Abilities in Motion Upcoming Events!
Open Barn Event – Take Heart Counseling & Equine Assisted Therapy
You are invited to attend our annual Open Barn event! Bring your friends, families, coworkers, etc. with you to learn more about who we are and what we do!
Take Heart Counseling & Equine Assisted Therapy
699 Wooltown Road, Wernersville, PA 19565
(717) 917-7137
Empowering individuals and families to find hope, healing and wholeness through therapeutic work with horses.
Working With Clients with Severe Mental Illness (SMI) A Panel Discussion May 19 2022
| Working With Clients with Severe Mental Illness (SMI)A Panel Discussion Thursday, May 19, 2022 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Edinboro University Frank G. Pogue Student Center Room 303 B Or Attend Virtually via Zoom2 CEUs Edinboro University’s Social Work Programs are fully accredited by CSWE. We are a Pre-Approved Provider of Social Work Continuing Education by the Pa. State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors.$45 Regular Registration Ask about student discounts Register and Pay Online www.edinboro.edu/continuingeducationstore For questions, please contact the Office of Continuing Education at jmcmillan@edinboro.edu or 814-732-1250 |
AgrAbility PA: News & Resources for Farmers with a Disability
| Field Notes E-Newsletter | Spring 2022 News & Resources for Farmers with a Disability or Long-Term Health Condition AgrAbility PA assists farmers and agricultural workers with a disability or long-term health condition by providing direct services and support they need to live independently and to continue working in or return to production agricultural.AgrAbilityPA.org AgrAbility PA exhibited at the PA Farmer Veteran Network’s annual conference in April. It was a great opportunity to connect with Veterans and Veteran-centric organizations involved in agriculture. The conference toolkit is a great resource! Read more http://www.troopstotractors.org Ohio AgrAbility is hosting a 3-day workshop focusing on urban agriculture, working with vocational rehabilitation, prescription medication safety, assistive technology in agriculture, farming with a developmental disability, & more. Register now! Read more goodwillofthefingerlakes.re... Assistive Technology Spotlight:Agricultural Mobility Equipment & Modifications Life Essentials is often an ESSENTIAL part of assisting a farmer with a disability or health condition. They offer a variety of mobility aids to help at work, home, or recreationally: pilot & platform lifts, hand controls, ramps, scooters, & more. Read more http://lifelyfts.com May is Mental Health Awareness Month Farming can be a life full of accomplishment and challenges. Many aspects of the job are beyond a farmer’s control — market prices, regulations, drought, and disease outbreak, and more. Combined with long hours and financial pressures, farmers can experience high levels of stress. |
Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania
Save the Date Run, Walk, Roll for Brain Injury Saturday, April 30, 2022 Tyler State Park – Richboro, PA Highmark Walk – Pittsburgh Saturday, May 7, 2022 Heinz Field – Pittsburgh Tribute Trek Saturday, May 21, 2022 East Goshen Township Park – West Chester, PA Highmark Walk – Lehigh Valley Saturday, June 2, 2022 DeSales University – Center Valley, PA BIAPA Annual Conference June 26 – 28, 2022 Lancaster Marriott – Lancaster, PA Registration is open! Grey Matters…Jamming for BIAPAJune 5, 2022 Moss Mill Brewing Company Huntingdon Valley, PA Brain Injury Challenge: Race for Recovery Saturday, October 22, 2022 Tyler State Park – Richboro, PA ________________________________________ |
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| BIAPA’s 2022 Annual Conference Registration is Open! .png) Join us for our annual in-person conference: Celebrating Connections and Collaboration in Brain Injury Rehabilitation, June 26-28, 2022 at Lancaster Marriott & Convention Center in Lancaster, PA. The 2022 conference features 8 dynamic keynote and plenary speakers. On Sunday, June 26th at 2:00 PM, Cristabelle Braden will present “Hope in Song: Music in Recovery Following Brain Injury.”Also on Sunday at 6:30 PM, Padraig Tangney and Dr. Drew Nagele will present “Value-Based Payments and How to Prepare Your Organization.” Dr. Lydia Navarro-Walker will present “Understanding the Effect of Bias in Equitable and Client-Centered Care in 21st Century Healthcare” on Monday, June 27th at 9:00 AM. 8:30 AM on Tuesday, June 28th, Dr. Miriam Segal, Dr. Thomas Watanabe and Dr. Max Schmidheiser present “Optimizing Sleep after Brain Injury: Problems, Implications and Treatment Options.” Dr. Randel Swanson will present at 1:45 PM on Tuesday, June 28th, “Modifiable Risk Factors after TBI for the Long-Term Prevention of Cognitive Decline.”  This is just a small sampling of the great topics covered at our 2022 conference. You don’t want to miss this conference! For additional information on all presenters and topics and to register, please CLICK HERE. |
