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Hello Self Advocates and Allies!
Self Advocates United as 1 is proud to announce that Oscar Drummond, SAU1's Founder and Lead Power Coach, has been personally selected to serve on the PA Governor's Advisory Commission on People with Disabilities.
Oscar and his passion are a driving force in disability advocacy and he will keep speaking up for the changes needed in our communities to support the rights of people with disabilities to fully participate in all parts of life.
Please read the press announcement below:
Governor Shapiro Announces First Appointments to New Governor’s Advisory Commission on People with Disabilities
Appointments follow through on Executive Order signed by Governor Shapiro in April to to expand protections for Pennsylvanians with disabilities and autism
Harrisburg, PA – Today, Governor Josh Shapiro announced 28 appointments to the newly established Governor’s Advisory Commission on People with Disabilities. The Commission’s purpose is to recommend policy changes across the disabilities spectrum, engage with federal/state/local agencies, communicate Administration initiatives to the public, and compile information on programs, funding, and additional supports to create an inclusive resource for individuals with disabilities and their family members across Pennsylvania.
“Far too often, decisions have been made about people with disabilities, but not with them,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “When I signed new executive orders in April, I made clear that my Administration will not only work to improve services for Pennsylvanians with disabilities, we’ll also give this community a real seat at the table — helping bring about real change and deliver on policies that Pennsylvanians with disabilities actually need. Here, we treat people with respect and dignity, and we believe in listening to Pennsylvanians with disabilities and giving them a seat at the table as policy advisors.”
The Commission was established by Governor Shapiro through Executive Order 2026-02 in April, at the signing ceremony of three EOs to expand protections for Pennsylvanians with disabilities and autism. Commissioners represent Pennsylvanians with intellectual, physical, or developmental disabilities, hearing or vision impairment, and autism — they will serve a two-year term.
“I am truly honored to work with this incredible group of Commissioners, who bring deep lived experience, professional expertise, and a shared commitment to improving the lives of disabled Pennsylvanians,” said Dr. Josie Badger, Executive Director of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on People with Disabilities. “This Commission is about more than having a seat at the table. It is about making sure disabled people are heard, respected, and included in the decisions that affect our lives. I look forward to working together to identify barriers, lift up real solutions, and help build a Commonwealth where people with disabilities can live, work, learn, and participate fully in their communities.”
The Commission members are listed below:
Monica Albert Still, Beaver County
Ondrea Burton, Beaver County
Yaduraj Choudhary, Chester County
Everett Deibler, Lehigh County
Oscar Drummond, Philadelphia County
Robin Gow, Lehigh County
Ben Hartranft, Montgomery County
Zachary Hicks, Dauphin County
Rachel Kallem Whitman, Allegheny County
Chaz Kellem, Allegheny County
Joshua Koch, Lancaster County
Anna Kruk-Corbin, York County
Stacy Jarett Levitan, Delaware County
Amanda Maphis, Erie County
Sara Nye, Dauphin County
William O'Sullivan, York County
Dominick Petrillo, Bucks County
Michael Rader, Schuylkill County
Lori Roberts, Allegheny County
Julianna Rodrigues, Lehigh County
Nicole Sanders, Chester County
Lillian Sellers, Cumberland County
Hunter Steinitz, Allegheny County
Heidi Tuszynski, Erie County
Michelle Walker, Allegheny County
Chris Westbrook, Lycoming County
Vivian Williams, Lackawanna County
Erin Willman, Warren County
Learn more about the Governor’s Advisory Commission on People with Disabilities here or contact the Commission at Disabilities@pa.gov
Power Your Life with our FREE
SAPNA Summer Event Series
Join us tomorrow Friday July 10th 10:30am-12pm!
Let's Talk About YOUR Vision
For YOUR Everyday Life
We’ll talk about:
- Everyday Lives
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Your Vision for YOUR Life
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Supports to reach YOUR vision
- Waivers and Services
- Fun new tools to help you think about your life and supports in new ways!
📅 Date: Friday, July 10th
🕙 Time: 10:30am - 12:00pm
Click The Blue Link Below To Join The Call
https://sau1.me/power
Keep Reading For More Information About All The Topics We Are Going To Present And As Always Important NEWS YOU CAN USE!
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JOIN US NEXT WEEK FOR
YOU Are Not Alone! Let's Talk All About Trauma
Let’s Talk About:
- What trauma is and why we should talk about it
- Where, when and how trauma may happen
- What trauma may look and feel like
- What we can do about trauma
- A tool called the STAR to make a plan for help for trauma
📅 Date: Wednesday, July 15th
🕙 Time: 6:00pm- 7:30pm
AND
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Join us Friday July 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.
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 July 10th for this month's 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, July 17th
🕙 Time: 10:30–11:30 AM
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Power Your Life with our FREE
SAPNA Summer Event Series
EVERY WEEK WILL BE A DIFFERENT TOPIC
SAVE THE DATES
All About Relationships
📅 Date: Wednesday, July 22nd
🕙 Time: 6:00pm- 7:30pm
OR
📅 Date: Friday, July 24th
🕙 Time: 10:30am - 12:00pm
All About Jobs
📅 Date: Wednesday, July 29th
🕙 Time: 6:00pm- 7:30pm
OR
📅 Date: Friday, July 31st
🕙 Time: 10:30am - 12:00pm
| | OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS AND TRAININGS | | THE LATEST NEWS FROM PA AGENCIES | | |
Now Available:
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP)
Limitations on Overtime,
Paid Relative Caregiving, and Travel Recorded Webinar session
On Thursday, July 2, 2026, Deputy Secretary Kristin Ahrens presented a webinar session for individuals and families to review ODP policies related to overtime, paid relative caregiving, and travel.
During the session, Deputy Secretary Ahrens Deputy Secretary Ahrens provided an overview for individuals and families on limitations related to overtime, paid relative caregiving, and travel. The webinar also included a question-and-answer session that addressed frequently asked questions and provided participants with additional clarification on these important policy updates.
Click the link below to view the recorded webinar.
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Friends-
Disability Rights Pennsylvania (DRP) wants to know what you think!
The comment period for our fiscal year 2027 annual program goals and objectives is now open.
We use your answers to help us understand the disability community’s needs.
Your answers shape our goals and objectives for the next year.
We invite you to share the issues that matter most to individuals with disabilities, along with the families and organizations supporting them.
You can submit comments until July 17, 2026.
Online Survey:
The goal and objective survey is open until July 17, 2026, which will be the final day to submit public comments.
We thank you for your time, community, partnership, and collaboration. We look forward to hearing from you.
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