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Hello Self Advocates and Allies!


Spring is finally here!



Exciting things are happening in PA in April and May!

Keep reading to find out more



Join us this Friday April 17th to get your questions answered by ODP.


Power Talk with ODP is monthly chat with staff from the PA Office of Development Programs (ODP), the government office that oversees and funds those supports and services. People with ID/A can speak up with ODP while staff and others are welcome to listen and learn.


Our call starts with reviewing the questions we sent to ODP for this call.


After the ODP staff leave, stay to talk about what we heard, and offer questions to send to ODP for next month.


📅 Date: Friday, April 17th

🕙 Time: 10:30–11:30 AM


SAVE THIS EMAIL TO JOIN OUR CALL!


Text above a photo of a smiling group of people holding hands with arms raised some standing some using wheelchairs. Text reads Power Talk with ODP Get the answers you need to speak up and live your life your way.

MORE VIRTUAL EVENTS

You are Invited:

ID/A Waiver Renewal Listening Sessions

 

The Office of Developmental Programs’ (ODP) waivers are required to be renewed with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) every five years.

The Consolidated, Community Living, and Person/Family Directed Support (P/FDS) Waivers—collectively known as the ID/A Waivers—are scheduled for renewal effective July 1, 2027.

 

ODP invites you to participate in an upcoming listening session as part of the renewal process.

Please join Deputy Secretary Kristin Ahrens and Director of Policy, Julie Mochon for a general overview of the ID/A Waivers and the renewal process during one of the two sessions listed below.

 

Attendees will have the opportunity to share valuable feedback and insights to help strengthen the Waivers and enhance the services provided through them.

Stakeholder input gathered during these sessions will play an important role in informing the ID/A Waiver renewal process.

 

Registration is required for each session.

Due to limited space, we ask that you only register for one session. 

 

Interested in providing Feedback?

When registering for a session, you will be asked if you would like to provide verbal comments. Registrants can participate without providing comments.

If you register to provide comments, on the day of the session a moderator will share additional instructions about using the virtual meeting features.

When your name is called, you will have 3 minutes to provide your input.

 

Click link below to register:

 

Registration is Now Open for the Everyday Lives 2026 Virtual Conference!


BREAKING BARRIERS AND BUILDING FUTURES

May 6-16, 2026

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) invites you to register for its Everyday Lives 2026 Virtual Conference! The biannual Everyday Lives Conference, hosted by the Pennsylvania Office of Developmental Programs (ODP), invites individuals with a disability and/or autism (ID/A), family members, caregivers, and support professionals to engage in presentations and panels focused on sharing information that empowers the everyday lives of individuals with disabilities throughout Pennsylvania. 


What to Expect


The virtual conference will be hosted through the online platform Whova and will feature six days of presentations. A series of watch parties will be hosted throughout the state as an opportunity for conference-goers to connect and engage with the conference content together. Follow the registration link for more information.


The conference program is broken into three sections. Each conference section (excluding the post-conference) will include presentations for all ODP stakeholders, but some sessions may cater more to one audience than another. Regardless, we invite all audiences to attend every session. Content will be accessible and relevant to all.


Family Medical Support Assistance (FMSA) Webinar for Individuals and Families

In 2022, the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) created a new waiver service, Family Medical Support Assistance (FMSA). ODP is scheduling webinars to explain what this service entails, how it works, and who it applies to. ODP is encouraging individuals and families to attend this webinar to learn about this waiver service. There will be time during the webinar for questions to be asked directly to ODP.

Who should attend?

Individuals and Families

Date:

May 29, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM


ODP encourages professionals to share this webinar broadly with the individuals and families they support.

 

Please note that this session is intended specifically for individuals and families. ODP is offering a sperate session for professionals.

 

A recording of the webinar will be made available on MyODP following the event.



 

Celebrate National Speech-Language-Hearing Month with TechOWL Webinars!


TechOWL, a program of the Institute on Disabilities at Temple University, College of Education and Human Development, presents

Augmentative and Alternative Communication Webinar Series

MAY 2026

 

Free one-hour webinars every Wednesday at noon

  • May 6: Lives, Not Just Language: Supporting Engagement and Participation for Adult AAC Users

This presentation explores strategies for supporting emergent adult AAC users to improve participation and quality of life. This session will focus on how AAC access can support meaningful engagement across adult life domains. Examine how AAC system design, communication partner training, and environmental supports influence opportunities for supporting self-determination.

 

  • May 13: The Right to (NOT) Remain Silent: AAC in the Court and Legal System

How do we improve AAC user outcomes for participation in the court and legal system? Learn about the impact of using assistive technology, including successes and barriers, within the context of legal proceedings. This session will focus on access to justice-related vocabulary available on speech-generating devices and how SLPs can advocate for/support AAC users navigating the legal system. (Disclaimer: This presentation is intended for informational purposes only and should NOT be considered legal advice.) 

 

  • May 20: From Eye-Gaze to IEPs: Your Questions Answered!

You asked, we listened and now we're bringing some answers! This session will answer some of the questions submitted by you. Whether it's "Can I learn more about eye-gaze devices?" or "How do you work on accepting 'no'?", we're going to dive into the topics you've requested!

 

  • May 27: Healthy Consent & Boundaries for AAC Users: Dice Activity & More!

Join the Healthy Sexuality Project for a workshop on consent and boundaries for AAC users. Attendees will learn concrete ways to help AAC users practice consent and boundaries for all types of relationships, including a Boundaries Dice Activity with adaptations. 



Register separately for each webinar!

  • All webinars begin at 12 Noon, Eastern Daylight Time.
  • Registration is required for each individual webinar.
  • For reasonable accommodations, email tue50065@temple.edu by April 27, 2026
  • Automated Zoom captioning available

 


College of Education and Human Development

Institute on Disabilities at Temple University

Ritter Annex 4 | Room RA 430

1301 Cecil B. Moore Avenue

Philadelphia, PA 19122

NEWS YOU CAN USE

April is Autism Awareness Month

Governor Josh Shapiro recently signed an official proclamation declaring April 2026 Autism Awareness Month. Please join us in recognizing and celebrating the unique skills, qualities, and characteristics of individuals on the autism spectrum. 

The latest episode of ASERT’s Autism Unmasked podcast is now available. The helps autistic individuals, caregivers and family members navigate emergency room visits to manage the high stress environment.