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Calling All Artists The Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania is searching for artwork created by brain injury survivors to feature on greeting cards that will be sold to benefit BIAPA initiatives.If you’d like to submit your work to be considered for this project, please email a good quality picture of it – horizontal images only – to survivorsupport@biapa.org. Deadline is 9:00 AM on Wednesday, May 4, 2022. Five images will be selected for the cards, and all submissions will be featured on BIAPA’s website and social media. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email Tracy Onyekanne at survivorsupport@biapa.org. Please use subject line “Art Cards”. |
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| Brain Injury Awareness Day in Harrisburg On Wednesday March 29, the Second Annual Brain Injury Awareness Day was held at the Pennsylvania State Capitol Building in Harrisburg. The day started with a Rally in the Rotunda, a truly inspiring space! Senators Aument and Kearney spoke about their commitment to keeping the issues affecting individuals with brain injury and their family members in mind as they do their day to day work in the legislature. They serve as co-chairs of the Brain Injury Caucus, along with Representatives Pickett and Briggs, who spoke at a reception in the afternoon. Stefanie Bauman provided educational information about brain injury in her address to the group. Kevin McDonald and Melissa Carmen told their stories, which inspired the group and brought to life the issues experienced by individuals with brain injury. Many attendees made visits to their legislators over the course of the day to inform them about issues affecting individuals in Pennsylvania with brain injury. Dr. Drew Nagele facilitated a panel discussion on brain injury in the afternoon, and the day closed with a reception and opportunity to network with others in attendance.  A special feature of the day was a podcast hosted by Candace Gantt of the Mind Your Brain Foundation and recorded live in Senator Kearney’s office. The podcast includes comments from Senator Kearney, PA Brain Injury Caucus co-chair; Melissa Carmen and Kevin McDonald, brain injury survivors and organizers of the event; Ann Marie McLaughlin, BIAPA President; and Drew Nagele, co-chair of the PA Brain Injury Coalition, pictured above. Season 2, Episode 7 of Mind Your Brain Foundation’s podcast was recorded live in Harrisburg, Pa. in Senator Timothy Kearney’s office. If you’d like to listen to this informative podcast, please click here.Thank you to Melissa Carmen and Kevin McDonald, who organized this successful event, and to the Pennsylvania Brain Injury Coalition for their support. Stay tuned for pictures from this productive day! |
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| Tribute Trek 2022 Tribute Trek is returning on May 21st at East Goshen State Park in West Chester. This event was started in 2010 by Todd Clark in memory of Dr. David L. Strauss who lost his battle with brain cancer at 48 years of age. Dr. Strauss was one of the founders of ReMed. Click here for additional information or to register for the event.For over a decade, Todd and the local brain injury community of survivors, families, caregivers, colleagues, and friends gather to “trek” and raise funds for the David Strauss Scholarship Fund, which provides brain injury survivors and their families an opportunity to attend the BIAPA Annual Conference.  |
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| Pampered Chef Online Fundraiser for BIAPABIAPA volunteer Joan Steinberg is hosting an online Pampered Chef fundraiser for the BIAPA team participating in the Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community in the Lehigh Valley. During the month of May, Pampered Chef will donate to BIAPA 30% of all sales made through Joan’s online store. Follow this link to explore Pampered Chef’s irresistible kitchen and food items and begin shopping on May 1. |
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Support Group Corner  The topic for the BIAPA online support group in May will be special guest Yannick from Brightway Health to discuss the new Brightway Events app.The Brightway app lets you join more than 100 live virtual group classes from top rehabilitation organizations each month for FREE! The support group will meet on Thursday, May 19th at 5:00 PM.Please email survivorsupport@biapa.org if you would like to be included on the distribution list to receive an invitation and link to the Zoom meeting. A full list of all of Pennsylvania’s support groups, with contact information for each, is on the BIAPA website’s Support Group Listing Page. If you are aware of groups that are meeting through videoconferencing, please contact Candace Gantt, BIAPA Board member, at candace.gantt@verizon.net, so we can let others know about them._____________________________________________________________ |
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Open a PA ABLE Account today!
