Pennsylvania Rehabilitation Council (PaRC) Newsletter: June 12, 2026

Welcome Summer with the PaRC!

Bringing our community together for a bright and productive season.

July 26, 2026, will mark the 36th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Learn more about upcoming ADA Anniversary Events!

https://adata.org/ada-anniversary/events

Turning Points: The Disability Rights Movement

Thursday, July 16th, 2026, from 2:00 PM EDT - 3:00 PM EDT

https://adata.org/event/turning-points-disability-rights-movement

ADA Anniversary #ADA36 - Celebrate. Learn. Share.

https://adaanniversary.org/

Paralyzed Veterans of America led the charge for passage of this legislation, which is widely regarded as the nation’s most comprehensive law affecting people with disabilities ever enacted. 

https://pva.org/research-resources/disability-rights-advocacy/ADA/

ADA Live! is a free monthly show broadcast nationally on the Internet.

https://adalive.org/

Employment and ADA Basics

https://adata.org/employment-resource-hub/employment-and-ada-basics

Act 36, Employment First Act was enacted on June 19, 2018.

Employment First for Employers

https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dli/resources/for-employers-and-educators/ovr-resources/employment-first.html

PA House Resolution 1642 was passed on July 8, 2022, which provided an amendment approving disability inclusive curriculum in Pennsylvania schools.

https://www.wpdhac.org/disability-history-now-part-of-pennsylvania-school-curriculum/

Disability Pride Month and the Disability Rights Movement

https://www.pbs.org/articles/disability-pride-month-and-the-disability-rights-movement

Did you know June is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month?

Help raise PTSD Awareness

https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/awareness/index.asp

What is AboutFace? Learn about PTSD from Veterans who’ve lived it. 

https://www.ptsd.va.gov/apps/AboutFace/index.html 

Video: AboutFace, PTSD treatment can turn your life around

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr082CNtV9M&list=PLC87C65F04DE484C0

Videos to help learn about PTSD and effective treatments.

https://www.ptsd.va.gov/appvid/video/index.asp 

PTSD Video Playlist from the Veterans Health Administration

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8FBF506DEC670ADF

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Veterans-Active-Duty/

Learn more about upcoming events

by visiting the following links!

PA Employment - Recruitment, Job Fairs, and Hiring Events Calendar

https://www.employment.pa.gov/Pages/events.aspx

PA Secondary Transition Events

https://www.pasecondarytransition.com/event

June 20–26: Helen Keller DeafBlind Awareness Week.

https://www.helenkeller.org/

July is Disability Pride Month

https://www.disabilitypridepa.org/calendar

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law 36 years ago on July 26, 1990

https://adaanniversary.org/

Bridging Knowledge to Know-How: Empowering Pennsylvania Educators and Partners

August 4-7, 2026

https://www.pattan.net/Training/Conferences/BRIDGING-KNOWLEDGE-TO-KNOW-HOW



PaRC Full Council Meeting is scheduled for August 12, 2026

https://parehabilitationcouncil.org/get-involved/full-council-meetings/

PA State Board of VR Meeting is scheduled for September 1, 2026

https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dli/notices/pa-state-board-of-vocational-rehabilitation

Benefits Corner

Benefits Counseling can be one of the most important tools for the successful attainment and maintaining employment for individuals with a disability. It can also be complicated but very much worth the effort. That is why members of the PaRC have created a ‘Benefits Corner’ which is a compiled list of helpful resources of both benefits counseling topics and OVR services included below. Check the PaRC's Benefits Corner regularly for more updates and resources at https://parehabilitationcouncil.org/benefits-corner/

Benefits Counseling Resources,

Videos, Webinars, and More

Support on Your Employment Journey

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRQXmoRbFKY

Debunking the 3 Biggest Myths About Disability Benefits and Work

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDF7lg5FEds

What Is Ticket to Work?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCCi_9FYCbg

How Will Work Affect My Social Security Disability Benefits?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pumnuCdoek

Exploring a New Career with Ticket to Work

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAb8ln2Itjk

Ticket to Work for America's Veterans

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6QQCHIISdM

Training - Learn How the Ticket to Work Program Can Work for You

https://choosework.ssa.gov/training/

Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) 5 Tracks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49eWvGitLPw

Webinars - PA ABLE and Social Security Disability Programs

https://paable.gov/webinars/

PA CareerLink Resources for Individuals with Disabilities

https://www.pacareerlink.pa.gov/jponline/Persona/PersonaPage/IndividualDisabilities

PA Department of Human Services - Employment and Training Programs

https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dhs/resources/for-residents/employment-training-programs.html

Ticket to Work Service Provider Outreach Toolkit

https://yourtickettowork.ssa.gov/related-resources/service-provider-outreach-toolkit.html

Ticket to Work Success Stories

https://choosework.ssa.gov/success-stories/

WISE Webinars

Are you interested in learning about how work will affect your Social Security benefits? Social Security hosts free online Work Incentive Seminar Event (WISE) webinars. WISE webinars can help you and your family members learn about the Ticket to Work Program and other Social Security work incentives. They’re generally held on the 4th Wednesday of each month.

https://choosework.ssa.gov/wise/

Help spread the word!

PaRC has continued to expand its Social Media outreach as part of fulfilling our mission to inform and educate on the diverse issues affecting employment of people with disabilities. Please show your support by following us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

In case you missed it, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) and its Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) have announced the launch of The Whole Story – a new publication series highlighting the real impact of OVR across the Commonwealth. The Whole Story can be found at the following link. https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dli/programs-services/disability-and-vocational-rehabilitation/vocational-rehabilitation/ovr-success-stories

Discover important highlights, successes, and initiatives that drive our mission forward. We are proud to share in this journey and be the consumer voice for the VR program! OVR's Annual Report can be found at the following link:

https://parehabilitationcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/OVR-2024-Annual-Report.pdf

PaRC Social Media / Outreach Committee would like to continue to highlight additional OVR Employment Success Stories on the PaRC website, social media, Annual Report, and other communications. If you or someone you know would be interested in sharing an important employment related milestone achieved with the assistance of OVR services, please let us know. Such achievements may include attaining a dream job, a promotion, an important anniversary of successful integrated competitive employment, or other successes.

Spotlighting the important work and successful attainment of employment that is made possible through OVR services is the foremost mechanism for the PaRC to fulfill its mission. Please feel free to contact us with your information, questions, or comments at parc@parehabilitationcouncil.org

Help spread the word about the PaRC Newsletter by inviting your friends and colleagues to sign up!

Our newsletter is intended to broaden the conversation about the diverse issues affecting employment of people with disabilities. Those interested in receiving our newsletter may send an email to parc@parehabilitationcouncil.org with their contact info or fill out the contact form provided on the PaRC website at the following link: https://parehabilitationcouncil.org/contact/

Is advocacy for Disability Rights

and employment for people with disabilities

something you are passionate about?

Please help spread the word! 

The Pennsylvania Rehabilitation Council (PaRC) is accepting applications for candidates to fill the following categories of representation that are currently open:

• Business/Labor/Industry
• General Advocacy
• Intellectual Disabilities
• Mental Health
• Physical Disabilities
• Sensory Disabilities
• State Department of Education
• Young Adult

As of July, 2026 the categories of representation listed below will also be available. PaRC encourages all applicants to apply as early as possible to ensure a timely transition of membership:

• Sensory Disabilities
• State Workforce Development Board
• Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC)

 

If you are interested or know of someone who is interested in becoming a member of the PA Rehabilitation Council, please go to our new website (https://parehabilitationcouncil.org/get-involved/become-a-member/) and fill out an application.