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September 10, 2020
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Stay Informed




Governor Wolf signed a proclamation recognizing DSP Week and noting the important work they do.  Read the proclamation!


September is FASD Awareness month

Pennsylvania News

Department of Human Services Distributes CARES Funding to Pennsylvania’s Direct Care Workers
Department of Human Services announced the distribution of $31.5 million to Pennsylvania direct care workers who have continued to work through the COVID-19 crisis – making it possible for individuals with disabilities and older Pennsylvanians to live safely in their homes and near their families.  Funded with state and federal dollars from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act – also known as the CARES Act – this compensation has been distributed as a one-time payment to more than 16,200 direct care workers in Pennsylvania employed through the participant-directed employer model. Payments are based on hours worked, and the average payment is $1,730.

Remembering Thomas K. Gilhool
Read The Public Interest Law Center's remembrance of Mr. Gilhool here.  

Victory for Blind Voters in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Department of State will provide a remote accessible vote-by-mail system for voters with disabilities to receive and mark their ballots electronically for the upcoming general election and future elections. More information about OmniBallot is available at https://democracylive.com/omniballot-online/.  For more information on this option for voters with disabilities as it develops, visit the Department of State’s website, www.votespa.com, or contact Disability Rights Pennsylvania by calling 800-692-7443 or email at vote@disabilityrightspa.org.


Legislative Updates (From Katie Yost) 
  • HB 2788:  Representative Topper’s legislation would allow parents to decide for their child to repeat a grade due to educational regression from the outbreak of COVID-19, and it would allow students with special education services who aged out during COVID-19, to receive a year of compensatory education. It passed out of the House of Representatives in a vote of 197-5. It has been referred to Senate Education Committee. 
  • HB 2626 : Representative Dan Moul’s legislation has been amended to address the impact of COVID-19 on the upcoming 2020 General Election. This legislation is currently on the Senate’s voting calendar.  Some provisions within the legislation include:
    • Counties can begin to pre-canvass ballots the Saturday before election day;
    • Limit the location a mail-in/absentee ballot may be dropped off in person;
    • Move the deadline to register for a mail-in/absentee ballot from 7 days to 15 days before the election;
    • Require counties return a report on the implementation of the election;
    • Would allow watchers to go to polling locations outside of their own registered polling location; and
    • Require the election board to contact a voter who’s signature on their mail-in/absentee ballot did not match the one on file to ensure that the ballot is accurate. 
  • SB 1314: Senator Judy Ward has introduced legislation that would establish the Nonprofit Economic Emergency Delivery System (“NEEDS”) Grants Program. This Grant Program would be for eligible community-based human services nonprofit organizations who have been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis and funded through CARES Act money received by the Commonwealth. SB 1314 replaces Senator Ward’s original legislation on this issue, SB 1254.  The bill passed unanimously out of the Senate Appropriation Committee on September 9th.  
 

Take Action & "Learn More" Opportunities

 
 

October 19-22, 2020 - OVR's Virtual Job Fair 2020:  ​Join us for the first statewide virtual job fair to celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month & 30 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  Connect with employers in your area in addition to across the State and attend workshops.  More details to come.  Check out the Job Seeker Save-the-Date Flyer (PDF).  Check out our Employer Save-the-Date Flyer (PDF).  Check out our Student Save-the-Date Flyer (PDF) on October 23rd.



Announcing the MyODP Podcast! 

The MyODP Podcast is the latest form of outreach and capacity building from ODP. It consists of an audio series on a dedicated topic with a targeted audience in mind. Each podcast in our first series has a duration of 7-10 minutes and focuses on getting tools to Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) titled A Supporter’s Toolbox.   Check out the podcast at MyODP Podcast page to Listen!



 



September 15, 2020, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.  Community Education Session:  Benefits Counseling (WIPA) Overview - *Work Incentives Planning and Assistance is a service designed to give people with disabilities information on making a successful transition to working and the effect of working on benefits.  Webinar being offered - Tuesday September 15, 2020 6:00 to 8:00 pm Register at Eventbrite: https://benefitscounseling9-15-20.eventbrite.com
 



Starting September, The PEAL Center in Pittsburgh will be hosting the Transition Tuesdays webinar series on the fourth Tuesday of every month. Individuals and families with youth ages 13 through 21 with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) are encouraged to register to learn about methods for secondary transition planning to facilitate an individual's progress towards education, employment, and community living.






