ADvancing States Publishes “Enabling Technology in Long-Term Services and Supports and Medicare”
assistive technology
PA Lifesharing Coalition Shares Save the Date and Call for Proposals for 13th Annual Lifesharing Conference
The PA Lifesharing Coalition has announced the 13th Annual Lifesharing Conference! The conference will be held at The Alloy, a Doubletree Hotel by Hilton, at King of Prussia, PA, on October 6 and 7. The early bird registration fee is $225 through July 30. After July 30, registration will be $250. You can view the Save the Date flyer for more details.
In addition, the PA Lifesharing Coalition has shared a Call for Proposals for the conference. Take the opportunity to present your knowledge to an eager audience looking to gain new skills and expand their knowledge. Each breakout session will be between 45-60 minutes long, including 10-15 minutes for Q&A and discussion. Topics of interest include but are not limited to: aging individuals, medically complex children, respite services, recruiting lifesharing providers/families, safe use of technology, self-care, and best practices. View the Call for Proposals for details. Proposal forms are due by Friday, May 30, 2025.
Arc Human Services Issues Call for Proposals for Employment Symposium and Job Fair October 2025
Register Today for the Disability Health Action Summit on March 19
Reminder: PA Technology Summits to Be Hosted March 2025
IPRC Member Good Shepherd Rehabilitation to Host DISRUPT: Health-Care Innovation Summit on April 5
ODP Shares Vol. 11 of Technology Today, the Technology Taskforce Newsletter
PA Technology Summits Planned for March 2025
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.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: The Federal Budget Leaves People With Disabilities Without the Technology They Need, Special by Will Hall of RCPA Member PATF and Steve Suroviec of RCPA Member Achieva
ODP Updates AAW Provider Information Table
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has updated the AAW Provider Information Table to reflect the following updates:
- The addition of the American Sign Language (ASL)-English Interpreter Service. This new service has been added to ensure effective communication for those participants that utilize ASL.
- Residential Habilitation Provider Qualifications have been updated to reflect additions designed to ensure all residential providers are financially prepared, new providers have prior experience before delivering residential services, and services will continue without interruption when organizational changes occur at the executive level.
- Assistive Technology devices that cost less than $750 do not require an independent evaluation by a professional certified by SHIFT, an online education and accreditation platform, but may be completed if the service plan team believes it to be beneficial.
- Transportation service limit has been increased to $10,000 per participant’s service plan year, which includes both Transportation-Trip and Transportation-Public.
- The Transportation service section has also been updated to include guidance previously released in ODP Announcement 24-005: Adding the Transportation Service to an Individual Support Plan (ISP) in the Adult Autism Waiver (AAW). The information also includes a change to how Transportation-Public is added to the ISP.
- The Community Transition service has been updated to allow for non-recurring set-up expenses for individuals who are transitioning from another provider-operated living arrangement to a living arrangement in a private residence where the person is directly responsible for their living expenses.
- The Career Planning and Supported Employment services sections have been updated to include information previously released in ODP Announcement 20-004: Clarifications and Training Requirements for Adult Autism Waiver (AAW) Employment Services.
- Other updates and changes to AAW services due to the January 1, 2025, Waiver Amendment.
Please view the announcement and table for additional information and details. New services, updated language, and changes to services are highlighted in gray in the table.
