Goal 1 – Self Determination
Objective 1. A: Supported Decision Making
Supported Decision Making Grants
Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living (ends 12/31/2025)
Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living (LVCIL) and the Jewish Family Service of the Lehigh Valley (JFSLV) will partner through a project called Supported Decision Making PA (SDMPA). The goal is to create systems change by educating the community on viable alternatives to guardianship. The project will have a cross-disability focus on youth of transition age. SDMPA will have four target audiences: individuals with disabilities, families, supports coordinators, and school personnel. The project’s activities and products will include: education and outreach (virtually and in-person); surveys; a stakeholders advisory council; a train-the-trainer manual; and a toolbox of resources for people with disabilities to use on their journey to become decision-makers.
Objective 1.C: Education & Early Intervention
Community Inclusion for Young Children Grants
Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living (Ends 6/30/26)
Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living (LVCIL) will tap into the knowledge of young adults/adults with disabilities who became empowered because their parents became informed advocates when they were too young to do so themselves. Through training, mentorship, and providing resources, LVCIL will help empower parents to advocate for their family’s future.
Goal 2 – Social and Systems Change
Objective 2.A: Employment
Employment Grants (end 06/30/2026)
Arc Human Services
Arc Human Services, working with The Arc of Pa, will hold focus groups and webinars to educate local employers about job coaching/employment services in the state of Pennsylvania. They will share knowledge with employers about the benefits and incentives that come along with hiring people with disabilities. The project will gather data to better serve our clients and business partners in the future.
Objective 2.E: Quality Health Care
Quality Healthcare Access Grant (ends 12/31/2025)
Thomas Jefferson University
Thomas Jefferson University will improve training for family medicine residents to better serve people with disabilities in their communities. Self advocates and caregivers will help develop and deliver three to four training sessions for medical students. At the end of this project, a toolkit will be shared through publications and presentations. The toolkit will help educate doctors and others to understand how to better care for people with disabilities.
Goal 3 – Community Living
Objective 3.A: Community Capacity
Disability Is Not A Crime Grant (ends 06/30/2026)
Autism Connection of PA
The project will inform the law enforcement community about the characteristics and medical issues related to autism. They will teach why people speak, cannot speak, act in ways that may appear unusual, or are unable to respond quickly to commands. The project will focus on training people to use new ways to communicate that may not be taught in traditional police academies. Delivery will be via the voice of a seasoned police officer, a long-time autism professional counselor, and with the personal, lived experiences of autistic instructors.
Objective 3.B: Community Inclusion
Authentic Friendships Grant (ends 12/31/2025)
Values Into Action
Values Into Action will help people with disabilities find and build relationships and friendships using the Friend to Friend (F2F) program. Facilitated information sharing will help participants explore their neighborhoods, towns, and virtual communities. Technical assistance sessions will focus on the experiences of people with disabilities and the lessons learned from each other. The project impact will be measured by how many people identify as empowered because of the knowledge, mentoring, and support received. Success will be when people begin making their own decisions about where and with whom they choose to spend time in the pursuit of authentic friendships.
Civic Engagement Grant (ends 06/30/2026)
Integrate for Good
Integrate for Good will empower people with disabilities to identify what matters to them and co-create pathways to community engagement. At the same time, we will empower civic organizations with the confidence and knowledge they need to capitalize on the untapped talent of people living with disabilities.
Objective 3.C: Targeted Disparity in Education
Preschool to Prison Pipeline Grants (end 06/30/2026)
Temple University Institute on Disabilities
Inclusive and Equitable Futures: Trauma-Informed Practice in Preschool Supports (TIPPS) will conduct an environmental scan of early childhood discipline in Pennsylvania, informed by surveys and interviews with families and school staff; design a self-evaluation measure that school staff can use to assess classroom and school policies and practices; develop and share accessible plain language tools and resources to empower preschool-aged children, families, and providers; and collaborate with a project advisory board of key community members.
Delaware County Advocacy and Resource Organization
DCARO will collaborate with school districts and early learning facilities, to implement recommended interventions and increase awareness of the Preschool-to-Prison Pipeline. The goal is to prevent youth from entering the Pipeline. The project’s approach includes continuous collaboration between parents, families, self-advocates, educators, and other advocacy organizations to ensure the success of all students.
Goal 4 – Self Advocate Leadership
Objective 4.A: Self-Advocacy Support
Leading the Way: Advocates and Allies (ends on 09/30/2025)
Vision for Equality
This grant will provide leadership development, capacity building, and ongoing administrative support to individuals with developmental disabilities, their families, and allies. This enables them to organize community groups, achieve their leadership goals, and drive meaningful change in their communities.