DRP was glad to attend Disability Pride Philly this past weekend!
Our staff connected with many community members, leaders, and advocates to share information about disability rights, voting access, and other issues affecting disabled Pennsylvanians.
Take an active role in your safety! Know the signs and how to protect yourself during extreme heat warnings.
Below is some advice from FEMA on how to prepare and act when extreme heat is affecting our area.
An RFI from OLTL that will help to make the CHC program better for Pennsylvania.
Find the RFI here: emarketplace.state.pa.us/Sol…
Due: 12 pm on the 7-15-26.
Please submit electronically to RA-PWRFICOMMENTS@PA.GOV. with “Community HealthChoices RFI” in the email subject line.
ALT Image has a light orange background with black and dark pink text with white accents and a white DRP logo in the bottom right.
Text: Request for Information: Office of Long-Term Living Community HealthChoices Program. The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services is seeking input to improve the quality, consistency, and effectiveness of the Office of Long-term Living's (OLTL) Community HealthChoices (CHC) program. Date Released: June 1, 2026. Responses Due: July 15, 2026. See post for more information on how to submit a response!
Disability Rights Pennsylvania wants to know what you think! The comment period for our fiscal year 2027 annual program goals and objectives is now open.
Survey Link: surveymonkey.com/r/DMS9WJN
You can view our current goals and objectives here: disabilityrightspa.org/what-…
Thank you!
ALT Image is a flyer with a light blue background with white lines throughout. There is a white text box in the center with light blue text, a DRP logo on the bottom left and a QR code on the bottom right.
Text: You're invited to fill out our Priorities and Objectives 2027 Survey. Open from June 2, through July 17, 2026. This is an opportunity for you to let us know how we can better help the disability community. Share your thoughts and experiences with us! Follow the link in the post or the QR code to the right.
For self-advocacy tools or to file a grievance, you can go to our website. If this is urgent involving abuse or neglect, contact emergency services:
Adult Protective Services:
- bit.ly/42yQVUh
- 1-800-490-8505
ChildLine:
- bit.ly/3EBQi49
- 1-800-932-0313
ALT Image has a white background with a blue boarder, black text, blue and red stars, and a DRP logo on the bottom center.
Text: DRP will be closed for Memorial Day! Live intake will be closed: May 22 starting at 12pm - May 29. We will not answer intake calls or respond to online requests until June 1 at 9am. Callers will not be able to leave voicemail messages or complete out intake form during this time. This break will also be used for our regularly scheduled internal quality assessment.
The DRP Resources page has 3 new additions thanks to @PittsburghFdn funding!
Our new publications on Residents' Rights in Long-Term Care Facilities like Nursing Facilities, Personal Care Homes and Assisted Living Residences are available on our website.
disabilityrightspa.org/resou…
ALT Image has a teal background with purple and grey circles throughout. It has white text and an image of several older adults participating in a group activity.
Text: New Resources Available! DRP has 3 new publications available on the Resources page on our website. Residents' Rights in Long-Term Care Facilities including Nursing Facilities, Personal Care Homes, and Assisted Living Residences.
Today Is Primary Election Day!
We are here to help! People will be available at the contact info below to help guide you through concerns while the polls are open.
For nonpartisan voter help, call Election Protection at 866-OUR-VOTE.
You can also call DRP at 1-800-692-7443.
ALT Image has a red background with white text and blue graphic that says "GO VOTE!", and a DRP logo in the center left.
Text: Turnout Tuesday: Reach out if you have questions or concerns! For help on election day call: 866-OUR-VOTE or 866-687-8683
Week 5:
You are entitled to accessible voting supports, including an accessible remote ballot-marking option for eligible mail voters with disabilities. Contact your county election office to ask about local options and find more information online here: pa.gov/agencies/vote/voter-s…
ALT Image with a red background and white heading and subheading. The subheading is in a blue textbox, and below that is a graphic of people with flags and megaphones, one of three is in a wheelchair. A DRP logo is in the bottom right.
Text: Turnout Tuesday: Advocate for yourself on election day. Your vote has power.
DRP attended the 13th Annual Disability and Mental Health Summit on May 7th. We shared our resources with attendees and answered questions at the resource fair.
Staff Attorney Jenee' Oliver presented on transition age kids and supported decision making in healthcare decisions
ALT Staff Attorney, Jenee' Oliver, presenting at the Disability and Mental Health Summit in front of a slide that discusses when the ADA applies.
ALT Image of the crowd at the disability and mental health summit resource fair.
ALT Image of (from left to right) staff attorney Jenee' Oliver, administrative coordinator Stacey Mamas, CEO Jennifer Garman, Director of Intake and Grants Management Shari Mamas, and policy and communications associate Hannah Brown all standing behind DRPs resource table at the disability and mental health summit.
Turnout Tuesday Week 4:
No eligible voter should be blocked by an inaccessible form, delayed ballot, or confusing process.
Tip: If your eligibility at the polls is questioned, you have the right to ask for a provisional ballot.
Find more info here:
disabilityrightspa.org/resou…
ALT Image has a red background with a white text header and a blue textbox below it. Throughout the bottom of the graphic there are many orange question marks, a graphic of a man looking confused and a list graphic with a DRP logo.
DRP had a great time at Disability Pride Harrisburg on Friday, April 24th. We were excited to share resources, talk with community members, and celebrate disability pride in Pennsylvania.
