Goal 1 – Self Determination
Objective 1.A: Supported Decision Making
Supported Decision Making Grant (ends 12/31/2024)
Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living
Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living (LVCIL) will partner with Jewish Family Service of the Lehigh Valley (JFSLV) to promote Supported Decision Making (SDM) through a project called SDMPA. The goal is to create systems change by educating the community on viable alternatives to guardianship and 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.B: Formal and Informal Community Supports
School Culture Grant (ends 12/31/2024)
Arc of PA
The Arc of Pennsylvania will launch the Self Advocacy: Inclusive Declarations of Independent Truths (SAID-IT) program, which seeks to break down stigmas and misperceptions of students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Students will be empowered and their voices amplified by creating valued social roles as lead presenters of student-led school assemblies twice per school year. The program will create a positive social experience for students to get to know, receive, and accept diverse students with IDD without bias or ignorance, creating a deeper sense of empathy among both student presenters and school audience.
Empowerment through Employment Grant (ends 12/31/2024)
Community Options Inc.
Community Options will identify and publicize stories by and about people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The stories will focus on Pennsylvanians who are engaged in competitive and integrated employment, higher education, vocational training, or other meaningful community-based activities. All stories will promote self-determination and choice. Every storyteller will participate in seminars and trainings where they will be encouraged to use their own voices, while also receiving support to improve public speaking and communication skills. Final products will include a recorded event series and a publication. The project’s goals are to raise awareness about the capabilities of people with disabilities and to increase demand for supported employment services statewide.
Objective 1.C: Education & Early Intervention
Transition Grant (ends 8/31/2023)
George Washington University
The goal of the Transition grant is to create a framework for community driven action planning and develop that framework into a into a website and app called Transition Discoveries. This one-stop shop will empower young people with disabilities, families, and stakeholders to engage in effective transition practices that are driven first, foremost, and always by the strengths, dreams, and goals of young people with disabilities and their families.
Goal 2 – Social and Systems Change
Objective 2.B: Housing
Person Directed Housing Grant (ends 9/30/2023)
Values into Action
This goal of this project is to change perceptions and provide the information, support, and tools necessary to enable people with developmental disabilities to take control of their housing choices. The goal is to ensure people with disabilities and system stakeholders know about the resources and support available through the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP). This will be accomplished by creating and refining user-friendly tools, offering training opportunities, and strengthening system advocacy efforts to prioritize housing as a right that is separate from services.
Objective 2.C: Technology
Generic Technology Grant (ends 7/31/2024)
PA Assistive Technology Foundation
To make access to accurate and easy-to-understand information about generic smart home technology readily available to people with developmental disabilities and their families, we will be providing information through presentations, an accessible website, social media posts, and a smart home publication. Through the activities associated with this project, we are reaching even more Pennsylvanians with developmental disabilities to help them learn about and successfully acquire generic assistive and smart home technology devices and services. Our goal is to make sure that existing and evolving technology is equally available to all.
Objective 2.E: Quality Health Care
Quality Healthcare Access Grant (ends 12/31/2024)
Thomas Jefferson University
Thomas Jefferson University will improve training for family medicine residents to better serve people with disabilities in their own 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 about how to better care for people with disabilities.
Rural Healthcare Access Grant (ends 8/31//2023)
PA Health Access
The goal of the Rural Healthcare Access Project is to improve access to healthcare for people with disabilities in rural PA. Activities include listening sessions across rural counties and conversations with community members, partner organizations, and healthcare providers. We are currently working with directly impacted community members and a coalition of partner organizations, and state officials to improve state regulations.
Goal 3 – Community Living
Objective 3.B: Community Inclusion
Authentic Friendships Grant (ends 12/31/2024)
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 enable participants to explore their neighborhoods, towns, and even virtual communities. Technical assistance sessions will target the expanded focus on the experiences of people with disabilities and the lessons to be learned from each other, on their own terms. The impact of the project will be measured by how many people identify as empowered because of the knowledge, mentoring, and support received. Success will also be realized when people begin making their own decisions about where and with whom they choose to spend time and experiences, in the pursuit of authentic friendships.
Goal 4 – Self Advocate Leadership
Objective 4.A: Self-Advocacy Support
Self-Advocacy Training Initiative & Network Grant (ends 12/31/2024)
Self-Advocates United as 1
Self Advocates United as 1 will work with cross-disability groups, cross-cultural leaders, school districts, regional and national disability organizations, providers of supports, and the general public to connect with people with disabilities, especially diverse youth. The project will identify existing trainings and create new ones to address gaps in information that is wanted and needed by youth to learn about advocacy.