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Brain Injury

The Inglis Impact Accelerator is dedicated to fostering a more accessible and inclusive world by investing in entrepreneurs within, and allies to, the disability community with disruptive ideas and business ventures.

To that end, RCPA member Inglis is looking for six businesses to participate in a 15-week virtual program that concludes with a virtual pitch event. The program includes interactive webinars, workshops, and both one-on-one and group coaching sessions about refining and testing business ideas, attracting and engaging customers, optimizing sales funnels, and more.

Each business that successfully completes the program and pitches at the virtual pitch event will receive a $5,000 cash prize provided by Highmark Wholecare.

Eligibility requirements:

  • Founder must reside in Pennsylvania.
  • Founder will ideally have identified a target market and created a minimum viable product/service or prototype.
  • The program does not require a legal business entity to apply, but we are seeking businesses that plan to file in the near future if they haven’t already.
  • Our rigorous selection process will prioritize ideas in three core areas — housing accessibility, assistive technology, and innovative healthcare models, as well as founders who identify as having a disability.
  • At least one member of the founding team should expect to spend a minimum of 4-6 hours per week participating in programming and dedicated work efforts for the duration of the 15-week program.

If you know any founders whom you think might be interested in participating in the program, please share the flyer and link to apply.

If you have any questions, please contact Fady Sahhar.

The meeting documents from the March 7, 2024, Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Subcommittee meeting are now available. These documents include the transcript and PowerPoint presentations. You can view the documents below:

The next LTSS Subcommittee meeting is scheduled for April 3, 2024, from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm in the PA Department of Education’s Honors Suite at 333 Market St. in Harrisburg, PA. The option to participate via webinar is also an option. The agenda for the April meeting is here.

To participate in the meeting via webinar, please register here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. If you plan to participate via phone, the dial-in number is: (213) 929-4212; PIN: 914 913 021#.

The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) has announced that they will be presenting a six-session webinar series that will focus on housing issues. The live, interactive webinars will be conducted from 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm in April and May and will focus on the following topics:

2024 OLTL Spring Housing Series Curriculum

  • April 2: Understanding Housing Nuances in Pennsylvania
  • April 9: Recommended Relationships to Have in the Housing Sector
  • April 16: Fair Housing and Landlord/Tenant Issues with the Housing Equality Center of PA
  • April 23: OFF
  • April 30: Types of Housing Funding Sources
  • May 7: Keeping Participants Housed with Landlord Engagement Techniques AND Housing Information Resources to be Aware of
  • May 14: Assistive Technology and Housing with the PA Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF)

Target Audience

The webinar series targets Service Coordinators, Managed Care Organizations (MCO), and Service Coordination Entity support staff who assist program participants in securing and maintaining affordable, accessible housing through Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS). The target audience for these webinars includes individuals and organizations who provide long-term services and supports (LTSS) for older Pennsylvanians and people with physical disabilities.

Important Information

The information covered in this webinar series will be similar to the information covered in the 2023 OLTL spring and fall housing webinars (except for an added session on assistive technology). Since the information is similar, if you attended the 2023 housing webinars, you do not need to attend this series unless you wish to refresh your knowledge on the topic, participate in a session that you missed, or participate in the new assistive technology session.

This webinar series builds on information already provided in the Online Housing Training Modules and the Self-Determination Housing of Pennsylvania (SDHP)/Inglis’ Prepared Renter Program (PREP) curriculum.

The content in each webinar builds on prior content. Participants will get the most out of the series by taking all of the webinars.

To participate in the webinars, registration is available here.

RCPA hosted our 2024 Capitol Day today, March 19 inside the Main Rotunda. The rally focused on workforce issues within health and human services as well as budget items addressed in Shapiro’s 2024/25 budget. You can view our 2024 legislative and administrative priorities here.

RCPA President and CEO Richard Edley addressed the crowd, highlighting the continued need for funding, training, and assistance for those working in various areas of health and human services.

Other organizations came to support our cause as well as to advocate for themselves, their families, and their loved ones. Sherri Landis, Executive Director of The Arc of PA, spoke to the audience, while RCPA member Step by Step, Inc. showed up dressed in orange, ready to stand and offer their support!


Legislators also took to the stand to speak about the ongoing crises occurring in health and human services. Representative Stephen Kinsey and Representative Doyle Heffley, Co-Chairs for the House Human Services Committee, conveyed their support, as did Representative Dan Miller, Representative Frank Farry, and Senator Art Haywood, Co-Chair for the Senate Health & Human Services Committee.


RCPA thanks everyone, from legislators and their staff to advocates representing their friends and families, for coming out and supporting our efforts today. We appreciate and admire the work you do for our communities and will continue to serve on your behalf!

Time is running out to register for RCPA’s Capitol Day, which will be held next Tuesday, March 19. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to advocate for yourselves and others by meeting with legislators directly! We will hold a press conference in the Main Rotunda between 10:30 am – 11:30 am, which will tentatively include speakers such as:

  • Representative Dan Miller;
  • Representative Stephen Kinsey;
  • Representative Doyle Heffley;
  • Senator Art Haywood; and
  • Senator Frank Farry.

You can register for our Capitol Day press conference by contacting Allison Brognia or Christine Tartaglione with the number of anticipated attendees. RCPA requests that members schedule appointments with their Senate and House legislators directly to discuss the state budget, legislation, and regulations after our press conference.

To help support our members and their families during these visits, RCPA asks that you use the following handouts:

Please note that copies of materials will also be available at the Capitol Rally. As an additional resource, members can visit the Pennsylvania Capitol website to locate parking and view maps of the building. If you have questions regarding our 2024 Capitol Day, please contact Jack Phillips.

The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) will be conducting a virtual Brain Injury Fundamentals course on March 20, 2024 from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm. The course will provide foundational knowledge about working with individuals who have a brain injury, and is ideal for non-licensed health care professionals, first responders, and support staff.

This course is self-paced, so those who are unable to participate in the in-person course due to scheduling conflicts or other commitments have the opportunity to complete the course with greater flexibility. Please note that while the self-paced option offers 24/7 access for independent learning and development, there is a two-hour live instructor component as well. To participate in the session, please register here.