Strengthening the voices of autistic individuals One of the most important ways that we all connect to the world is through communication. Autistics Speaking Day provides an opportunity for autistic individuals to communicate, by telling their stories, sharing their challenges and celebrations, and expressing their interests and ambitions. It’s a day for
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)! On October 1, Governor Josh Shapiro signed an official declaration recognizing NDEAM in Pennsylvania. That proclamation is can be viewed here. Office of Developmental Programs Deputy Secretary Kristin Ahrens shares the following message to mark the importance of disability employment initiatives in Pennsylvania and
October 28, 2025 The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) is hosting a special webinar titled Honoring the Contributions of Americans with Disabilities to the Workforce and National Progress through University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs). This webinar will be held on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, from 2:00 p.m.
What is AAC? AAC is any form of communication other than spoken language. It can include gestures and facial expressions, writing, drawing, sign-language, spelling words by pointing to letters, picture cards, communication boards, or using a speech-generating device to communicate. AAC Awareness Month is celebrated each October, to raise awareness and to
On October 6th and 7th, the Pennsylvania Lifesharing Coalition hosted its 13th annual Lifesharing Conference in King of Prussia, PA. The conference, sponsored by the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP), brought together supports professionals, individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities and/or autism, and their families to engage in presentations about best practices for lifesharing.
On October 1st, Governor Josh Shapiro issued two proclamations declaring October to be both Down Syndrome Awareness Month and National Disability Employment Month throughout Pennsylvania. The Office of Developmental Programs asks you to share the attached proclamations and joining us in recognizing the accomplishments of Pennsylvanians with Down Syndrome as well as
September 30 – October 1, 2025Hosted Virtually PATC 2025 is right around the corner and it’s not too late to register! The Pennsylvania Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) invites you to register for its upcoming PATC conference to hear from leading experts on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and community inclusion. The theme
Your Story Isn’t Over Yet Each September, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) recognizes Suicide Prevention Month as a time to raise awareness, spread hope, and ignite action around suicide, one of the most urgent mental health crises today. And one way this is done is through communication. One conversation, simply
During Direct Support Professionals (DSP) week, September 7-13, 2025, the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) would like to honor and celebrate the extraordinary compassion and hard work of DSPs who support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism in Pennsylvania. DSPs play a vital role in empowering the people they support
"Inspiring Advocacy, Awareness and Action within all Communities" On Friday, October 17th, UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital will host a one-day virtual conference focused on improving accessibility in disability health care. This conference aims to highlight the critical importance of developing and strengthening cross-disciplinary partnerships in the care of our most vulnerable patient
