Agencies & Organizations
The following is a list of Pennsylvania and national agencies and organizations providing services to families of children with significant needs.
The ABA in PA Initiative is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization made up of parents, industry professionals, and lawmakers dedicated to change the future for all children in Pennsylvania with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) by ensuring access to Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy via Medical Assistance.
Achieva Family Trust helps families provide for a loved one with special needs while maintaining the individuals’ ability to access government benefits. Experienced trust administrators provide social service support and professional investment management. An accessible, one stop resource for information and education.
The Allegheny County Department of Human Services (DHS) Office of Developmental Supports (ODS) registers eligible Allegheny County residents with
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Intellectual Disability (ID)
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Autism
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Developmental Disability (DD) prior to age 9 and
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Medically Complex Condition (MCC) prior to age 21
to connect them to Supports Coordination and other supports and services.
The Special Needs Registry is a volunteer registry of information provided by individuals with a disability that would be helpful for emergency personnel to know when responding to a crisis involving that individual.
Services to gather information to share with families. This includes events, local support groups, state-wide news, trainings and information.
The Arc of Butler County provides services and support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD) and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
The Arc of PA’s mission is to advocate with and for all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
to promote and secure their rights.
Autism Services, Education, Resources and Training (ASERT) is a partnership of medical centers, centers of autism research and services, and other providers involved in the treatment and care of autistic individuals.
Autism Caring Center’s mission is to enhance the lives of individuals and families by working diligently to provide support, resources, advocacy and offer training to community businesses to raise awareness and acceptance.
The mission is to be a lifeline and hub for families and adults, providing support, information, and advocacy. The Autism Connection of Pennsylvania serves families, professionals, and adults seeking help for autism questions and concerns.
The Y is where everyone, regardless of age, income, religion or background has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. They have adaptive exercise equipment, programs, swim lessons, personal training, and overnight camp.
Beaver County Behavioral Health and Developmental Services provides Beaver County residents with a system of care for those with intellectual disability, mental health issues, or children in need of early intervention.
BehaviorWorx of Southwestern Pa. specializes in autism and behavior intervention. BehaviorWorx recognizes the causes of behavior rooted in nutrition, allergies, undetected vision issues, and problems that occur early on in life.
They have worked with parents, service coordinators, OTs, PTs, SLP’s, nutritionists, behaviorists, teachers and many other mental and behavioral health professionals to shift their practice to a holistic approach.
The mission of the Butler County Area Vocational-Technical School is to empower students with the skills necessary for continuous development, education, and employment.
Center for Community Resources (CCR) was created to provide Pennsylvanians a choice for the supports and service coordination needed to make a positive difference in everyday lives. CCR connects people to a network of supports and services essential for actively learning, working, and living in the community.
CCR provides supportive services for individuals and families seeking information, referral, and service coordination.
Citizen Care is committed to providing services and supports to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The agency reflects a person-centered philosophy in which people receiving services are gainfully employed, engaged in their communities, and are treated with dignity and respect.
ComForCare offers a variety of in-home care services to fit the needs of you and your family. It is our goal to provide companionship and help out with everyday activities to ensure your elderly loved ones can live safely and securely. Whether your loved one’s health concerns are due to illness, injury, or aging, our personal home care packages and flexible scheduling allow your loved one to maintain a sense of freedom, dignity, and connection to friends and family.
The Mission of Community Care Connections, Inc. is to provide programs and services that empower children and adults with disabilities to live more safely and independently in their homes, schools, neighborhoods and communities.
The Vision of Community Care Connections, Inc. is to strive to provide the most innovative support services, personalized advocacy and dynamic leadership that enable persons with disabilities and their families to navigate an ever-changing service delivery system and build support systems that meet their diverse needs.
Place for information and products created for the network of Parent Centers serving families of children with disabilities.
DHS is where you can apply for Medical Assistance (MA), also known as Medicaid, pays for health care services for eligible individuals. There are also additional resources related to human services.
Their mission is to empower people with disabilities to live as independently as they choose. This means assisting people with disabilities to live how and where they choose by providing Home and Community based Services in Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Greene, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Potter, Somerset, Venango, Warren, Washington and Westmoreland counties.
