The Arc of Pennsylvania

01/30/2023

Save the date April 4 for the Pennsylvania Department of Health Health Equity Conference! They are actively seeking speakers for the conference. Apply to speak here: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx

01/30/2023

For participating school districts, Include Me is a program that can provide FREE services, training, and on-site technical assistance for educators, parents, and student teams to help them support students with disabilities in general ed classrooms & the school community. Please share with your Pennsylvania school district!

Contact us for more information about the program and how to get involved. https://thearcpa.org/includeme/

01/27/2023

Mother and daughter help send students with Down syndrome to college

This is a great piece about RubysRainbow.org's work providing college scholarships for young adult students with Down syndrome so they can achieve their dreams of higher education.

TODAY’s Al Roker shines a light on the mother and daughter behind the nonprofit organization Ruby’s Rainbow that’s helping send students with Down syndrome go to college.

01/27/2023

From our Archives Project – This month we feature a hand-written speech by Eleanor Elkin that was written in 1974 for an international conference. In it, Elkin argues for an array of community living possibilities, instead of institutional settings, to support children and adults with IDD.

(Please note: while our advocacy goals remain focused on community living and inclusion to this day, changes in language about people with IDD can be noticed from the historical speech’s text).

See her original writing or read the transcribed version here: https://thearcpa.org/from-the-archives-alternatives-to-institutions/

01/27/2023

Casey, Dingell Introduce Bill to Provide Historic, Permanent Investment in Home Care for Seniors and People with Disabilities | U.S. Senator for Pennsylvania

Yesterday, U.S. Senator Bob Casey introduced the new Better Care Better Jobs Act. This legislation would expand access to home and community-based services for older adults, people with disabilities and injured workers. It would also increase payment rates to promote recruitment and retention of direct support providers.

https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/casey-dingell-introduce-bill-to-provide-historic-permanent-investment-in-home-care-for-seniors-and-people-with-disabilities

About 18 percent of home care workers live in poverty, many receive few or no benefits, and earn a...

01/26/2023

💥Advocacy & Policy Day 2023💥

Reserve Tuesday, June 6th on the calendar! Save the date for our annual Advocacy & Policy Day! Details on the schedule and events will be coming soon. We will be live, in-person in Harrisburg.

01/26/2023

Still time to join us next week to learn all about best practices in providing Supported Employment or Community Participation services! Complete the online training and follow up coursework to earn the ACRE Basic Certificate.

▶️ Register here: https://thearcpa.org/training/acre-training/

01/25/2023

Unified bocce team at North Allegheny brings together students with, without disabilities

Our staff member Sarah T. shares why you should read this article:

"This article highlights a bocce team that is inclusive for people with disabilities and people without disabilities. This is a great example that should happen everywhere!"

https://triblive.com/local/unified-bocce-team-at-north-allegheny-brings-together-students-with-without-disabilities/

Unified bocce finally is rolling at North Allegheny. Unified bocce is one of the latest sports added to the NA athletic department. Unified sports join people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. It’s sponsored by the Special Olympics. “I have loved bocce ball eve...

01/25/2023

Dive into PATF's New Financial Education Publications | Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation

Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation PATF has published two new editions of its fully accessible financial education guides. Go through the link below to download the guides:
https://patf.us/dive-into-patfs-new-financial-education-publications/

We have published two new editions of our fully accessible financial education guides – Cents and Sensibility: A Guide to Money Management, 7th Edition and the Educator Companion Manual, 2nd... [ Read Dive into PATF’s New Financial Education Publications ]

01/24/2023

Read the latest “Slice of PIE” policy newsletter! We compile and produce Slice of PIE through a grant from Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council (PADDC).

New edition of "A Slice of PIE" - Pennsylvania's resource for recent disability policy issues. https://www.paddc.org/slice-of-pie/volume-23-issue-4-2022/

01/24/2023

Do you work in or are you interested in Supported Employment or Customized Employment? Ready to dive into how to individualize support and best practices to make community employment successful?

We have LOTS of training opportunities coming up in February and March!
More: https://thearcpa.org/training

01/23/2023

We're sad to report that Katie Yost, our Manager of Government & Chapter Relations is leaving us. Everyone at The Arc of PA wish Katie nothing but success & fulfillment in her new position. We thank her for everything she has done for the us & those whom we represent.

01/23/2023

Reciba pruebas de COVID-19 de forma gratuita directamente en su hogar.

01/23/2023

Get COVID-19 tests mailed directly to your home for FREE.

01/20/2023

Our Include Me School Age program offers ✴️FREE✴️ services to participating Pennsylvania school districts. If you have a child with significant disabilities; are a school administrator, general or special education teacher, transition coordinator, vocational counselor, etc. – please share our information!
More Information: https://thearcpa.org/includeme/

01/19/2023

Justices seem to lean toward deaf student in education case

In a Supreme Court case this week, the Justices seemed sympathetic to the arguments for Miguel Perez and his family. Perez and his family are asking the Court to overturn a lower court decision that ruled they could not pursue monetary damages through the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) because they previously settled their case with their school district using the IDEA law.

https://lancasteronline.com/news/politics/justices-seem-to-lean-toward-deaf-student-in-education-case/article_49ad2c50-273e-5408-98b5-83e8ff963077.html

The Supreme Court seemed sympathetic to the arguments of a deaf student who sued his public school system for providing an inadequate education. It's a legal challenge that's important for

01/19/2023

Este invierno, tendrá a su disposición nuevas opciones para acceder de forma fácil y gratuita a las pruebas de detección del COVID-19.

