The PA Training Partnership for People with Disabilities and Families

Please help us to widely distribute the following information concerning The Pennsylvania Training Partnership for People with Disabilities and Families.

The Pennsylvania Office of Developmental Programs (formerly the Office of Mental Retardation) contracts with The Pennsylvania Training Partnership for People with Disabilities and Families (The Partnership) to coordinate training and technical assistance for people with disabilities and families in Pennsylvania. The Partnership is facilitated by the Institute on Disabilities at Temple University and includes Achieva, Mentors for Self-Determination, Self-Advocates United as 1, and Vision for EQuality.

The Partnership provides trainings across the state to people with disabilities and family members. Some of the available training topics right now are An Overview of the Mental Retardation System in PA, What is a Mental Retardation Waiver and How Do I Get One?, Self-Determination and SIS© and the PA Plus.

One of the goals of the Partnership is to ensure that the trainings provided meet the needs of people with disabilities and families. Your input will help us meet that goal. To help us determine what trainings are needed, we invite you to complete the on-line survey by April 18, 2008.

The link to the survey is https://www.temple.edu/thetrainingpartnership/survey/


If you’ve already completed this, please do not fill it out it again. Instead, forward it to someone else who would be interested in sharing his/her ideas.

Thank you in advance for your participation.


Kristin Ahrens
Partnership Coordinator

PA Autism Insurance Senate Hearing

PA AUTISM INSURANCE SENATE HEARING - APRIL 1, 2008Dear Friends:The most important day for autism insurance coverage in Pennsylvania is swiftly approaching and we need your help! On April 1, 2008 at 10 AM, Capitol Building Complex (Harrisburg), Hearing Room 1 of the North Office Building, the Pennsylvania Senate Banking & Insurance Committee will conduct a public hearing regarding the merits of HB 1150. Please plan to attend the hearing that day and help us pack the room to demonstrate to lawmakers how important this bill is for our children. The more the merrier! Don't come alone! Bring your families, neighbors, co-workers....we need to fill up the room and spill out into the hallways.Opponents of HB 1150 continue to argue falsely that insurance coverage for treating children with autism is unnecessary and that the bill will cause insurance rates to increase up to 6%. In truth, we know that such services are not only critical to the future well-being of thousands of Pennsylvania’s children, but also that HB 1150 will have a less than 1% effect on private insurance rates.A 1% rate increase is less than the cost of one Happy Meal from McDonalds, one video rental from Blockbuster, or a Tall Regular Coffee with no frills at Starbucks. Most importantly, 1% can make a world of difference in the lives of thousands of Pennsylvania's children.The panelists selected to testify in favor of HB 1150 include:o Richard M. Foxx, Ph.D., BCBA, Penn State Universityo David Gates, Esq., The Pennsylvania Health Law Projecto James N. Bouder, MPA, The Vista Schoolo Kim Motosicky, Parento Rachel Brooks, Miss Pennsylvania 2007Again, please help us end the discriminatory practices of private insurance companies by attending the hearing and showing your support for the panelists and HB 1150.For additional information contact:
Eastern PA: Rachel Brooks at rachelmariebrooks@yahoo.comCentral PA: Jim Bouder at jbouder@thevistaschool.orgWestern PA: Patti McCloud at mccloud@zoominternet.net
Northeastern PA: George Shady at GRShadie@aol.com

TAKE ACTION NOW ON PA AUTISM INSURANCE BILL! Autism Speaks is in the process of launching a new website dedicated to autism advocacy, Autism Votes. While it has not officially launched yet, with everything going on in Pennsylvania, we wanted to give PA residents exclusive access to your very own Commonwealth of Pennsylvania page! Go to www.autismvotes.org/pennsylvania for up-to-the-minute news and Take Action opportunities on the autism insurance legislation in PA!

Thank you!
Shelley HendrixDirector, State Advocacy RelationsAutism Speaks

Autism Community Lecture Series

Friendship House, Coalition Offer Autism Community Lecture Series
Beginning March 19

“Autism Today: A Community Lecture Series for Families and Friends,” will be offered free of charge by The Northeast Regional Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders at Friendship House and the Lackawanna County Autism Coalition, and will be hosted by Mercy Hospital. The series will encompass an array of autism topics including sibling workshops, behavioral strategies for parents and teachers, a forum for grandparents and extended family, and will conclude with a panel of experts discussing current treatments and education trends. Each talk will be held on Wednesday evenings in the Mercy Hospital McGowan Conference Room from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The series is open to the public. Reservations are requested. Interested persons may call Friendship House at 342-8305, ext. 2038.
The series will begin on Wednesday, March 19, with an overview, “An evening of information on Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and Applied Behavioral Analysis,” presented by Christine Remick, licensed psychologist, certified behavioral analyst, and clinical director of the Northeast Regional Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders at Friendship House. Mrs. Remick is also a charter member of the PA Autism Task Force which established “Best practices for Autism Spectrum Disorders” in Pennsylvania. Presenting with Mrs. Remick will be Melissa Cottone, assistant clinical director at the Friendship House autism center, a certified behavioral analysis, and mother of a child with autism.
“Sibling Workshop,” an interactive evening for pre-teens and young adolescents with brothers and sister on the autism spectrum, will be presented Wednesday, April 9, by Amy Saunders, senior curriculum specialist at the Friendship House autism center, and candidate for behavioral analyst certification, and Margie Cosgrove, coordinator of autism services for Tri-County Human Services.
"Practical behavioral strategies for ASD individuals in the home and community," will be presented Wednesday, May 14, by Mrs. Remick and Julie Brister, senior curriculum specialist at the Friendship House autism center. This workshop will be helpful to parents, teachers and friends seeking an understanding of basic behavioral principles and how to use them in increasing appropriate behaviors and reducing maladaptive issues in young persons with ASD of all ages.
"An evening for grandparents and extended family," will be presented by Mrs. Remick on Wednesday, May 28. She will provide information on ASD and treatments as well as discuss the role of extended family in supporting the nuclear ASD family.
The series will conclude on Wednesday, June 11 with a panel of experts.
The Northeast Regional Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders at Friendship House provides advanced early intensive applied behavioral analysis for children and adults up to age 21 and for toddlers as young as 18 months with support services offered in the home, school and community. The Center’s “Respite Care Program,” allows families of children with autism to spend time with spouses and other siblings on afternoons and weekends. Programs are designed with the support of Nina Wall Cote, director, Pennsylvania Bureau of Autism Affairs, and staffed by skilled therapists, many with certification in behavioral analysis.


Marilouise Agnone Ruane, APRManager, Friendship House Community Relations Desk: 570.342.8305, Ext. 2039Pager: 570. 340.8750Fax: 570.341-9736Address: 1509 Maple Street, Scranton, PA. 18505MRuane@FriendshipHousePa.org