The Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services (BBVS) is offering a training overview of the wide range of supports and services that they provide to individuals who are blind or have a vision impairment. Additionally, the training will also highlight how individuals with vision loss can connect to BBVS’s resources, as well as the process for receiving services. Register here to attend.
Who should attend?
All Interested Stakeholders
Date and Time:
May 22, 2026
10:00 am – 11:00 am
Please share these important workshops and support groups with your networks! Register here for upcoming events.
Good Life Group, Support Groups
LifeCourse Workshops
Waiver Workshops
Learning Collaborative for Professionals Supporting People with Disabilities who are Parents
Date: Thursday, June 4, 2026
Time: 10:00 am – 10:45 am
Description: The Office of Developmental Programs is pleased to share an upcoming opportunity for professionals across systems to engage in a new Learning Collaborative focused on supporting people with disabilities who are parents—or who are planning to become parents. This Learning Collaborative will bring together professionals from across state and local systems, including providers, supports coordination organizations, administrative entities, and partners in early childhood, behavioral health, and child-serving systems. Participants will engage as regional or local teams to explore effective practices, share resources, and strengthen cross-system collaboration.
Through a series of interactive sessions, the collaborative will focus on:
The Learning Collaborative is designed as a community of practice, emphasizing shared learning, discussion, and real-world application. While it will not provide regulatory guidance, it will highlight key questions and opportunities to inform ongoing system improvement.
Audience: All Interested Stakeholders
After Hours with Policy from the Office of Development Programs (ODP): How Can I Share my Ideas of Make a Suggestion About an ODP Policy? What is Public Comment?
Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Time: 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Description: The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) invites individuals with intellectual disabilities and/or autism (ID/A) and their families to join in a virtual discussion with members of the Division of Policy and Program Innovation. These sessions are informal, meaning the conversation will not be recorded, and rules will be set before the session starts to ensure everyone feels comfortable and safe to provide questions and comments. The session will be held through Microsoft Teams.
Please note: This event is being held only for individuals and family members; this is not an event for someone who is solely a professional.
What Will Be Covered? ODP’s policy staff is excited to engage with individuals and families about how to share a suggestion or desired change when ODP is asking for input.
The process of public comment will be explained and will include:
ODP has chosen this topic for June as ODP is in the process of updating some of their waivers.
Audience: Individuals and Families
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared communication ODPANN 26-054, which announces the release of the Multi-Year Program Growth Strategy (MYPGS): Eliminating the Emergency Adult Waiting List Report 2025. The waiting list is comprised of individuals who are eligible to receive services and supports through ODP’s four home and community-based services (HCBS) waivers; however, due to insufficient waiver capacity, the state is not able to currently meet everyone’s needs. In this report, you’ll find information about ODP’s MYPGS developed to address this problem, particularly for adults on the emergency waiting list, and see the progress that has been made so far. Access the report here: 2025 Multi-Year Program Growth Strategy Report. For any questions, please submit via this email or contact Tim Sohosky, IDD Division Director or Cathy Barrick, IDD Policy Analyst.
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared updates to communication ODPANN 26-050. This announcement provides technical guidance to stakeholders who participate in the FY 2026/27 Individual Support Plan (ISP) renewal process. All updated guidance appears in red. For information related to special considerations or for other questions about the ISP renewal process, please contact your respective ODP Regional Program Office.
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) announces updates to the process and procedures for requesting residential fee schedule rate exceptions in the Consolidated Waiver, referred to as a Needs Exception Allowance (NEA), previously announced in 23-083.
Additional details are available in ODPANN 26‑053.
Key updates include:
Key Dates:
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) in partnership with the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) and the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) invites you to join this virtual session “How Do You Step Into Advocacy?”
This meeting will bring together individuals, families, and professionals across systems as equal partners to strengthen person- and family-centered practices.
When:
Tuesday, June 2, 2026 | 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Individuals, family members, professionals, advocates, community partners, and anyone interested in person- and family-centered practices are encouraged to attend.
Please see the flyer for additional details and a link to register.
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has updated the Common Law Employer (CLE) and Managing Employer (ME) agreements to clarify, among other changes, the number of hours per week a Support Service Professional (SSP) may be scheduled to provide services and the number of hours per week relatives may be scheduled to provide services. ODP has also updated the CLE and ME agreements to require that CLEs and MEs ensure that all waiver services provided by an SSP are provided in Pennsylvania and states contiguous to Pennsylvania.
All agreements signed prior to May 8, 2026 will be considered null and void by ODP as of August 6, 2026. Failure to submit a new CLE Consent Form or ME Agreement Form to the responsible Financial Management Services (FMS) vendor will require corrective action and may result in termination of the CLE or ME. Please see announcement ODPANN 26-051 for more information.
The Office of Developmental Programs is asking SC Organizations to hold off on completing Fiscal Year Renewals for waiver enrolled individuals at this time. You may complete SC Only Fiscal Year Renewals. A revised communication with additional guidance will be distributed shortly. Please contact ODP directly with any questions.
In 2022, the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) created the new waiver service Family Medical Support Assistance (FMSA). ODP is scheduling webinars to explain what this service entails, how it works, and who it applies to. ODP is encouraging individuals and families to attend this webinar to learn about this waiver service; there will be time during the webinar for questions to be asked directly to ODP.
Who should attend?
Individuals and Families
Date and Time:
Friday, May 29, 2026
10:00 am – 11:30 am
Please note that this session is intended specifically for individuals and families. ODP is offering a seperate session for professionals.