We’re celebrating the fifth anniversary of the PA ABLE Savings Program. Since the first PA ABLE accounts opened five years ago, Pennsylvanians have saved more than $70 million for current and future expenses. PA ABLE remains one of the fastest growing ABLE plans in the nation and is now helping more than 6,200 people save.
Family members, advocates and community partners are encouraged to let others know about the features and benefits of PA ABLE accounts.
Remember, savings in a PA ABLE account:
- May be deducted from Pennsylvania state income tax.1
- Do not affect eligibility for any federal needs-based programs with a limitation for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.2
- Can be allocated into various savings options, including an FDIC-insured checking account and six asset-allocation investment options.
- May be used to build savings and pay expenses such as rent, transportation, groceries, assistive technology, and much more.3
If you or a loved one are not yet saving for disability-related expenses in a PA ABLE account, consider opening one today. Join a webinar to learn more, or call 855-529-ABLE (2253).
Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania – News
| Save the Date Run, Walk, Roll for Brain Injury Saturday, April 30, 2022 Tyler State Park – Richboro, PA BIAPA Annual Conference June 26 – 28, 2022 Lancaster Marriott – Lancaster, PA Registration is open! Brain Injury Challenge: Race for Recovery Saturday, October 22, 2022 Tyler State Park – Richboro, PA |
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| BIAPA’s 2022 Annual Conference Registration is Open! *Designed for professionals, survivors, family members, caregivers, & volunteers. *15 CEU in-person conference opportunities. *7 bonus on-demand CEU’s available after the conference. *Experts present on ethics, headaches, sleep, opioids, supports, and more! *Exhibits & poster presentations. *Networking & social opportunities with safety protocols per CDC guidelines. *Silent auction. *Scholarships available: download application (deadline April 1, 2022) |
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| BIAPA Employment Opportunities NeuroResource Facilitator The Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania, in collaboration with the PA Department of Health, is working to connect individuals with brain injuries to care across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This five-year project aims to connect individuals with treatment, resources, and benefits, as well as to build natural supports in the community. BIAPA is currently hiring NeuroResource Facilitators (NRFs) to take on this important work. For more information about this opportunity, see the posting on our website. Click here for more information about the Pennsylvania NeuroResource Facilitation Program (NRFP) Program Coordinator The Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania, is seeking to hire a Program Coordinator to work approximately 10 hours per week as an independent contractor. The Program Coordinator will work closely with the BIAPA Director of Programs on the day-to-day tasks of implementing selected BIAPA programs. Experience working with individuals with brain injury and supporters, strong interpersonal and organizational skills essential to this work/ Experience in marketing, and public relations preferred. For more information about this opportunity, see the posting on our website. Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to Monica Vaccaro at vaccaro@biapa.org |
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| Brain Injury Awareness DayOn Wednesday March 29, the Second Annual Brain Injury Awareness Day was held at the Pennsylvania State Capitol Building in Harrisburg. The day started with a Rally in the Rotunda, a truly inspiring space! Senators Aument and Kearney spoke about their commitment to keeping the issues affecting individuals with brain injury and their family members in mind as they do their day to day work in the legislature. They serve as co-chairs of the Brain Injury Caucus, along with Representatives Pickett and Briggs, who spoke at a reception in the afternoon. Stefanie Bauman provided educational information about brain injury in her address to the group. Kevin McDonald and Melissa Carmen told their stories to inspire the group and bring the issues experienced by individuals with brain injury to life. Many attendees made visits to their legislators over the course of the day to educate them about issues affecting individuals in Pennsylvania with brain injury. Dr. Drew Nagele facilitated a panel discussion on brain injury in the afternoon and the day closed with a reception and opportunity to network with others in attendance. Thank you to Melissa Carmen and Kevin McDonald who organized this successful event, and to the Pennsylvania Brain Injury Coalition for their support. Stay tuned for pictures from this productive day! |
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| Research Opportunity for Individuals with Brain Injury and Family MembersThis article was contributed by Villanova University M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of NursingDid you have a TBI more than a year ago? Are you still experiencing problems? We invite you to take part in a study (The HOME Program for |
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Happy Fair Housing Month!