01/19/2023

New options are available for easy access to free COVID-19 testing this winter.

01/18/2023

The Arc of Pennsylvania congratulates Governor Josh Shapiro & Lt. Governor Austin Davis on their inauguration yesterday! Executive Director Sherri Landis and Manager of Government & Chapter Relations, Katie Yost were able to attend. We look forward to working with the new administration for the human rights, full inclusion and participation of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in our Commonwealth.

01/18/2023

First of two February Making Employment Work trainings! Earn your ACRE Basic Certificate for supported employment, community participation, or transition services. Learn more and register here: https://thearcpa.org/training/acre-training/

01/17/2023

One-day, online training NEXT Monday: “Intentional Teaching”
Learn the essential elements of systematic instruction & descriptive note-taking to help you identify essential skills, goals, and progress documentation – adaptable to students of any ability and any learning style.

💸*Scholarships are available for educators!!
Sign up: https://thearcpa.org/teaching

01/16/2023

It is not possible to be in favor of justice for some people and not be in favor of justice for all people.
-Martin Luther King, Jr.

01/13/2023

In observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, our office will be closed on Monday, January 16th.

01/13/2023

Please share! National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices seeks your help to understand the information and resources needed by family members and caregivers of loved ones with intellectual disabilities/Down Syndrome who are suspected to have or are diagnosed with dementia. The NTG will use the survey findings to expand the available information on dementia for families, agencies, and others.
LINK TO SURVEY: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TJ8T5DV

01/12/2023

Please see below about the 5 summits being offered by Pennsylvania Family Network about emergency preparedness awareness, education, and information to the disability community.

This coming March we will be holding 5 summits across the state of Pennsylvania to bring emergency preparedness awareness, education, and information to the disabilities’ community. These summits are geared toward self-advocates and families. There is no fee to attend, breakfast and lunch will be provided. In addition, family members and self-advocates who drove their car or took transportation will be offered a stipend in the form of a gift card to help defray travel-related expenses (some limitations apply). For the most up-to-date information and to register, check out our website www.pafamilynetwork.org/marchsummits

Wednesday, March 15th- South Central
Wyndham Garden York - 2000 Loucks Rd, York, PA 17408

Monday, March 20th- Central Region
Penn Stater Hotel - 215 Innovation Blvd, State College, PA 16803

Tuesday, March 21st- Western Region
Pittsburg Marriot North - 100 Cranberry Woods Dr, Cranberry Twp, PA 16066

Thursday March 23rd- Northeast Region
Mohegan Sun Casino - 1280 PA-315, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702

Monday, March 27th- Southeast Region
Rivers Casino Philadelphia - 1001 N Delaware Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19125

Registration is NOW OPEN!

01/11/2023

Read our press release congratulating the nominees for cabinet positions in Governor-Elect Josh Shapiro’s administration & what areas they will impact for people with IDD!
https://thearcpa.org/the-arc-of-pennsylvania-congratulates-nominees-for-cabinet-positions-in-governor-elect-shapiros-administration/

01/11/2023

Dr. Val Arkoosh to lead Josh Shapiro's sprawling human services agency

Dr. Val Arkoosh has been nominated by Governor Elect Shapiro to lead Pennsylvania Department of Human Services
https://6abc.com/val-arkoosh-josh-shapiro-pa-department-of-human-services-pennsylvania-politics/12688746/

The Department of Human Services administers more than $50 billion in state and federal money, or about half of all the money that flows through Pennsylvania's state government every year.

01/11/2023

Report: ID/A worker shortage fueled by low wages, high turnover | Wednesday Morning Coffee - Pennsylvania Capital-Star

This article details the ID/A Benchmark Compensation Survey on which we collaborated. We examined factors influencing the shortage of direct support professionals for people with intellectual disabilities and autism. The bottom line is that findings reinforce what we have suspected for a long time. Low wages are directly related to the high turnover and high vacancy rates of direct support workers.



https://www.penncapital-star.com/government-politics/report-id-a-worker-shortage-fueled-by-low-wages-high-turnover-wednesday-morning-coffee/

The system is 'severely strained past its breaking point,' an analyst said.

01/11/2023

Postsecondary Student With Autism Spurs NCAA Rule Change

Our staff member Sarah T. shares why you should read this article:

"Because of the advocacy of Sebastian and his mother, other post-secondary students with IDD at Division III schools can participate in sports."

https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2023/01/04/postsecondary-student-with-autism-spurs-ncaa-rule-change/30185/

Students with disabilities at postsecondary programs nationwide can now compete in Division III athletics, thanks to a 20-year-old runner with autism and his mom who prompted an NCAA rule change.

