Virtual Press Kit

Traditional media helped us to spread the word about the importance of eliminating the stigma against people with disabilities. This kit contains the campaign news release, images for reproduction and additional materials.

News Releases Issued

Help Us Connect to Self Advocates!

PADDC is working on a project to enhance Pennsylvania’s self advocate leadership to focus on system and policy change. We invite people with developmental and intellectual disabilities (I/DD) and providers or organizations to connect us to self advocates who may […]

Our 2023 Impact Report

We are very excited to share our 2023 Impact Report. The report shows how the Council and our grant partners are working in creative ways to improve the lives of people with developmental disabilities and families throughout the Commonwealth. Read […]

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month; Governor Shapiro Issues Proclamation

It’s Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month! Let’s raise awareness of the inclusion and contributions of people with developmental disabilities in all aspects of community life, while also acknowledging the work we still need to do to remove barriers. The 2024 theme […]

Reflections on the #NextGenInclusion Event

On November 30, approximately 200 people gathered in Harrisburg to learn and reflect on Inclusive Education for students with disabilities. The PADDC provided financial support for this important event. In the past, Pennsylvania had key wins for inclusive education. In […]

Self Advocate Meeting On Changes to Section 504 of The Rehabilitation Act

  We are cosponsoring a virtual meeting with Temple University Institute on Disabilities for self advocates on Wednesday, November 1, 2023. The meeting is about The Rehabilitation Act. This is a law that was passed 50 years ago. It ensures that […]

Pre-application Conference Information

Pre-application Conference Webinars Each grant area will have a pre-application webinar. At these webinars, applicants can ask us questions about the application process. Answers given at this conference are documented in minutes and become an official part of the Request […]

Sen. Casey Requesting Statements for the Record on Guardianship

(Our Executive Director, Lisa Tesler, shares this important information from The Majority Staff of the Senate Special Committee on Aging) “In the near future, the Senate Special Committee on Aging will be holding a hearing on guardianships, conservatorships, protective arrangements, and […]

Spring 2023 Outlooks Newsletter (and 2022 Impact Report)

We hope you enjoy reading our Spring 2023 Outlooks Newsletter and 2023 Impact Report! In this issue: Note from the Executive Director 2022 – 2023 Advocacy Agenda New PADDC Grants (starting January 2023) 2022 Council Impacts Advocacy Tip of the […]

PADDC Request For Applications (RFA) Released

We are pleased to announce that the newest Request for Application (RFA) book for our 2022-2026 State Plan is now available for you to download, which includes 15 separate grant opportunities. The deadline to submit applications for these grants is Wednesday, […]

Council Seeking Nominations for Council Membership

PADDC is seeking nominations for Council members who are: Individuals with developmental disabilities Parents of children with developmental disabilities Family members of adults with developmental disabilities The PA Developmental Disabilities Council (PADDC) empowers individuals with developmental disabilities and their families […]

PADDC 2021 Impact Report & Spring 2022 Newsletter

The Council has been very active and busy during the past year, including completing much work to update our mission and vision. In this report we are combining our 2021 Impact Report with our Spring 2022 Outlooks Newsletter.   The Impact report […]

New Opportunity! Organizations are Encouraged to Apply for a Seat on the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council

The Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council (PADDC) is accepting applications from agencies that are local and nongovernmental, and private non-profit groups concerned with services for people with developmental disabilities that are interested in having a seat on the Council. Established through […]

PADDC Letter to Gov. Wolf and Covid-19 Vaccine Task Force: Need for State Support Plan for Vaccinating Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

In a letter to Governor Tom Wolf and the Vaccine Task Force, PADDC Executive Director, Lisa Tesler, outlines the initiatives needed to insure that Pennsylvanians with intellectual disabilities have full access, and the supports needed, to receive the COVID-19 vaccines. […]

Statement on Passing of Graham Mulholland, Former PADDC Executive Director

We are saddened by the passing of Graham Mulholland, a great leader and dear friend to many in the disability community. Graham served as the executive director of the PADDC from 1997 through his retirement in 2019. He was a […]

Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council- PADDC- Survey for Stakeholders

Hello, Pennsylvanians! The DD Council is developing our Five Year Strategic Plan and we need your help. We want to know what you think are the most important issues facing people with disabilities in Pennsylvania. The survey may take you […]

New Report: Healthcare Access for People with Disabilities in Rural Pennsylvania

The PADDC Rural Healthcare Access Project, an initiative intended to improve access to healthcare for people with disabilities in rural PA, has just released a report Healthcare Access for People with Disabilities in Rural Pennsylvania.  This effort, led by Pennsylvania […]

2020 PA Community Alliance Summit Will Go Virtual

For the last several years, PADDC has sponsored and hosted the PA Community Alliance Summit as a day of networking, discovering alliances and collaboration-building among diverse organizations throughout Pennsylvania that are led by and/or supporting underserved/unserved populations who experience marginalization […]

PADDC Pandemic Recovery Statement—May 27, 2020

Authorized by the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act) in 2000 and guided by a vision to create inclusive communities where all people with disabilities are valued and thrive, the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council empowers individuals […]

Senator Bob Casey Hosts Call with PADDC to Discuss the Pandemic

On Tuesday May 12, 2020, U.S. Senator Bob Casey hosted a conference call with the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council, its committees, and staff members. During the call, which lasted approximately 30 minutes, the Senator briefed participants on current pieces of […]

Cancellation of April PADDC Meetings – COVID-19

In order to mitigate risk due to the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), PADDC is canceling our face to face meetings scheduled for April 15 and 16, 2020. This decision is based on the directive from the Governor’s Office to […]

Accepting Applications for the PADDC 2020 Community Grants Program

The PA Developmental Disabilities Council invites you to apply for funding from our Community Grants Program. These Community Grants are intended to bring together people with and without disabilities in a local community alliance to influence social change and improve […]

PADDC Announces New Executive Director – Lisa Tesler

Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council (PADDC) Co-chairpersons, Chris Grandy and Shirley Keith Knox, are pleased to announce that Ms. Lisa Tesler has been appointed as its new Executive Director, following the retirement of Mr. Graham Mullholland in May. This appointment was […]

PADDC Announces New Funding Opportunity

The Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council has issued a Request for Application (RFA) for a two-year project on the topic of residential housing and services. Below is a summary of the project. The full RFA is available at www.paddc.org under the […]

PADDC Issues Statement on Closure of Polk and White Haven State Centers

Official Statement from the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council on the Proposed Closing of Polk & White Haven Centers (Download Statement in PDF Format) The PA DD Council supports the Department of Human Services’ proposed plan to close both Polk/White Haven […]

Leading PA Disability Agencies Unite Against Damaging Messages in Hollywood Movie ‘Me Before You’

Harrisburg, Pa. (June 7, 2016)–The Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Act Network, which is comprised of the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council (PADDC), Disabilities Rights Pennsylvania (DRP) and the Institute on Disabilities at Temple University, says the movie ‘Me Before You’ is a […]

Spokesperson for Recently Launched Stigma Campaign Says ‘Me Before You’ has Damaging Message

Harrisburg, Pa. (June 3, 2016)– The Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council (PADDC), the organization that launched the Stigma Project campaign in April to change people’s thinking, behavior and attitudes toward people with disabilities, calls the messages in the recently released movie […]

“I’m Glad My Kid Doesn’t Ride the Short Bus”

Provocative statewide campaign draws attention to stigma against people with disabilities Harrisburg, Pa. (April 5, 2016) – This morning all across Pennsylvania, thousands of thought bubbles appeared with harsh stigmatizing statements such as, “Mentally ill people are dangerous,” “Most ‘disabled’ […]