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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 26-040This communication states that the updated SPeCTRUM training is now available on MyODP. It also outlines completion requirements and provides guidance regarding documentation, transition timelines, and prior version applicability. This announcement obsoletes ODPANN 19-072, 19-121, and 20-032.

The updated SPeCTRUM training has enhanced webinar capabilities, updated content, and has been streamlined while continuing to provide foundational information necessary to support adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

SPeCTRUM training is available on MyODP’s website.

Questions regarding SPeCTRUM training requirements may be directed to the BSASP Training inbox.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is requesting presentation proposals for its 19th annual Pennsylvania Autism Training Conference (PATC). The conference will be held virtually with an interactive schedule on November 4 – 5, 2026. PATC invites professionals, clinicians, autistic self-advocates, and their families/caregivers to learn from leading experts in the field of autism supports. We are interested to hear from people who have developed and/or effectively implemented models in the following areas:

  • Communication approaches, modalities, and technical advancements;
  • Supporting autistic individuals with profound support needs;
  • The neuroscience of autism;
  • Applications in genetic testing;
  • Sensory impacts and strategies;
  • Executive functioning;
  • Understanding and implementing the foundational frameworks Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA);
  • Supporting the family and other caregivers;
  • Competitive Integrated Employment; and
  • Community and cultural competence.

Submit your proposal for PATC 2026 here. The deadline to submit proposals is May 29, 2026.

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

Register Here

ODP encourages professionals to share this webinar broadly with the individuals and families they support.

Please note that this session is intended specifically for individuals and families. ODP is offering a sperate session for professionals.

A recording of the webinar will be made available on MyODP following the event.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has released Announcement 26-039 and its accompanying attachment, detailing the Pay-for-Performance (P4P) initiatives under Performance-Based Contracting (PBC) for the 2026/27 fiscal year. These initiatives provide supplemental payments to eligible residential providers who meet or exceed specific performance benchmarks.

Providers of Residential Habilitation, Life Sharing, and Supported Living services provided through the Consolidated and Community Living Waivers that are assigned to the Primary, Select, or Clinically Enhanced tiers are eligible to participate.

P4P Initiative Areas:

  • Staff Credentialing: Focuses on stabilizing the workforce by incentivizing DSP and FLS credentialing.
    • Criteria: Providers must have 25–30% of DSPs and 45–50% of FLSs credentialed by December 31, 2026.
    • Payment: 0.3% of the prior calendar year’s residential revenue, paid in May 2027.
  • Rural Capacity Expansion: Supports increasing service capacity in designated rural counties.
    • Criteria: Development and approval of a Rural Capacity Expansion Plan with Administrative Entities (AE).
    • Payment: Tiered milestone payments (Planning: $10,000; Implementation: $15,000; Stability: $25,000).
  • Transition to Independent Living: Incentivizes moving individuals from licensed Residential Habilitation (4 or fewer people) to Life Sharing or Supported Living.
    • Payment: Two payments of $15,000 (totaling $30,000 per individual) based on successful transition and six-month retention.
  • Remote Supports: Allows providers to retain savings when utilizing remote supports while billing the daily fee schedule rate.

Important Deadlines:

  • Credentialing Data Submission: February 15, 2027 – March 15, 2027.
  • Rural Capacity Milestones: Submission deadlines vary by milestone (October 2026, January 2027, and April 2027).

Providers should review the detailed criteria in the ODP announcement attachment to ensure internal tracking systems are aligned with the required reporting metrics for 2026/27.

Questions can be directed via email.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is anticipating the release of a new bulletin on the Appeal and Fair Hearing process. ODP is scheduling this webinar for individuals, families, and Supports Coordinators (SC). This webinar will explain the information that is included in the bulletin, the process of appealing a decision, and what a Fair Hearing is.

This webinar was developed for individuals and families, but we encourage SCs to attend so they understand the Appeal and Fair Hearing process. Supports Coordinators are responsible for understanding this process so they can assist their individuals and families when they have questions. There will be time throughout the webinar for individuals and families or SCs to ask questions directly to ODP staff about the topic.

Who should attend?
Individuals, Families, and Supports Coordinators

Date and Time:
Friday, May 1, 2026
11:00 am – 12:30 pm

Register Here

ODP encourages professionals to share this webinar broadly with the individuals and families they support.