01/11/2023

Teachers, families, vocational counselors – Learn the Essential Elements of Systematic Instruction for Teaching Job Skills - One day online “Intentional Teaching”.

🔥*SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE* for educators & parents of transition-age students🔥

Contact us for more information: https://thearcpa.org/teaching

01/10/2023

Next month we provide *TWO* ACRE trainings “Making Employment Work”, ONE HAS A LATER STARTING TIME each day (10:30 am vs. 9 am EST).

📌 3-day online training (follow up course work for basic ACRE certificate needed for providing supported employment and community participation services funded by the Office of Voc. Rehabilitation or Office of Developmental Programs)
SIGN UP: https://thearcpa.org/training/acre-training/

01/09/2023

Can-do attitude: Brandt, The Arc help those with disabilities share their gifts

Great article about The Arc of Blair County and its Executive Director, Maria Brandt - highlighting the chapter’s approach to advocacy and support in their community!

https://www.altoonamirror.com/news/local-news/2023/01/can-do-attitude-brandt-the-arc-help-those-with-disabilities-share-their-gifts/

As a 7-year-old Dutch Hill resident, Maria Brandt learned her first lesson about including others from a neighbor who insisted her daughter join in kickball and other outdoor games being played by neighborhood children. Brandt said her neighbor’s admonishment “resonated with me that we have to t...

01/06/2023

Power Coaches!

Self Advocates United as 1 (SAU1) is hiring Power Coaches from across the state! Power coaches must be:
- Only people with intellectual disabilities or autism,
- who are 18 years or older, and,
- who live in Pennsylvania.

Tell her your name, that you want to be a Power Coach, and the best way (phone number or email) to get in touch with you. Someone will reach out to you within a week to talk more.

01/06/2023

We collaborated with The Center for Healthcare Solutions, Rehabilitation & Community Providers Association, and The Provider Alliance (TPA) to produce a detailed report on the state of Pennsylvania’s Intellectual Disability/Autism workforce.
✅ CLICK this link to learn the key findings in the “2022 ID/A Benchmark Compensation Survey”:
https://thearcpa.org/2022-benchmark-compensation-survey/

01/05/2023

Please sign the The Arc of the United States petition to show your support for the new Congress addressing the funding crisis for Home and Community Based Services!

Life in the community matters for people with disabilities, and Medicaid home and community-based services help make that possible. But a lack of funding for these services has created a care crisis that’s limiting the lives of millions of Americans.

Too many families are at a breaking point because of severe underfunding in care programs—and it’s time for a long-overdue investment in these supports and services!

Sign our petition to show your support for much-needed investment in the care infrastructure! https://pulse.ly/gsp2yf3yjv

01/05/2023

Opinion | My Daughter Expects to Work. Will She Only Make $3.35 an Hour?

In this opinion piece from a mother of a girl with Down syndrome, the argument is made that sub-minimum wages for those with disabilities should be eliminated. More so she writes, “But beyond fair pay we need to consider how we can more effectively support people with disabilities in the mainstream work force.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/04/opinion/disabilities-employment-wage.html

We need to consider how we can more effectively support people with disabilities in the mainstream work force.

01/05/2023

Systematic instruction benefits many people with significant disabilities who need to develop job skills. In this one-day training, we’ll teach you how to do that, and conveniently online! And - *SCHOLARSHIPS* are available for educators! Contact us to talk about it! More information here: https://thearcpa.org/teaching

01/04/2023

ACES 2023

Great opportunity! Tech OWL - Technology for Our Whole Lives runs Augmentative Communication Empowerment and Supports (ACES), a program for young adult users of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). It’s a two-week intensive experience on the main campus of Temple University, followed by monthly meetups & ongoing engagement. ACES 2023 runs from July 16 - July 28, 2023. Applications are available at: https://techowlpa.org/aces2023/

SERVICE ACES 2023 Applications are open! ACES 2023 will be July 16-28, 2023 on the campus of Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. ACES stands for Augmentative Communication Empowerment and Suppor…

01/04/2023

Coalition On Disability Inclusive Curriculum December 2022 Newsletter

Find out what’s coming up on Pennsylvania’s new Disability Inclusive Curriculum implementation. Support Disability Inclusive Curriculum Coalition’s newsletter has the latest details. Read the newsletter here: https://tinyurl.com/DisabilityInclusiveNews

On December 12th, we met with the sub-committee to discuss the grant application for schools to apply to participate in the pilot program. We provided feedback on the wording used in the program summary and made suggestions for the application and environmental scan. We shared ideas on how schools...

01/04/2023

If you’re helping people with significant disabilities find employment, this training is FOR YOU! Being able to document their interests, skills, and work conditions needed for success is *KEY*.

Our Discovery training is designed for providers of Customized Employment and Advanced Supported Employment, Transition staff, counselors, and families. SIGN UP HERE: https://thearcpa.org/discovery/