Much of the work we do at SDHP is teaching other social service providers and landlords all about fair housing. None of this would be possible without the passage of Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 known as the Fair Housing Act. This act established individuals cannot be discriminated against in any housing transaction based on the following protected classes: race, class, color, national origin, disability, familial status, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Many other statutes and regulations, even executive orders have expanded on these rights. Learn more this month by attending one of our free webinars that teach the nuances of fair housing and how it may come up in your work!
April 7, 10:00 AM Tenants’ Rights: Fair Housing and Beyond
April 12, 10:00 AM Assistance Animals Explained
April 20, 12:00 PM Eviction Prevention and Processes
Be sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn for insider tips on fair housing all month long!
Agency Spotlight: Fair Housing Law Center
In recognition of Fair Housing Month 2022, we are honored to highlight the Fair Housing Law Center. Located in Washington County, FHLC operates in 28 counties in Western Pennsylvania as well as four counties in West Virginia. Operated by Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Aid, FHLC has been a major asset to Pennsylvania since 2005. Their mission is to “identify and eliminate housing discrimination through education, advocacy, and enforcement efforts”.
FHLC works tirelessly to uphold the Fair Housing Act through a combination of education, training, and advocacy efforts. One of their well-known initiatives is their Tester Program. In this program, trained Fair Housing Testers measure landlords for discrimination by acting as renters who fall into a protected class. The testers complete reports, which are then reviewed by FHLC staff. Further action is taken against landlords as needed.
FHLC Deputy Director Jaime Milligan shared that complaints alleging discrimination because of disability continue to account for the largest number of complaints, at 54.56%. Discrimination based on disability is usually overt, making it easier to detect and more practical to file a complaint. In the last grant year, they successfully resolved 25 reasonable accommodation or modification cases, referred 7 reasonable accommodation/modification denials to either Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) or HUD, and filed one complaint in federal court. These numbers are a great reminder of both the prevalence of these discriminations as well as the need for the services that agencies such as FHLC provides.
For more information on the Fair Housing Law Center, including how to become a tester and how to report discrimination, check out their website at fhlaw.org or give them a call at 1-877-725-4472
SDHP Conference – Housing as a Human Right
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!
To register for the conference, please follow this link. (link will open in a new window)
Please join Self-Determination Housing of Pennsylvania (SDHP) on May 5, 2022 in Grantville, PA for a one day conference focusing on expanding choice and control in housing for people with disabilities.
The conference will be held at the Holiday Inn Hershey/Harrisburg.
The conference will include both in-person and some virtual programming. Please follow this link to review the Conference COVID Guidelines.
SDHP, a program of Inglis Community Services, believes that all people should have access to safe, affordable, and accessible housing.
We will bring together leaders from across the commonwealth to discuss best practices and trends in accessible housing, and address the systemic issues that people with disabilities face every day.
Please follow this link to register for the conference. (link will open in a new window)
All of this will be done through innovative workshops, a special keynote plenary, and an immersive assistive technology exhibit.
Please follow this link to become a sponsor for the Housing as a Human Right Conference.
Berks - Lancaster - Lebanon LINK Service Area 
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