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Resources

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is happy to announce a new resource, Bridging the Gap From Classroom to Community: Transition Resources Related to Communication!

Transition planning helps students with disabilities and their families get ready for life after high school and helps bridge supports between youth and adult service systems. It includes planning and preparing for employment, further education or training, and living independently.

This resource provides information on how to ensure access to effective communication while supporting individuals during the transition process.

This resource bundle includes transition information on the following:

  • American Sign Language
  • Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
  • Limited English Proficiency (LEP)
  • Speech and Blind/Visual Impairment
  • Tactile Communication
  • Visual Gestural Communication

The Transition Planning for Communication Resource is also found on MyODP.

Please contact the ODP Special Populations Unit via email with any questions.

The Jana Marie Foundation, Aevidum, Prevent Suicide PA, STAR-Center at the University of Pittsburgh, and Garrett Lee Smith (GLS) Youth Suicide Prevention Grant are pleased to share a resource guide for National Suicide Prevention Month. This September, the week of September 7 – 13 is recognized as National Suicide Prevention Week, with Wednesday, September 10 marking World Suicide Prevention Day. This year’s theme is a continuation from last year’s theme of “Changing the Narrative on Suicide,” with a call to action to “Continue the Conversation.”

The guide provides a variety of suicide prevention resources and activities that you can implement in your organization or community to raise awareness about suicide prevention. This includes infographics, ideas for events, social media posts, virtual backgrounds, a sample proclamation, and more.

We encourage you to share this resource guide with partners in your communities that can work together to save lives.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is proud to partner with the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL), the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS), and the Office of Medical Assistance Programs (OMAP) to announce the launch of the DHS Choking Prevention web page, a dedicated online resource hub aimed at preventing choking events among all Pennsylvanians. This new platform provides all interested stakeholders with a myriad of practical tools and educational materials to promote safer mealtime environments as well as how to recognize and respond to the potential safety risks for someone who has swallowing issues. This new website is a crucial step in ODP’s continued efforts to ensure safety, dignity, and health for individuals with intellectual disability and autism.

The DHS Choking Prevention web page is now available. ODP encourages all interested stakeholders to visit the site and access the available resources to implement into daily use as needed. Questions about this communication should be directed to your ODP Regional Office.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has released ODPANN 25-065: Medication Administration My Agency Report, Updated Materials, and July-September Train-the-Trainer Face-to-Face Schedule. The purpose of this announcement is:

  • To announce that the “My Agency” report is available to Agency Administrators and Primary Contacts in the “Reports” tab;
  • To announce that materials have been updated on the Trainer Resources page and a New Provider tab has been added; and
  • To announce the Face-to-Face schedule for July – September 2025.

Please review the announcement for additional information and details.

The Intersection of Mental and Physical Health Impacting our Communities: Part 1

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) and the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) are pleased to announce the latest edition of the Positive Approaches Journal.

This issue of the Positive Approaches Journal looks at topics related to challenges around maintaining and supporting both physical and mental health, as well as information on resources. This issue looks at the shortage of both primary health and mental health care professionals, and the five primary health conditions that can significantly elevate the risk of severe illness and death in individuals with ID/A. Other topics include: supporting the nutritional needs of individuals with autism, utilizing a public health approach to address wellness for individuals who have encountered trauma, and supporting individuals and their families who have survived suicide.

This issue of Positive Approaches Journal is in digital form, available for viewing online or for downloading. To print a copy of the PDF, online journal, or a specific article, you will find these options within your left navigation bar on any Positive Approaches Journal page. A new window will open with your selected document. In your browser, you may click the Print button in the top left corner of the page, or by using the Print capability within your browser.

Please submit feedback regarding your experience with the Positive Approaches Journal on MyODP by selecting the feedback image on MyODP within your left navigation bar on any Positive Approaches Journal page.

The Positive Approaches Journal is published quarterly. For additional information, please contact ODP Training’s inbox.

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In order to better serve our members and leverage our collective experience, the RCPA Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) Committee is compiling a list of training and consultant recommendations on DEI-related topics. We kindly request that you share your organization’s experiences. If you have engaged in or utilized multiple trainings or consultants, please complete an additional survey for each one. RCPA will compile and post a repository of member recommendations.

Please submit recommendations via this survey. We request submissions be completed by Friday, August 30. If you have any questions, please contact Cindi Hobbes.