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HELLO SELF ADVOCATES AND ALLIES!

Check Out These Upcoming Events and Keep Reading For Ways YOU Can SPEAK UP

SAU1 UPCOMING EVENTS AND PRESENTATIONS

We Want YOU To Join Us!

To better accommodate you, we are changing the

DAY for our ODP update call!

Join us on the new day, Tuesday, August 25th 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.

What questions or concerns do you have about supports and services for people with intellectual disabilities and or autism (ID/A) in PA?

Please email them to christine@sau1.org by August 17th.

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

Our Power Talk with ODP schedule for the rest of the year is:

Tuesday September 22nd, 10:30am-11:30am


Tuesday October 27th, 10:30am-11:30am

Tuesday November 24th, 10:30am-11:30am



Tuesday December 22nd, 10:30am-11:30am

UPCOMING EVENTS FROM PA AGENCIES

Join Our Next Meeting!

Wednesday 8/26/26

1p-2p Eastern Time on Zoom

­

 ANYONE IS WELCOME TO ATTEND!

Our next Substance Use and IDD/A Community of Practice (CoP) meeting will be Wednesday, August 26th from 1–2 p.m. ET on Zoom. 

Agenda for our next meeting:

• Welcome and introductions

• Guest Speakesr: Sarah Loizeaux and Brian Ingram from the National Disability Intstitute will be presenting "An Introductory Look at the Integrated Resource Team (IRT) Strategy".  This presentation provides a brief, introductory look into the IRT strategy, outlining its core purpose and how it strengthens coordination across service systems. Attendees will walk away with a clear understanding of the model’s intent and how it shows up in the field.

• Update on Workgroups

• Update on Practice Hub and Practice Guide

• Open discussion 

Link Will Be Added Closer To Meeting Date

Office of Developmental Programs 2026

Regional Employment Symposium



Exploring the Benefits of Hiring Employees with Disabilities

The Office of Developmental Programs is hosting four regional employment symposiums across the Commonwealth. 

Through panel discussions, presentations, and networking opportunities, ODP's Employment Symposiums will build connections between local employers, 

individuals and families, local employment coalitions, and services providers.

Please join us to learn how hiring employees with disabilities benefits everyone! 

The Symposiums will be held in-person on four (4) different dates at four (4) different locations from 9am - 1:00pm. 

Please register for the location nearest you. Lunch will be provided. Content is repeated for all four dates, so only register for one session.

·    Friday, September 4, 2026: West -

PaTTAN West, 3190 William Pitt Way

Pittsburgh, PA 15238

·    Friday, September 18, 2026: Northeast -

Colonial IU 20, 6 Danforth Drive

Easton, PA 18045

·    Tuesday, September 22, 2026: Central -

PaTTAN Central, 6340 Flank Drive

Harrisburg, PA 17112

·    Monday, September 28, 2026: Southeast -

PaTTAN East, 2500 Monroe Blvd

Audubon, PA 19403

OPPORTUNITIES TO SPEAK UP!

Paid Research Opportunity for Self-Assessment

of Autistic Traits (SAAT) Study 

We are looking for adults who are at least 18 years old to participate in a research study for the Self-Assessment of Autistic Traits (SAAT).

Authored by AWN Founder & Co-Executive Director Sharon daVanport, the SAAT is the first survey about autistic traits that is written by autistic people. The responses of the SAAT will be collected by Children’s National Hospital Center for Autism. Children’s National is a longtime research partner with AWN, and we are honored to be working on such important work for autism self-diagnosis. 

More Information on the SAAT 

The survey is a set of questions that you answer online. On average, it takes less than an hour to complete it. The survey includes the SAAT. The SAAT is the first survey about autistic traits that is written by autistic people. 

The SAAT will serve as a free internet screener for anyone who thinks they may be autistic. The survey also helps researchers study autistic traits that autistic people think are important.

Your Participation 

Your participation is crucial to improving autism diagnosis research. In filling out the survey you will help us evaluate if the SAAT works correctly. More specifically we want to assess the following criteria: 

• Check if the SAAT works for all ages, genders, races and ethnicities.
• Check that the SAAT works for autistic people who communicate in different ways.
• Check that the SAAT works for autistic people who have different medical or mental health conditions.

You will also be paid for your time and receive a $25 gift card. The gift card is on a platform called Tango, an online catalogue with many stores to choose from.

Who Will See Your Survey Responses?

Children's National Hospital Center for Autism researchers will be able to see all the information you provide. Deidentified data, meaning your answers to the questions without your name, email address, or other identifying information, will be shared with other members of the study team led by Sharon daVanport and Jules Edwards. Children's National will not share information about you or your answers with anyone outside the study team.

How to Sign Up and Participate

If you would like to participate in the SAAT survey, fill out the form below: 

After you have filled out the form, AWN will send an email explaining how everyone will be given the survey. Then, AWN will send your email address to Children's National, so they can send you the link to the survey.

We hope you will join the study and are thankful for your support! If you do not meet the criteria but know someone who does, we would greatly appreciate you sharing this email with them.

Sincerely, 

Sharon daVanport & Jules Edwards

Co-Executive Directors

Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network

National Disability AI and

Enabling Technology

Virtual Summit 2026

We are excited to announce the National Disability AI & Enabling Technology Virtual Summit on November 17, 2026.

Before we finalize the program, we want your help choosing the

Summit sessions.

Please take our short survey

Select up to THREE sessions you would most like to attend.

Your choices will directly help us decide what to include in the Summit.

THE LATEST NEWS FROM PA AGENCIES

The Newest Digest Is Available Online Now

For complete stories, please visit MyODP News Online.

For all available webinar recordings, please visit

MyODP’s Webinar Library.



Story suggestions and/or comments may be sent to:

ra-pwmyodp@pa.gov.

Transition Planning for Communication

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is happy to announce an updated publication of its resource:

“Bridging the Gap from Classroom to Community: Transition Resources Related to Communication”

This resource has a new look, with the same valuable content but with a new and improved design!

Transition planning helps students with disabilities and their families get ready for life after high school and helps bridge supports between youth and adult service systems. It includes planning and preparing for employment, further education or training, and living independently.

This resource provides information on how to ensure access to effective communication while supporting individuals during the transition process.

This resource bundle includes transition information on the following:

• American Sign Language
• Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
• Limited English Proficiency (LEP)
• Speech and Blind/Visual Impairment
• Tactile Communication
• Visual Gestural Communication

The Transition Planning for Communication Resource is found on MyODP. It is also attached to this message.

Please contact the ODP Special Populations Unit at RA-PWSpecialPopUnit@pa.gov with any questions.