The Pennsylvania Family Network (PAFN) recently certified all of their advisors with intellectual/developmental disabilities in Charting My LifeCourse. Charting My LifeCourse introduces self-advocates to the building blocks of Charting the LifeCourse (CtLC) which allows them to mentor peers in using the tools. The Charting the LifeCourse framework was created by the University of
The Department of Human Services (DHS) has detected a recent growth in reports of stolen SNAP and TANF benefits in the Erie and Western PA regions due to suspected EBT card skimming. Although these types of fraudulent activities are on the rise nationwide, the recent wave of scams in PA are depleting
Heather Radcliffe became a Direct Support Professional (DSP) three years ago. Before that she worked for an online clothing retailer in a warehouse. She was looking for more meaningful work, and deep down she knew she would love being a DSP. “My husband, actually, had already been working for SPIN,” Heather recounts,
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) celebrated Sports & Fitness Month with Erie Athletics, Erie's adult Special Olympics chapter. In May, ODP joined Erie Athletics team members Dion, Mary Ellen, Roy, Nicole, and their coach, Natalie, for track and field practice where they worked on javelin, shotput, standing long jump, and distance
June 25 - July 1, 2024 This week is marked annually in honor of leading humanitarian Helen Keller's birthday on June 27. Being deaf and blind herself, Keller's work made a big difference in the lives of DeafBlind people. What is DeafBlindness? DeafBlindness is a combination of visual and auditory impairments. It
This week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services rule (Access Rule). The Access Rule will strengthen the home and community-based services (HCBS) that make community living possible for millions of people. It includes important new requirements related to the direct care workforce, health and
On August 4, 2022, the Biden administration declared monkeypox a public health emergency. Since then, every state and Washington, D.C. has recorded cases of the virus. As of Sept. 20, 2022, the CDC reported 24,203 total confirmed monkeypox cases in the United States. Of those cases, 3 percent, or 708 total, were
