Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council

Don't forget that National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities is collecting photos and stories from those with lived disability experience for a digital gallery that will commemorate Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. See below!

The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) put out an informative brief related to yesterday's Executive Order to close the United States Department of Education and its impact or potential impact on the disability community: https://lnkd.in/e2gp_vHE #DisabilityRights

Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation has issued an Order of Selection Memo. The agency says, "Due to increased referrals and flat funding for the federal fiscal year 2024, OVR will implement an Order of Selection (OOS) beginning April 1, 2025. As a result, a waitlist will be established for customers in the Significant Disability and Non-Significant Disability categories. Those who are currently receiving services under an Individual Plan for Employment (IPE) in any category or placed in the Most Significant Disability category on or after April 1,2025, will continue to receive services." Read the memo here: https://lnkd.in/egua72AK

Judy Woodruff, from PBS News Hour, reports how misunderstandings between law enforcement and people with disabilities can lead to tragic consequences. This report is part of the series Disability Reframed. https://lnkd.in/erFv2hZc #DisabilityRights

Next week! More Listening Tour. Please come to one of our sessions and let us know your ideas for making life better for people with disabilities and their families in Pennsylvania. We'll be in Allentown at Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living (LVCIL) and in Harrisburg with Institute on Disabilities at Temple University. Register for a listening session here: https://lnkd.in/eyRd6994

Coming March 25th from PBS American Experience, "Change, Not Charity: The Americans with Disabilities Act." The film tells the story of the decades-long push for equality and accessibility that culminated in the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. Advocates descended on Washington to call for passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Told through the voices of key participants and witnesses, the film highlights the determined people who literally put their bodies on the line to achieve their goal and change the lives of all Americans. Watch the trailer and learn more: https://lnkd.in/eCrVvreF #DisabilityRights

With so much going on, you don't want to miss the new Slice of PIE newsletter that focuses on Pennsylvania and national policy news impacting people with disabilities and their families. New issue: https://lnkd.in/eavz4y2V

"The Capitol Crawl" happened 35 years ago today. It was an advocacy action to demonstrate urgency for the passage of The Americans with Disabilities Act. Disability rights are just as urgent today as they were then. See the history here: https://lnkd.in/dnmvUhV #DisabilityRights

Next week - we host a PADDC Listening session in Harrisburg with Institute on Disabilities! Still time to register!

We're happy to share our 2024 PADDC Impact Report. The report reviews progress toward our goals over the last year. It also includes our policy and advocacy activities. Thanks to all of you who worked along side us this past year! https://lnkd.in/eNQEyqke #Disabilities #Pennsylvania