Pennsylvania Rehabilitation Council (PaRC) Newsletter: February 17, 2025

Each February the PaRC spotlights Neurodiversity and employment. Check out the links and resources below!

EARN - Neurodivergent workers bring many skills and talents to the workplace. Learn more in this toolkit.

https://askearn.org/page/neurodiversity-in-the-workplace

The Ultimate Guide to Neurodiversity Hiring [2025]

https://www.joveo.com/neurodiversity-hiring-the-ultimate-guide/

Neurodiversity Celebration Week

March 17-23, 2025

https://www.neurodiversityweek.com/

https://www.neurodiversityweek.com/resource-hub

40+ career examples of people who learn and think differently

https://www.understood.org/articles/40-career-examples-of-people-who-learn-and-think-differently

'The Opportunity Gap' podcast: Wisdom for families from LeDerick Horne, poet with dyslexia

https://www.understood.org/podcasts/the-opportunity-gap/wisdom-for-families-from-lederick-horne-poet-with-dyslexia

Inclusive Employers

https://www.inclusiveemployers.co.uk/awareness-day/neurodiversity-celebration-week/

Are you interested in learning more about Hidden Disabilities in the workplace?

Check out the links and resources below!

The Hidden Struggles of Invisible Disabilities at Work

https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/news/all-things-work/invisible-disabilities

Invisible Disabilities Week 2025 - Save the Date

October 19-25, 2025

https://invisibledisabilities.org/seminarsandevents/invisible-disabilities-week/

Understanding invisible disabilities in the workplace

https://www.understood.org/en/articles/understanding-invisible-disabilities-in-the-workplace

Christina Irene

Hidden Disability Advocate | Speaker | Author | Adventurer

https://www.christinairene.com/wp/

Invisible Disabilities Association

https://invisibledisabilities.org/

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

Working While Receiving Disability Benefits

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sz5kYsH1k1g

FAQs About Working While You Receive Disability Benefits

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sTecetwnS8

What is Ticket to Work?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUv-tIIakG8

Meet Your Employment Team

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbH7M-OAquI

Presenting Your Best Self to Employers

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

Start Where You Are

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXGZGAJ4qeM

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

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

Video – 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 - Work Without Losing Benefits

https://www.dhs.pa.gov/WeCanWork/Resources/Pages/Work-Without-Losing-Benefits.aspx

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.

Visit the following link to access “The Story” – the latest edition of OVR’s success story publication. The PaRC is excited to share these stories highlighting teachers and nurses and the employment attained through the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services (BBVS) and Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (BVRS) District Offices.

The Story – An OVR Success Story Publication

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:

• Mental Health
• Sensory Disabilities
• State Department of Education
• Veteran

As of July, 2025 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:

• Business/Labor/Industry
• Physical Disabilities

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.

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

February is Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Awareness Month

https://www.macular.org/

Rare Disease Awareness Day is February 28, 2025

https://www.rarediseaseday.org/

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month

https://www.biausa.org/public-affairs/public-awareness/brain-injury-awareness

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

https://nacdd.org/ddam/

March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month

https://www.prentrom.com/caregivers/march-is-cerebral-palsy-awareness-month

World Hearing Day is March 3, 2025

https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-hearing-day

PA State Board of VR Quarterly Meeting is scheduled for March 11, 2025

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

Neurodiversity Celebration Week is March 17-23, 2025

https://www.neurodiversityweek.com/

PaRC Full Council Meeting is scheduled for May 7, 2025

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

In case you missed it, the PaRC Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 is now available!

This report highlights our efforts, key achievements, and continued advocacy for individuals with disabilities across Pennsylvania. It reflects our commitment to ensuring access to quality vocational rehabilitation services and empowering individuals to achieve independence and meaningful employment.

Read the full report here:

https://parehabilitationcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2023-2024-PaRC-ANNUAL-REPORT.pdf