 



COVID-19 & Survey of People with Disabilities Report Issued:  The purpose of the COVID-19 & Disability Project is to understand the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on access to health care and on adults with a range of disabilities responding to COVID-19. Read the comparative analysis report entitled “COVID-19 & Survey of Adults with Disabilities: Comparative Analysis of Results by Type of Disability”.   
 


September 22, 2020 - 3:30pm to 4:30pm EDT - Improving Medicaid Buy-In Programs for Working Individuals with Disabilities - This webinar will describe how Medicaid buy-in programs can allow working persons with disabilities to buy into Medicaid if their incomes surpass program eligibility limits.  Click here to register  
 


Home and Community Based Services Conference - Dec. 2-3 and Dec. 8-10, 2020:  The HCBS Conference will be a virtual experience spaced over two weeks.  Learn more at www.hcbsconference.org
 
Accommodation Strategies for Returning to Work During COVID-19 Pandemic -  With the reopening of America, businesses need strategies for returning individuals with disabilities to work during the COVID-19 pandemic. See the JAN (Job Accommodation Network) report here.   
 
Check out the new Pennsylvania Mental Health Resources guide for information on help and treatment.
 


2020 ECE Summit Early Bird Registration Has Been Extended:  The Early Bird Registration deadline for the ECE Summit has been extended to Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020. This year's conference will be a virtual event from Oct. 19 - 21, 2020.  Visit earlychildhoodsummit.org for more information about Summit and to save $30 per person off of the Regular Registration fees. Questions? Send them to earlychildhoodsummit.org/contact-us
 
Guide for Families for In-Person/In-Home EI Services During COVID 19:  The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) developed the Guide for Families for In-Person/In-Home EI Services During COVID 19. This guidance was designed to help families understand the guidance that has been provided to their local EI programs, as well as to assist them in navigating concerns, considerations and questions they may have, as it relates to in-person/in-home services during COVID-19.
 
A Transition Guide to Postsecondary Education and Employment for Students and Youth with Disabilities:   The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services has published an updated transition guide to advance efforts in ensuring that all students and youth with disabilities are equipped with the skills and knowledge to achieve their post-school and career goals. Added is information about dual enrollment and the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act. A Transition Guide to Postsecondary Education and Employment for Students and Youth with Disabilities
 

Learn More...

A Reminder About Masks During Service Delivery  - Read full article
 
Transition Tuesdays with The PEAL CentersRead full article
 
AIDinPA: Water and Pool Safety Webinar Now AvailableRead full article

MyODP Reaches One Hundred Thousand UsersRead Full Article

Staying Safe this Holiday Weekend -  Read Full Article

Support While Receiving Medical Treatment During COVID-19 -  Read Full Article

Keystone Chosen as Zero Project Finalist - Read Full Article

Update for ODP Providers who Received Act 24 CARES FundingRead Full Article

CCAP Trauma-Informed Virtual Education SeriesRead Full Article

Your Voice in Harrisburg 

Upcoming Activities from The Arc of PA Staff:  In the next two weeks, The Arc of PA staff will be participating in these meetings and activities of special interest: 

Sherri Landis, Executive Director: ID/A Coalition, Special Education Stakeholder Group, The Arc of PA Board of Director's Meeting, PA Disability Weekly Meeting, Coalition for Inclusive Community, Disability Integration Task Force, Information Sharing & Advisory Committee/Racial Equality Workgroup,  PIE Policy Call/PA Disabilities Planning Council,  State Chapter Executives Meeting, National Chapter Executives Meeting, PA Schools Work, and various meetings with local chapters & executives.   

Katie Yost, Manager of Government & Chapter Relations:  Various virtual meetings with the PA House and Senate, PA Developmental Disabilities/Policy Information Exchange, Disability Integration Task Force, State Task Force on The Right to Education, ID/A Coalition, PA Schools Work, & Town Hall Prep Meetings.  
 
To view archived copies of In Touch:
Copyright © 2020 The Arc of Pennsylvania, All rights reserved.
The Arc of Pennsylvania
1007 Mumma Drive, Suite 100
Lemoyne, PA 17043
717.234.2621 | 1-800-692-7258
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The Arc of Pennsylvania 
Serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
Sherri Landis, Executive Director
Shirley Keith Knox, LSW, Communications Director, Editor



 
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