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.
Nancy is a widely recognized advocate both within Pennsylvania and across the nation for her unwavering dedication and passion for advancing the rights of people with disabilities. Her unremitting efforts have extended to supporting families facing the unique challenges of caring for loved ones with disabilities, advocating for public funding to assist those on waiting lists for disability services, working to ensure access to quality healthcare for individuals with disabilities, and championing higher wages for the essential direct support professionals who provide critical care. Perhaps most notably, Nancy has, over the decades, provided an impelling and prominent voice in the movement to close Pennsylvania’s large, outdated state-run institutions, advocating instead for individualized home and community services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Her contributions have made a profound impact on disability rights and services at both the state and national levels.
Reflecting on her career and years with Achieva, Nancy said, “Throughout my career, it has been an honor and a privilege to advocate for children and adults with disabilities and to support families.”
Achieva President and CEO, Steve Suroviec said, “Achieva and The Arc of Greater Pittsburgh extend their heartfelt gratitude to Nancy for her many years of unwavering dedication and service. Her tireless efforts and passion on behalf of people with disabilities and their families have made our region, our state, and our country a better place. Her legacy of effective advocacy will inspire others. We are grateful for her decades of service.”
Over the past several decades, Nancy has served in several non-profit and public-sector roles, including being one of the founders and first Director of the Down Syndrome Center at Children’s Hospital (UPMC), serving as PA Office of Developmental Programs’ Director of its Western Region Office, and leading The Arc of Greater Pittsburgh (Achieva’s affiliate that provides no-cost advocacy, information and referral, training, and systems advocacy on behalf of children and adults with intellectual disabilities and their families). During her career, Nancy has worked tirelessly with state and federal legislators, policymakers, government officials, and other advocates to protect the civil rights of and create innovative services for children and adults with disabilities and family caregivers.
Nancy will stay on in her current role until a search for her successor is completed in late 2023 or early 2024.