Thank you to everyone who stopped by our table!
#DisabilityPridePa#disabilityrights
ALT DRP Board Chair Lucy Piggott-Prawl standing behind the DRP resource table at Disability Pride Harrisburg.
ALT A photo of the layout of many tents and people attending Disability Pride Harrisburg.
ALT DRP Staff Reneece, Kim, Dale and the founder of Disability Pride Pa, Vicki Landers, stand behind the DRP resource table at Disability Pride Harrisburg.
Turnour Tuesday Week 2:
If you vote by mail, track your ballot through Pennsylvania’s official ballot tracker and contact your county election office right away if there is a delay.
Read about mail in voting and designated agents at our website: disabilityrightspa.org/resou…
ALT Image has a red background with white text, a blue text box for subtext, a DRP logo and a graphic of a certified piece of mail moving quickly across the bottom.
Text: Turnout Tuesday. Mail-in voting is secure and important.
Disability Rights Pennsylvania was happy to be invited to present and attend the PEAL Center Health Matters Northwest conference in Edinboro last month.
Thank you for the lovely conversation from attendees and for hosting the event @PEALCenter 🙂
ALT Photo of DRP's Administrative Coordinator, Stacey Mamas, behind a standard DRP outreach table covered with resources, pens and pins.
ALT Photo of DRP staff attorney, Jenee Oliver, presenting on stage behind a purple podium that says PEAL Center on it.
ALT Photo of DRP staff attorney, Jenee Oliver, presenting on stage behind a purple podium that says PEAL Center on it.
ALT Photo of DRP Director of Intake and Grants Management, Shari Mamas, behind a standard DRP outreach table covered with resources, pens and pins.
No eligible voter should lose access to the ballot because of red tape, delays, or inaccessible systems.
In Pennsylvania, you can check your registration two ways:
💻online here pavoterservices.pa.gov/pages…
📱call the state election hotline at 1-877-868-3772.
ALT Image has a red background with white text, a blue text box below the title, a DRP logo in the center left, and a voting ballot box that is blue and yellow in the bottom right corner.
Text: Turnout Tuesday: Disability rights are voting rights.
For self-advocacy tools or to file a grievance, you can go to our website. If this is urgent involving abuse or neglect, contact emergency services:
Adult Protective Services:
- bit.ly/42yQVUh
- 1-800-490-8505
ChildLine:
- bit.ly/3EBQi49
- 1-800-932-0313
ALT Image with an off-white background, black text, a DRP logo in the bottom left, and a red corded phone on the right of the image.
Text: Our Intake Will Be Closed Next Week!
Live Intake will be closed from: April 20 - April 24. We will not answer intake calls or respond to online requests until April 27, 2026. Callers will not be able to leave voicemail messages or complete out intake form during this time. We look forward to returning after this scheduled break for internal quality assessment.
Today, the Shapiro administration took steps towards strengthening policy guidance for people with disabilities across the state with the signing of 3 Executive Orders:
DRP was honored to attend the signing along with many members of the disability community.
#AdvocacyMatters
ALT Image of a digital document listing 3 executive orders dated April 15, 2026.
Text: 1. Creating The Governor's Advisory Commission of People with Disabilities. 2. Directing State Agencies to Protect the Rights, Dignity, and Privacy of People with Disabilities. 3. Strengthening the Developmental Disabilities Council.
ALT Image of 5 people posing in front of an American flag and a Pennsylvania flag, the individual on the far left is DRP's Director of Public Policy Dale Verchick and at the center is Governor Shapiro, along with three other women.
ALT Image of a group of people in an ornately decorated room. The group is visually diverse in race and disability. Advocates, government officials, and DRP CEO Jennifer Garman stand throughout the group with Governor Shapiro at the center.
As we prepare for the 2026 elections, DRP is reminding our community of their right to accessible voting. Look out for our Turnout Tuesday posts each week for messages and common issues focused on accessible voting for people with disabilities.
Primary election on May 19, 2026.
ALT Image has a red background with white text and blue text box, and below that is a DRP logo. There is a graphic at the bottom of a Megaphone with the word "vote" coming out of it in ribbons.
Text: Turnout Tuesday: Accessible voting. Equal participation.
DRP is grateful to have joined @RepKrajewski and Rep. Sheryl Delozier to support HB 151. This bill would protect Social Security benefits for youth in foster care.
Read more about what's happening in PA: spotlightpa.org/news/2025/04…
Watch the Press Conference: youtube.com/watch?v=SIw63Dfw…
ALT Photo of Director of Public Policy Dale Verchick speaking at a presser regarding house bill 151 in the Harrisburg Capitol building. Standing behind her are a group of individuals holding signs saying, "Justice for foster youth."
Appeal and Fair Hearing Webinar for Individuals and Families.
Who should attend? Individuals, Families and Supports Coordinators.
Date: May 1, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Find more information and register: register.gotowebinar.com/reg…
ALT Flyer with blue and yellow geometric shapes throughout, a photo of a woman in a wheelchair touching the face of a man standing in front of her, a DRP logo in the top left and black text with a QR code at the bottom.
Text: Appeal and Fair Hearing Webinar for Individuals and Families. Hosted by the Pennsylvania Office of Developmental Programs (ODP). May 1, 2026. 11:00 - 12:30pm. Online: Register using the QR code below or link in text of the post!