Please note that this session is intended specifically for individuals and families. We respectfully ask that professionals refrain from attending, as ODP’s goal is to communicate directly with and hear feedback from these audiences.

A recording of the webinar will be made available on MyODP following the event.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 26-038. This announcement informs users that the MyTranscript report available on MyODP has been updated to include three distinct categories and to provide instructions for accessing the reports as well as to provide instructions on re-taking MyODP courses.

  • The first MyTranscript report is called “MyTranscript Course Completion” and will capture trainings completed after December 1, 2025.
  • The second MyTranscript report is called “MyTranscript Certificates” and captures specific trainings where a certificate was or is currently being issued.
  • The third MyTranscript report is called “MyTranscript Historical Completion” and will capture data of certificates that were issued before December 1, 2025.

Please view the announcement for more details.

The Department of Human Services (DHS) invites you to participate in the DHS Statewide Positive Approaches & Practices meeting. Jointly hosted by the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) and the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP), this quarterly meeting aims to provide the most recent research and resources for people with mental health and behavioral challenges, intellectual disabilities, autism, and other developmental disabilities to live an everyday life. Please see the flyer for detailed information.

Date: Thursday, April 16, 2026
Time: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Location: Online – Zoom Webinar

  • Morning session: Guardianship Overview: Legal Interpretation, Expectations and Limitations
  • Afternoon session: Understanding the Significance of Psychiatric Advance Directives (PADs)

Register here. The Zoom link for joining the session will be sent to the email you used to register. This link will be unique to your registration. Please do not share this link.

Questions? Email

Please note that Certificates of Attendance are not issued for Statewide Positive Approaches & Practices meetings.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared updates to ODPANN 26-037. The purpose of this communication is to announce the release of the updated Incident Management (IM) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document on MyODP. This FAQ has been developed to answer commonly asked questions about incident management. The questions that have been added appear with a blue background, and any updated answer from a previous question is italicized.

Please view the announcement for more details.

Attachment:

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has announced the release of the 2025 Employment First report. ODP believes that all people with an intellectual disability and/or autism must be encouraged to pursue their vision for an everyday life, which may include working in competitive integrated employment. Competitive integrated employment offers a person an opportunity to achieve economic independence, build self-confidence, enhance self-determination, and meet new people while building new skills. The Everyday Lives: Values in Action publication, developed by the ODP Information Sharing and Advisory Committee (ISAC), which includes self-advocates, reads:

“Employment is a centerpiece of adulthood and must be available for every person. The benefits of employment for people with disabilities are significant and are the same as for people without disabilities.”

This report serves as an update to all stakeholders on the progress that has been made to support individuals served by ODP on finding and maintaining competitive integrated employment.

Access the 2025 Employment First report here. This document can also be found by visiting the MyODP Employment Home page.

Photo by Chris Montgomery on Unsplash

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) invites you to register for its Everyday Lives 2026 Virtual Conference!

The 2026 Everyday Lives Conference will include ODP’s annual Dual Diagnosis Conference as a pre-conference event, jointly hosted with the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS). The biannual Everyday Lives Conference, hosted by the Pennsylvania Office of Developmental Programs (ODP), invites individuals with a disability and/or autism (ID/A), family members, caregivers, and support professionals to engage in presentations and panels focused on sharing information that empowers the everyday lives of individuals with disabilities throughout Pennsylvania. The 2026 Everyday Lives Conference (EDL) will be held virtually throughout the first two weeks of May 2026. The conference theme for 2026 is “Breaking Barriers and Building Futures.” View the conference program for more information, including the full conference agenda.

Learn More and Register Here

What to Expect:

The virtual conference will be hosted through the online platform Whova and will feature six days of presentations. A series of watch parties will be hosted throughout the state as an opportunity for conference-goers to connect and engage with the conference content together. Follow the registration link for more information.

The conference program is broken into three sections. Each conference section (excluding the post-conference) will include presentations for all ODP stakeholders, but some sessions may cater more to one audience than another. Regardless, ODP invites all audiences to attend every session. Content will be accessible and relevant to all.

Learn more at the EverydayLives website.