Skip to Main Content

Disability Awareness

This guide contains links to books, movies, and other resources in honor of Disability Awareness Month.

Title Image

Image of sign language hands saying welcome

Local Resources

The ARC              

The Arc is the largest national community-based organization advocating for and with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and serving them and their families. We work tirelessly to uphold our vision that every individual and family living with I/DD in the United States has access to the information, advocacy, and skills they need to support their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.

Vocational Rehabilitation Services

The Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, or OVR, provides vocational rehabilitation services to help persons with disabilities prepare for, obtain, or maintain employment. OVR provides services to eligible individuals with disabilities, both directly and through a network of approved vendors. Services are provided on an individualized basis. 

Intellectual Disabilities Services

The intellectual and developmental disability service system is evolving from one focused on providing service in large institutions — often far from a person's home and community — to one based on a flexible and dynamic system of supports and services close to home and community. The new system is tailored to the needs of persons living in their home community which include community residential and day support services.

Mental Health Services

Mental Health in PA offers resources from the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS)

for mental health and substance use disorder. Get more information on OMHSAS, find Children/Adolescent Resources and Adult/Older Adults Resources. 

United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of Central PA

UCP Central PA empowers people of diverse abilities to live a meaningful life through innovative support and services.

Living Unlimited

Since 1986, Living Unlimited has assisted individuals with cognitive and/or physical impairments, including those with mental health issues, traumatic brain injury, intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, and autism to name a few.  Through our comprehensive community-based services we provide a holistic approach to support the individual needs of our clients to optimize their ability to function and flourish in their community and employment opportunities through:

Disability Rights Pennsylvania

DRP helps people with disabilities in many areas such as abuse and neglect, access to community services, discrimination, ADA compliance issues, education, assistive technology, voting access, and access to Medical Assistance services. We help people with developmental disabilities, physical and sensory disabilities, brain injury, and people in mental health recovery.

Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council

The Council engages in advocacy, systems change and capacity building for people with developmental disabilities and their families in order to:

·        Support people with disabilities in taking control of their own lives

·        Ensure access to goods, services, and supports

·        Build inclusive communities

·        Pursue a cross-disability agenda

·        Change negative societal attitudes towards people with disabilities

In so doing we will bring about benefits to individuals with disabilities other than developmental disabilities and, indeed, to all people.

Image of college student