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Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities

Photo by Markus Winkler from Pexels

RCPA is pleased to announce that Timothy Sohosky will be joining RCPA as the Director of the Division of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). Tim brings 23 years of experience to RCPA, most recently working for The ReDCo Group (Clarvida) in several key positions. Beginning his career as an Intermediate Care Facility Director, he moved into Behavioral Health Rehabilitation Services (BHRS) Director, then onto Vice President and, most recently, Chief Operating Officer.

At RCPA, Tim will lead our IDD efforts as well as assist in some cross-division initiatives. Tim has also been an active member of the RCPA Conference Committee and will continue his role for that Committee. He has extensive experience in the programmatic and fiscal management of Intellectual Disabilities and Family Services programs across Pennsylvania. Tim holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and Sociology from the Pennsylvania State University.

We feel confident that Tim possesses the qualifications and expertise in the IDD sector that will build on the legacy of our current IDD Director, Carol Ferenz. Carol, who has been with RCPA since January 2018, will be retiring from the Director of IDD position, and has graciously accepted to continue as the RCPA Conference Coordinator for the 2025 conference. Please join us in congratulating Carol on her retirement!

The association is very excited about Tim coming on board, and he will begin his work with RCPA on February 18, 2025. On behalf of the RCPA Board of Directors, members, and staff, we welcome Tim to RCPA!

The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) is partnering with the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP), The Institute on Disabilities at Temple University, College of Education and Human Development, and the University of Kansas Center on Disabilities’ State of the States team to host Pennsylvania Technology Summits as part of a statewide initiative called PA Tech Accelerator.

The goal of the Summits is to expand the awareness of, and access to, assistive technology and remote technologies in order to build capacity of technology users throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The Summits will be held on March 6, 2025, in Philadelphia and March 13, 2025, in Pittsburgh. To attend, please register here.

The Summits will feature a keynote address by Rebekah Taussig, PhD; a panel of technology users giving advice, sharing their stories, and answering questions; and vendors showcasing services, devices, and solutions.

Who is invited?

  • People with disabilities and their families.
  • Direct Support Providers and professionals working with people with disabilities, such as Direct Care Workers, Direct Support Professionals, Support Service Professionals, Supports Coordinators, Job Coaches, and healthcare professionals.
  • Organizations and providers who serve people with disabilities.
  • Policymakers, advocates, and allies for people with lived disability experience.
  • Students looking to work in disability-related fields.
  • Anyone interested in technological supports for people with disabilities.

If you have additional questions about the Summit, please contact Kristy Crocetto at (215) 204-1356 or via email.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 25-010. This announcement notifies trainers of the following:

  • The 2022 student courses deadline has been extended to February 28, 2025, due to system issues experienced after January 13, 2025;
  • Fillable forms are now available on the Trainer Resources page; and
  • Provides guidance on the number of attempts permitted for each Medication Administration course before requesting a course reset from the Helpdesk.

Please view the announcement for information and details.

You’re Invited!

Thursday, January 30, 2025
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) would like to invite you to the Performance-Based Contracts Webinar for Individuals and Families. This webinar will provide individuals and families with a general overview of how the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) proposes to implement Performance-Based Contracting for residential services effective January 1, 2025.

Audience: Individuals, caregivers, and families.

Register Here

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) informs all waiver providers and vendors whose last digit of their Master Provider Index (MPI) number is 3, 4, or 5, as well as any new providers who enrolled in the 2023/24 fiscal year, that they must submit their qualification documentation to their Assigned AE and/or ODP’s Bureau of Supports for Autism and Special Populations (BSASP). Documentation must include a completed DP 1059 form and/or DP 1088 form, Provider Qualification Documentation Record (note: an updated Provider Qualification Documentation Record will be uploaded to MyODP in the coming weeks), as well as any other required supporting documentation.

This documentation is due between February 1, 2025 — March 31, 2025.

Please view the announcement ODPANN 25-008 for additional information and details.

RCPA partnered with The Alliance of Community Service Providers, The Arc of Pennsylvania, MAX Association, PAR, and TPA, in a collaborative workforce study and surveyed our members to collect data on the impact of the Commonwealth’s ID/A investment. We are pleased to share the results of that study, published and released today. This report also includes information on the demographic profile of our workforce, employee benefits provided, and critical data on vacancies and retention for Direct Support Professionals who provide the lifeline for individuals and families served by our community system.

Also available is a one-page infographic highlighting key data points from the compensation report, complemented with additional facts regarding inflation and the waiting list for intellectual disability services. Examined together, these factors illustrate the continued urgency for ongoing investment to meet the needs of our ID/A community and the thousands of people who remain on a waiting list without essential services.

The associations plan to continue our joint advocacy efforts regarding the budget for the coming Pennsylvania fiscal year.

Contact Carol Ferenz, IDD Division Director, with any questions.