On today's episode of The Confluence:The Pennsylvania Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has an initiative to utilize up to $40 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to help address gaps in services for residents with autism and intellectual disabilities.
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Before bedtime last school year, Melissa Skiffen sat with her son and showed him a picture of the new teacher assistant in his classroom to make him more comfortable with the person who would help him throughout the next day.
Two of the Tree of Life shooting's 11 victims were Cecil and David Rosenthal, brothers whose special needs were served, in part, by regional support organization Achieva. In their memory, Achieva established the Cecil and David Rosenthal Memorial Fund in 2018.
The first weekend of fall was a good time to walk for a good cause. The Buddy Walk took over Erie Sports Center on Saturday morning. The Buddy Walk helps raise money for those with disabilities. The day began with registration and breakfast.
The Arc of Erie County's "Buddy Walk" is set for this Saturday as a way to celebrate children and adults with disabilities as well as their families. Fontaine Glenn was live at the Erie Sports Center with more on Saturday's event.
Achieva's Nancy Murray weighs in on how the pandemic has impacted healthcare for people with disabilities, and what the future holds for our region.
Sixth-grader Holden Frye returned to his elementary school, Hoover Elementary, to read his new book "The Spot" to students during an assembly. It's the highlight of the school's celebration of inclusion.
The award, given annually by the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh and Jewish Residential Services, celebrates volunteers who promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in the fabric of Jewish life through advocacy or direct service to those individuals and their families.
Southwestern Pennsylvania-based Achieva, a disability advocacy and service organization, has announced its affiliation of The Arc Erie County with The Arc of Greater Pittsburgh, a member of the Achieva Family of Organizations.
Families of people with disabilities are pleading with Gov. Tom Wolf and the legislature to help. They are asking them to work together to raise the wages of the DSPs.
Pennsylvania is facing a dire shortage of direct support professionals who help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities bathe, get dressed, eat, exercise, socialize, and perform many other fundamental tasks.
The state's plan for the money focuses on increasing access to home and community-based services and staffing for those services. Addressing staff recruitment and retention is key, said Nancy Murray, president of the Arc of Greater Pittsburgh and senior vice president at Achieva.
Latrobe Bulletin (Editorial by Nancy Murray, President, The Arc of Greater Pittsburgh)
WESA FM (Nancy Murray, president of The Arc of Greater Pittsburgh and senior vice president at Achieva is quoted)
Public Source (Lu Randall, executive director, Autism Connection of PA is quoted)