Easterseals is an organization that provides exceptional programs and services to ensure people that live in Western and Central Pennsylvania with disabilities or other special needs and their families have equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play in their communities. Some of the programs and services that this organization provides are: Adult and Senior Services, Employment Services/ Vocational Rehabilitation, Children's Services, Camping and Recreation, and Medical Rehabilitation
The Family Care Act recognizes something we already know to be true, family takes care of family. By establishing a paid family medical leave insurance fund in Pennsylvania, the Family Care Act: Allows family members to provide critical care and rehab services to elderly loved ones at home, without risking their jobs and financial security. Grants parents the ability to care for their son or daughter who is recovering from a serious illness. Allows workers to care for themselves following a major surgery. Grants new moms and dads the chance to be there for the critical period following the birth or adoption of a child.
Familylinks offers supports coordination for those with intellectual disabilities, and education for children whose behavioral or developmental health issues keep them from thriving in a traditional school setting. We reach out to local schools with our prevention education programs and our school-based mental health services.
Hope Grows invites caregivers to experience and approach to wellness through nature.
We exist to cultivate a conducive environment by campaigning for individuality with inclusion, growth with choices, and quality with equality to all served. This will be accomplished by providing short-term regular, or as needed, care for families, permanent placement for those seeking housing and more independence, and assistance with transitioning into the workforce.
The Y is where everyone, regardless of age, income, religion or background has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. They have adaptive exercise equipment, programs, swim lessons, personal training, and overnight camp.
The Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council is charged with periodically creating a state plan that will lead to more meaningful and participant lives for people with developmental disabilities in our state.
PHLP is a 501(c)(3) non-profit law firm that represents Pennsylvanians who need help getting or keeping Medicaid (also known as Medical Assistance or MA). Through our Helpline, we serve thousands of individuals from across the state. We listen to a client's story and we translate their personal experience into a legal problem to be solved. Sometimes that means challenging a decision to deny or stop Medicaid benefits. We also challenge Medicaid plans when they reduce or deny services.
PA Connecting Communities empowers individuals with disabilities and provides opportunities to improve their quality of life. PA Connecting Communities is a state-certified provider. They offer services to meet the diverse needs of individuals with a variety of disabilities including intellectual and autism difficulties. They host an amazing number of events throughout the Pgh area for the whole family.
PA Elks provide in-home support and advocacy services to individuals of any age who have a developmental disability. The Elks Special Kids Network helps children and youth with special health care needs, by helping their families get the services and support these young people require in order to thrive in the community and develop to their full potential.
he PA Family Network is supported by the Pennsylvania Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) whose mission is to support Pennsylvanians with developmental disabilities to achieve greater independence, choice and opportunity in their lives. The Network involves working to transform state policies, practices and systems to better assist and support families that include a member with intellectual disabilities and/or autism. The goal of the collaboration is to support families in ways that maximize their capacity to facilitate the achievement of self-determination, integration and inclusion in all facets of community life for their family members.
The Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) is an initiative of the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Bureau of Special Education. PaTTAN supports the Department of Education’s efforts to lead and serve the educational community by offering professional development that builds the capacity of local school districts to meet students’ needs. PaTTAN’s primary focus is special education. However, services are also provided to support Early Intervention, student assessment, tutoring and other partnership efforts, all designed to help students succeed.
Progress City is committed to making our community a better place by providing innovative solutions to workplace challenges, and true integration of the diversely-abled into the community.
SafeinHome empowers people to live independently in their own homes and communities using a remote supports staff and assistive technologies.
Special Olympics PA is provides year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.
Ambulatory adults with intellectual disabilities who have graduated high school, their parents, family and their mentoring typical friends can socialize through monthly activities with a learning and / or philanthropic community service component.
Three Rivers Community Care began as Three Rivers Music Therapy in early 2018. Our founder, Allison Broaddrick saw a need for the expansion of music therapy services across the Pittsburgh Region that was accessible to all. Much like the original founding of the company, the expansion to Three Rivers Community Care came from a desire to serve the needs of our community.
It is the mission of Tutelage Residential Services, LLC to provide a safe and nurturing environment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities that fosters growth, independence and choice.
Total Learning Center provides direct, intensive, research-based methods to ensure significant gains in reading, writing, math, attention, processing, working memory and more. They aim to identify the underlying causes of learning difficulties and create changes that positively impact each individual’s learning.
Transitional Options Inc. is a social service agency serving adults with Intellectual Development Disabilities and Autism. Transitional Options will provide innovative community living arrangements, goal orientated employment services and meaningful day programming focusing on health, wellness and community involvement.
Woodlands is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of children and adults with disability and chronic illness. The Woodlands’ programs enable participants to experience social, cultural, environmental, recreational and spiritual growth.
Hope Grows invites caregivers to experience and approach to wellness through nature.