Deputy Secretary Kristin Ahrens poses for a photo with Lifesharing award winners Carol Williams and Arturo Burgos of KenCrest

Lifesharing Coalition Hosts 13th Annual Conference

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.

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PATC 2025 – Full Schedule & Session Descriptions Now Available!

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

A male swimmer does the freestyle stroke toward the camera in a swim competition. He's wearing a swim cap.

Move Your Way® with Special Olympics Pennsylvania

This summer, thousands of athletes, coaches, families, and friends from across Pennsylvania participated in Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s annual Summer Games at Penn State University in State College, PA. ODP was invited to cheer on the athletes as they competed in the games. The Summer Games is Special Olympics Pennsylvania's largest statewide competition,

ODPANN 25-062: Performance-Based Contracting (PBC) Administrative Entities’ (AE) Notice to Individuals

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) requests your assistance sharing the attached communication, ODPANN 25-062 Reissue: Performance-Based Contracting (PBC) Administrative Entities’ (AE) Notice to Individuals and its accompanying attachment. The purpose of this announcement is to 1)Provide details about information that will be sent to individuals and their families regarding the assignment

One basket ball player defends another player who is dribbling the ball

Move Your Way® – ODP Celebrates Physical Fitness & Sports with Special Olympics PA

This Spring, the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) celebrated Physical Fitness & Sports month with Special Olympics Pennsylvania (SOPA). May was Physical Fitness & Sports month, and to celebrate, ODP visited SOPA's Central Spring Sectional competition at Saint Francis University. Athletes competed in six sports including aquatics, athletics (track and field), basketball,

An overhead shot of an inclusive playground in a park.

Inclusive Recreation Resource Webinar

July 14, 2025 at 6:30 pm The Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council (PADDC) will be hosting a webinar to share resources on inclusive recreation and inclusive play for families and individuals with disabilities. PADDC invites you to join the discussion with experts from around the country who work in the field of inclusive

ODPANN 25-044 New Assessments Required for Adult Autism Waiver (AAW) Participants

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) requests your assistance sharing the attached communication, ODPANN 25-044 New Assessments Required for Adult Autism Waiver (AAW) Participants. The purpose of this communication is to inform all interested stakeholders about the new assessment protocol that is replacing most of the previous assessments required for participants in the

13th Annual Lifesharing Conference - Building Connections, Building Community. Building a Life for a Lifetime.

Save the Date for the13th Annual Lifesharing Conference!

Hosted by the Pennsylvania Lifesharing CoalitionOctober 6 and 7, 2025King of Prussia, PA The Pennsylvania Lifesharing Coalition invites you to save the date for its 13th Annual Lifesharing Conference. On October 6 and 7, 2025 the Lifesharing Conference will be held at The Alloy Hotel in King of Prussia, PA. The family-friendly

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PADDC Seeking Statements on ACL Dismantle

Last week, the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council (PADDC) released a statement about the federal government's proposal to dismantle the Administration of Community Living (ACL). This change, along with several other recent decisions, will impact services for people with developmental disabilities. If you have concerns about eliminating ACL, cuts to Medicaid, closing the Department

Seated at the HKNC-branded table in the front row center is Tammie Christian (HKNC’s DBIE Coordinator), with Amy Brillinger (CEO of Shadowfax) on her right and Lea Sheffield (Special Populations Unit Manager with ODP) on her left. Standing behind them are Shadowfax staff members along with two representatives from Pennsylvania’s Office of Developmental Programs (ODP).

Helen Keller National Center Partners with Pennsylvania’s Office of Developmental Programs to Expand DeafBlind Immersion Experience Program

Helen Keller National Center partners with Pennsylvania's Office of Developmental Programs to bring specialized DeafBlind support directly to local communities. This innovative five-day immersion program empowers support teams with personalized strategies, ensuring DeafBlind individuals with intellectual disabilities can achieve greater independence in their home environments. Helen Keller National Center (HKNC) announced a

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