As communications director, Sharon Militello is responsible for the design, development, and maintenance of the association website and social media pages; editing and preparation of communications; preparing and running webcasts; cultivating media relations; and maintaining relationships with technology support vendors.
Help PA get connected and stay connected! The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is expected to receive substantial federal funding for the purposes of broadband expansion, adoption, and literacy as part of the federal government’s historic funding under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The PA Broadband Development Authority (PBDA) is currently gathering input and data for its Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) and Digital Equity (DE) plans.
The PBDA has launched a public survey to hear from residents across Pennsylvania as a part of the planning process. Please consider responding to the Broadband Connectivity and Digital Access Survey. Your participation will be appreciated and is essential to supporting our collective interests in fast, reliable high-speed internet service for everyone.
If you’d like to learn more about the PBDA’s Internet for All: Connecting the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania initiative and see what community events are scheduled, visit this web page.
Registration is now open for the 2023 RCPA Annual Conference A Decade of Unity: Enhancing Lives and Shaping the Future!
Our impressive keynote speakers will include:
Secretary Valerie Arkoosh, PA Dept. of Human Services
State of the State. The secretary will discuss current critical issues for human services providers.
Chaz Kellem, Highmark Health
Beyond Accessibility: Diversity and Inclusion in the Disability Community. This session will engage participants in exploring the intersection of race and disability through the lens of consumers.
John T. Broderick, Jr., Juris Doctor
Changing the Conversation Around Mental Health: It’s Way Past Time. Broderick believes that “we have the ability to change the culture and the way mental health is viewed.” R.E.A.C.T. was developed to provide clear next steps when someone sees any of the five signs of emotional suffering in another person.
We are excited to share our registration brochure, which contains a full listing of workshops, general sessions, and Connections Hall offerings, with multiple networking opportunities. We have a well-rounded roster containing workshops on everything critical to the health and human resources fields, including value-based purchasing, the workforce crisis, and artificial intelligence and technology. Visit our Conference website for the latest information. Claim your seat today!
Individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism (ID/A), their families, and ID/A service providers held a rally on June 28 at the state Capitol to urge lawmakers to increase funding for services and support in the 2023/24 budget. Providers told those assembled in the Capitol rotunda that nearly 60,000 Pennsylvanians are at risk because there are not enough direct support professionals (DSPs) to care for them. Advocates pressed lawmakers to restore the $170 million in funding to invest into fee schedule rates to support DSPs and services.
“Across the state, we are seeing that there is insufficient staff to meet needs or no staff at all,” said Richard S. Edley, PhD, Rehabilitation & Community Providers Association president and CEO. “DSPs are overworked and depleted and have compromised their own health to serve individuals with ID/A. Program closures have eliminated essential services and also affected the health of individuals served. Underfunding a system where individuals and families are already waiting for or losing needed services simply compounds a dire situation. We need to come together to help those in need.”
View news clips and photos of those who advocated at this event for ID/A services funding below.
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