Pandemic Talking Points
5 coping tips for parents of children on the autism spectrum https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/5-coronavirus-coping-tips-for-parents-of-children-on-the-autism-spectrum
NAMI Coping with Mental Health Issues during the Pandemic https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/March-2020/Coronavirus-Mental-Health-Coping-Strategie
Helping Kids with ADHD https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/helping-kids-through-adhd/202004/simple-strategies-parents-during-covid-19
Blindness and Covid 19 https://irisvision.com/covid-19-and-blindness-tips-for-staying-safe-and-connected/
Hearing Impaired and Covid 19 https://www.rochesterregional.org/news/2020/10/covid-impact-on-deaf-community
Brain Injury and Covid 19: https://brainlaw.com/covid19/
Disability Resources
Achieva https://www.achieva.info/ Achieva advocates for, empowers, and supports people with disabilities and their families throughout their lives. Provides advocates for parents of students in school systems and adults with disabilities regarding systems assistance and housing options.
Autism Connection https://autismofpa.org/ Our mission is to be a lifeline and hub for families and adults, providing support, information, and advocacy.
Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) https://autisticadvocacy.org/ The Autistic Self Advocacy Network seeks to advance the principles of the disability rights movement with regard to autism. ASAN believes that the goal of autism advocacy should be a world in which autistic people enjoy equal access, rights, and opportunities. We work to empower autistic people across the world to take control of our own lives and the future of our common community, and seek to organize the autistic community to ensure our voices are heard in the national conversation about us. Nothing About Us, Without Us!
Autism Speaks https://www.autismspeaks.org/ Autism Speaks is committed to providing the autism community with resources to meet each person and family’s unique needs throughout every stage of life. To help with your search for support, we have organized our resources, information, expert advice and personal stories by category.
Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania https://biapa.org/ OBIAPA’s Brain Injury Resource Line (BIRL) is staffed by volunteers who are able to provide information about resources that may be of help to people with brain injury or their family. 1-800-444-6443
Center for Hearing and Deaf Services https://www.hdscenter.org/ Our professional staff provides a wide range of services for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have other communication needs.
Disability Rights Network https://www.disabilityrightspa.org/ Disability Rights Pennsylvania protects and advocates for rights of people with disabilities so that they may live the lives they choose, free from abuse, neglect, discrimination, and segregation.
Education Law Center https://www.elc-pa.org/ Ensure all children in Pennsylvania have access to quality public educational services and to the full range of educational options that are available to their peers.
MAWD Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities https://www.dhs.pa.gov/Services/Assistance/Pages/MA-for-Disabled-Workers.aspx Learn about the possibility of working and not losing your disability benefits.
Mental Health Association of PA https://www.mhapa.org/ a nonprofit organization that reflects the ethnic and cultural diversity of the Commonwealth, works on behalf of the mental health of its citizens, instilling principles that facilitate recovery and resiliency of individuals and their families, through advocacy, education, and public policy.
National Alliance for Mental Illness Southwestern Pa https://www.namikeystonepa.org/
NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania is dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness through recovery focused support, education and advocacy.
Pa Health Law Project https://www.phlp.org/en/ PHLP is a 501(c)(3) non-profit law firm that represents Pennsylvanians who need help getting or keeping Medicaid (also known as Medical Assistance or MA).
Peal Center https://www.pealcenter.org/ works with families, youth and young adults with disabilities and special health care needs to help them understand their rights and advocate for themselves. Through our unwavering commitment to inclusion and our guiding values, we empower families and individuals to be included in their home schools and access high quality, coordinated physical and behavioral health care. PEAL’s services are provided at no charge to families as they are funded by private donations and federal, state, and private grants.
Retts Syndrome https://www.rettsyndrome.org/ At Rettsyndrome.org, our mission is to accelerate full spectrum research to cure Rett syndrome and empower families with information, knowledge, and connectivity. We advocate and raise awareness about Rett syndrome so the scientific and medical community, policymakers, educators, caregivers, and the general public can more thoroughly know, understand, and be motivated to help the research efforts and individuals living with Rett syndrome on a daily basis.
Robert Pierce Associates https://www.peircelaw.com/ Contact Barbara Manna for assistance with questions regarding Social Security Income, Social Security Disability Income
Wrightslaw https://www.wrightslaw.com/ Parents, educators, advocates, and attorneys come to Wrightslaw for reliable information about special education law and advocacy for children with disabilities.