team!" - DHS Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh

Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council (PADDC)
Temple University

06/10/2026
Last date to apply 6/15: If your child receive Early Intervention or Special Education services in Pennsylvania, apply n...
06/09/2026

Last date to apply 6/15: If your child receive Early Intervention or Special Education services in Pennsylvania, apply now for FREE registration & lodging at the Bridging Knowledge to Know How 2026 Conference!

for Families 📢 One Week Left!

Does your child receive or services? Apply now for FREE registration & lodging at the Conference!

🗓️ Application Deadline: Monday, June 15
✅ Child Caregiver Reimbursement available
✉️ Contact: [email protected]

Don't forget to register for the Camp 🎯 A FREE youth experience for high-schoolers with disabilities!

Hurry—scholarships are limited 📌 Apply now: https://tinyurl.com/BK2KHFamily

Join us in between what we know & what we do ✨ https://tinyurl.com/BridgConf

"Advocates are concerned that the parameters put forth by CMS for people with disabilities to claim an exemption are far...
06/08/2026

"Advocates are concerned that the parameters put forth by CMS for people with disabilities to claim an exemption are far more limited than the definition of disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act."

The Trump administration is unveiling long-awaited details about new, more stringent Medicaid eligibility rules and raising fresh concerns about implications for people with disabilities.

This article discusses the InVEST program that is operated by Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. The prog...
06/05/2026

This article discusses the InVEST program that is operated by Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. The program helps people with disabilities secure jobs in integrated workplaces alongside other employees and earn competitive wages.

PHILADELPHIA, PA — More Pennsylvanians with disabilities are moving into competitive jobs that pay standard wages through a state-backed employment initiative that the Shapiro administration is seeking to expand with …

It's important for advocates to pay attention to legislation on limiting phones and screens in schools. For some student...
06/04/2026

It's important for advocates to pay attention to legislation on limiting phones and screens in schools. For some students with disabilities, this is their assistive technology allowing them to receive a free appropriate public school education. This article describes some of the concerns and suggestions to assure the needs of disabled students are raised as things move on.

https://www.wesanews.org/national-international-news/2026-06-04/screens-are-leaving-schools-fast-though-some-students-with-disabilities-rely-on-them

Some students with disabilities rely on assistive technology to learn, and they worry it could be swept up in the movement to get screens out of schools.

Changes are coming to Medicaid – (also known as Medical Assistance in Pennsylvania) – starting January 1, 2027!Pennsylva...
06/03/2026

Changes are coming to Medicaid – (also known as Medical Assistance in Pennsylvania) – starting January 1, 2027!
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services has created a new Medicaid changes webpage so people can stay updated on these changes and learn what they need to do to prepare: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dhs/resources/medicaid/medicaid-changes

Our colleagues at Disability Rights Pennsylvania wants to know what is important to Pennsylvania's disability community....
06/02/2026

Our colleagues at Disability Rights Pennsylvania wants to know what is important to Pennsylvania's disability community. Complete their survey!

Disability Rights Pennsylvania wants to know what you think! The comment period for our fiscal year 2027 annual program goals and objectives is now open. We use your answers to help us understand the disability community’s needs. Your answers shape our goals and objectives for the next year. We invite you to share the issues that matter most to individuals with disabilities, along with the families and organizations supporting them. You can submit comments until July 17, 2026.

Online Survey:

The goal and objective survey is open until July 17, 2026, which will be the final day to submit public comments. You can complete the survey to provide input by clicking here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DMS9WJN

You can view our current goals and objectives here: https://www.disabilityrightspa.org/what-we-do/priorities/

We thank you for your time, community, partnership, and collaboration. We look forward to hearing from you.

Address

Health And Human Services Building, 625 Forster Street, 2nd Floor
Harrisburg, PA
17120

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council (PADDC) posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Share