October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month!

NDEAM is held each October to commemorate the many and varied contributions of people with disabilities to America’s workplaces and economy. Browse our website for ideas and resources for employers, community organizations, state and local governments, advocacy groups and schools to participate in celebrating NDEAM through events and activities centered around the theme of “America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion.”

What can YOU do to celebrate NDEAM? There are lots of ways! Explore the ideas below designed for:

• Employers.
• Educators and youth service professionals.
• State governors, legislators and other policymakers.
• Associations and unions.
• Disability related organizations.
• Federal agencies.

The Pennsylvania Workforce Coalition is a partnership initiated by PA APSE consisting of State Agencies and statewide membership organizations to increase employment and advancement of people with disabilities. While we work on a larger event for Spring 2022, we wanted to start connecting people sooner. We are hosting virtual events this October to help connect job seekers with businesses. Please share this survey link with students, families, and others who may be interested. The survey will take about 15 minutes and an email address will be needed. For questions, please contact PaWorkforceCoalition@gmail.com.

LEA TRANSITION DISCOVERIES GRANT OPPORTUNITY!

Improving secondary transition practices in Pennsylvania has the potential to positively impact the post-school outcomes of transitioning youth with disabilities. During this session, participants will learn about the Transition Discoveries framework for improving secondary transition programming. The framework includes a two-year implementation progression with stakeholder surveys, action planning and implementation protocols along with online training modules and resources.

In addition, participants will learn about a grant opportunity for which selected Local Education Agencies (LEAs) will form community-based teams that will utilize the Transition Discoveries surveys with a variety of stakeholders. The results of the surveys will inform the team’s action plan to enhance their transition systems. Grant monies will be available to selected LEAs committed to implementing the Transition Discoveries framework.

Click here to register to learn about the application process:

The PA Developmental Disabilities Council (DDC) has funds remaining in two new funding opportunities for organizations and individuals:

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Community Response Projects. These projects are supported for up to $5,000 over a 6-month timeframe and will be awarded to community-based organizations that provide supports to people with developmental disabilities who have been affected by a local, statewide, or national, natural disasters. This can include, but is not limited to, addressing concerns related to the Covid-19 pandemic.​

Leadership, Empowerment, and Advocacy Fund (LEAF) Scholarships. This program provides scholarships of up to $750 per person, per year, to assist individuals with disabilities and their family members to attend conferences, training sessions, and comparable activities directly related to skill development in the areas of self-advocacy, leadership, and education.​

https://www.paddc.org/under the Grants & Funding tab.

October 5 – October 7, 2021 ​

#PATCIntegrate2021 ​

Registration is Open! ​

​WHO SHOULD ATTEND: ​ Professionals looking to increase their knowledge of and/or ability to support individuals with autism across the spectrum and the lifespan. We welcome all professionals supporting individuals with autism in Pennsylvania, in all systems. Please join us! ​

To register, go to this link and fill out the registration form: https://odp.regfox.com/2021-pa-autism-training-conference​

Life on the Spectrum: Intersecting Identities

The Policy and Analytics Center of the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, in partnership with the Philadelphia Autism Network- Self-Advocates (PAN-S), are pleased to present a series of workshops created by autistic self-advocates for self-advocates.

Presenting: Life on the Spectrum: A Workshop Series Developed by and for Autistic people.
A 2-part mini-series on Intersecting Identities.

Workshop 1: Autism in Women
When: Wednesday, October 13th, 2021, 10:00AM-11:30AM EST
Workshop developed by Sarah Nannery.
Autism in Women will feature Dr. Hannah Belcher, who will provide a brief presentation on her research on autism spectrum disorder in women, followed by a panel conversation of women discussing their lived experience as women on the spectrum.

Workshop 2: Autism and Transgender Identity
When: Saturday, October 23rd, 2021, 2:00PM-3:30PM EST
Workshop developed by Elliot Mumma and Ev Smith.

Autism and Transgender Identity will consist of a panel conversation of transgender autistic individuals discussing their lived experiences, featuring topics such as: identity, navigating transition, healthcare, and the legal system.

Register for one or both workshops here: https://drexel.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_f252Zeu1SUaZdJoVpyvCMg

This work is supported by a grant from the Eagles Autism Foundation.

If you have any questions, please visit the Life on the Spectrum webpage or contact Mimi Wong at mw899@drexel.edu for more information.

Navigating the Future: A Lifetime Trip!

Weren't able to join the conference this year? No problem.

Access the session recording playlist here to learn how to be proactive in planning a “lifetime trip” while “filling your suitcases” with valuable resources and strategies to help youth take ownership of their future.

This series will provide families, students, and educators with information and insights to enhance family members' participation within the transition process of the IEP. Interviews with families and students, sharing their experiences with transition planning, will be used to guide discussions and learning. Participants will experience how to be active members in transition planning - before the IEP, during the IEP, and after the IEP.

Registration Link

Future Planner of The Arc Online Training Series

A person-centered future plan is important throughout all stages of life and especially in the future after a parent or caregiver is no longer able to provide support. But what is a future plan? How do you help a family build a plan that is both comprehensive and able to be easily updated over time?

Join The Arc’s Center for Future Planning for a three-part online training series!

Over the course of three live webinars, you will receive the training and resources you need to successfully help people with disabilities and their families build comprehensive future plans.

Each of the following sessions will take place from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. ET.

• October 13: Future planning 101
• October 20: How to build a plan and future planning materials that can be used when assisting families
• October 27: Strategies to ensure families follow through with completing and updating their future plans

Registered participants who attend all three training sessions will receive a certificate of completion.

Who is this training for?

• Staff working at a chapter of The Arc
• Other professionals who support families of people with disabilities

Please note: This future planning training series is designed for professionals who support families to future plan and is not open to family members at this time.

What is the registration cost?

• $100 for staff members at chapters of The Arc*
• $200 for all other human services professionals

Please note: If you are interested in receiving a certificate of completion, you must register separately for this training series and attend all three training sessions. Only one certificate will be issued per registration.

*To receive the discounted chapter rate, you must register with your chapter email address and use the promo code provided to chapters. If you did not receive the promo code, please email Liz Mahar at Mahar@TheArc.org or Katy Schmid at Schmid@thearc.org.

News Release

US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WILL HIGHLIGHT ‘LEARN-AS-YOU-EARN’ MODEL DURING NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK, NOV. 15-21

The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the 2021 National Apprenticeship Week will be celebrated Nov. 15-21.

"Registered apprenticeships provide a path to the middle class for workers, and this year’s National Apprenticeship Week event is an opportunity to bring together partners with a vested interest in expanding apprenticeship programs and creating a pipeline to success attainable for everyone,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. “National Apprenticeship Week allows stakeholders to engage with one another, generate ideas and share creative solutions for encouraging apprenticeship, retraining our workforce and rebuilding our middle class.”

Learn more about National Apprenticeship Week 2021 and register to participate.

The Department of Human Services launched a campaign called “We Can Work.” A website has been developed that contains success stories of individuals with disabilities that are working and additional resources

UPMC Pathways to Work is a job navigation program that helps set unemployed or underemployed adults on the path toward a rewarding career by connecting them with work opportunities. It also assists those who have intellectual, physical, or behavioral difficulties which make it difficult to find, or maintain employment.

Learn more here!