From left to right: VP of AHEDD Lori Tyndall, President of AHEDD Brandy Burnham, PA Senator Lisa Baker, PA Treasurer Stacy Garrity, PATF CEO Susan Tachau, Coordinator of Community Relations for the PA School for the Deaf Karen Leslie-Henry, The ARC of PA Executive Director Sherri Landis
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Please join PATF in celebrating the fifth anniversary of the PA ABLE Savings Program.
PA ABLE helps Pennsylvanians with disabilities and their families save safely.
Since the first PA ABLE accounts opened five years ago, Pennsylvanians have saved nearly $72 million for current and future expenses, including assistive technology, education, housing, transportation, health care, financial management, and more.
The program provides a tax-free way to save without affecting eligibility for critical means-tested benefits such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) (up to $100,000) or Medical Assistance.
Learn how to set up an ABLE account at paable.gov. |
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“Having the ability to save through the ABLE program provides an opportunity for people with disabilities to escape the cycle of poverty that is so often their reality.
The ABLE program can make it possible for people with disabilities to be empowered to have greater control over their financial future.”
– Susan Tachau, PATF CEO
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This month, our CEO, Susan Tachau, joined PA Treasurer Stacy Garrity, Senator Lisa Baker (R-20), Sherri Landis of The ARC of PA, and other disability advocates in Harrisburg to mark PA ABLE’s fifth anniversary. Read the full News Release. |
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Hear first-hand experiences of people using ABLE accounts
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PATF's Financial Capability Resources |
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April is Financial Capability Month so now is a great time to check out our interactive and accessible financial education website, StudyMoney.us. The website is a companion to our book, Cents and Sensibility: A Guide to Money Management. Explore our financial education resources.
Financial education is the key for living independently and access to this information is crucial. With these financial capability tools, people have a solid foundation for success.
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PATF’s Board of Directors adopted a three-year Strategic Plan Framework, placing equal focus on our four programs: financial loans, information and assistance, financial education, and advocacy.
Additionally, PATF is working on succession planning as CEO Susan Tachau will be transitioning to a new role as Innovations Officer at PATF in September.
PATF has also launched a DEI+A initiative, which includes an internal audit, recommendations for individual and organizational growth, and learning sessions on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility.
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Please Join Us in Welcoming New PATF Staff! |
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Quintin Cliett
Communications Director
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Quintin helps raise awareness about PATF’s programs and services throughout Pennsylvania by keeping our social media accounts up-to-date, writing the newsletter, and creating outreach materials. Before joining PATF, he was an editor and writer for KYW Newsradio in Philadelphia. Quintin enjoys producing music and moonlighting as a disc jockey once in a while.
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¡Hogares Inteligentes de Forma Sencilla ahora está disponible en español! |
Hogares Inteligentes de Forma Sencilla: Guía para la tecnología de hogar inteligente ahora está disponible en español, ¡tanto en línea como en forma impresa!
Aprenda lo que la tecnología de hogar inteligente puede hacer para usted, desarrolle su equipo de apoyo y cree un plan acerca de cómo obtener y usar esta tecnología fácilmente disponible.
Descargue el PDF o contáctenos para solicitar una copia impresa. |
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Smart Homes Made Simple now available in Spanish! |
Smart Homes Made Simple: Your Guide to Smart Home Technology is now available in Spanish, both online and in print!
Learn what smart home technology can do for you, build your team for support, and create a plan for how to get and use this readily available technology.
Download the PDF or contact us to request a print copy. |
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SmartHomesMadeSimple.org complements the guide by providing more in-depth information about the specific types of smart home devices that may be able to help you achieve your goals. |
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Heather's Blog: In-Home Delivery Service Gives Her Greater Independence |
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Heather Tomko loves how convenient it is to use an in-home grocery delivery service.
As a woman with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, grocery shopping is one of the many tasks that Heather needs help with.
In the past, she had to make sure someone was at her home to put away the groceries because she is unable to do it herself.
But now, with this delivery service, Heather gives a store associate permission to safely enter her home to put the items away, whether or not someone’s there.
While the service is meant to make grocery shopping easier, Heather points out that it is “accidentally adaptive" for people with disabilities.
She says the delivery service is a great thing in her life that she can have control over, giving her greater independence.
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Smart Homes Made Simple Webinar Draws International Attention |
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The Center for Independent Living of Central PA is hosting a free Youth-Adult Wheelchair Basketball Clinic on Saturday, May 14. PATF’s Outreach Director, Wendy Davis, will be there and can talk more about how PATF can help people with purchasing adapted sports equipment. Learn more about this event.
Disability Pride PA kicks off Disability Pride Philadelphia Week with a flag-raising at City Hall on Monday, June 6 at 3pm. The parade takes place on Saturday, June 11. Get more details.
The Technology Enhancing Capabilities Virtual Conference will be held on Wednesday, June 22. PATF CEO Susan Tachau will be joined by Michael Anderson, Alexa Brill, and George Russo, as they discuss how they use smart home technology to live safer and with greater independence. Additional information.
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Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1998, that provides financing opportunities, education, and advocacy for people with disabilities and older Pennsylvanians, helping them to acquire assistive technology devices and services that improve the quality of their lives. |
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