Resources:  Helpful Links to Services and Supports

The Arc Alliance is dedicated to providing resources and supports to enable individuals the opportunity to become as independent, engaged, and as active in their community as possible. Please take a few moments to investigate the categories and options listed.

The Arc of PA http://thearcpa.org/

Disability Rights PA https://disabilityrightspa.org/

Self Advocates United as 1 https://sau1.org/

The Arc of Chester County http://www.arcofchestercounty.org/services/advocacy/

Access Art-Reach https://www.art-reach.org/access-program/access-philly/

Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services https://www.dli.pa.gov/Individuals/Disability-Services/bbvs/Pages/default.aspx

Child Care Works https://www.dhs.pa.gov/Services/Children/Pages/Child-Care-Works-Program.aspx

Community HealthChoices https://www.dhs.pa.gov/HealthChoices/HC-Services/Pages/CHC-Main.aspx

Compass https://www.compass.state.pa.us/compass.web/Public/CMPHome

HCSIS Service and Supports Directory: https://www.hcsis.state.pa.us/hcsis-ssd/ServicesSupportDirectory/ServicesSupportHome

Heating Assistance (LIHEAP) https://www.dhs.pa.gov/Services/Assistance/Pages/LIHEAP.aspx

MyODP https://www.myodp.org/

PA Bureau of Autism https://www.dhs.pa.gov/contact/DHS-Offices/Pages/ODP-Bureau%20of%20Autism%20Services.aspx

PA Homeowner Assistance Fund (PAHAF) https://pahaf.org/

PA Office of Aging https://www.aging.pa.gov/Pages/default.aspx

Self-Determination Housing of Pennsylvania https://www.inglis.org/programs-and-services/inglis-community-services/self-determination-housing-of-pennsylvania-sdhp

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/disability/

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) https://www.dhs.pa.gov/Services/Assistance/Pages/SNAP.aspx

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/ssi/

Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) https://www.dhs.pa.gov/Services/Assistance/Pages/LIHWAP.aspx

Autism Navigator https://autismnavigator.com/

Baby Sign Language https://babysignlanguage.com/

Emotional Growth https://slumberkins.com/

Mommy Speech Therapy http://mommyspeechtherapy.com/

Newborn Vision https://www.candokiddo.com/news/newborn-vision

Nutrition https://nutritionstudies.org/es/author/anegron/

Pediatric Braces http://cascadedafo.com/

Pediatric Feeding https://www.feedingmatters.org

Pediatric Occupational Therapy https://www.candokiddo.com/

Pediatric Orthotics https://surestep.net/

Speech Language https://letsplaythespeechandlanguageway.com/2016/11/18/best-toys-speech/

Speech Therapy http://www.speechsisters.com/insta

Tummy Time https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfsxjHntzAM

Vision in Babies https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNanOaClKUk

Dream Partnership: http://dreampartnership.org/

PA Secondary Transition Guide: http://www.secondarytransition.org/

The Peal Center: http://pealcenter.org/

Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network: http://www.pattan.net/

Office of Vocational Rehabilitation: http://www.dli.pa.gov/Individuals/Disability-Services/ovr/Pages/default.aspx

Works for Me PA: http://worksforme-pa.org/

State Employment Leadership Network: http://www.selnhub.org/home

Networks for Training and Development https://www.networksfortraining.org/#welcome

Asert PA Autism https://paautism.org/

Center for Indepenent Living (CIL) https://pasilc.org/independent-living/find-a-cil-by-county/

Community of Practice for Supporting Families https://supportstofamilies.org/teams/pennsylvania/

Driver Rehab Program https://www.mainlinehealth.org/specialties/rehab-driver-rehab-program

Easter Seals https://www.easterseals.com/sepa/

Healthy Relationships Curriculum https://healthyrelationshipscurriculum.org/lessons/

Library of Accessible Media https://mylamp.org/

Lifecourse Online https://www.lifecourseonline.com/?utm_source=DisabilityScoop

My ODP Podcast https://www.myodp.org/mod/data/view.php?id=28133

PA Families Inc http://pafamiliesinc.org/

Parent to Parent of PA https://www.parenttoparent.org/

The Arc ‘Virtual Library Program’ https://programlibrary.thearc.org/browse

CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) https://www.dhs.pa.gov/CHIP/Pages/CHIP.aspx

County Assistance Office Locations https://www.dhs.pa.gov/Services/Assistance/Pages/CAO-Contact.aspx

Emergency Rental Assistance Program/ERAP https://www.dhs.pa.gov/ERAP/Pages/ERAP.aspx

Heating Assistance/ LIHEAP https://www.dhs.pa.gov/Services/Assistance/Pages/LIHEAP.aspx

National Benefits https://www.benefits.gov/

PA ABLE Savings Program https://www.paable.gov/

PA Benefits https://www.compass.state.pa.us/compass.web/Public/CMPHome

Social Security https://www.ssa.gov/

Achieva- Charitable Residual Account https://www.achieva.info/family-trust/charitable-residual-account
ACT-SOS Program https://www.act-today.org/our-funds/autism-care-today-sos/
ACT-Today https://www.act-today.org/apply-for-grant/
Association of Blind Citizens https://blindcitizens.org/assistive-technology-fund/
Aubrey Rose Foundation https://aubreyrose.org/financial-assistance-for-families/
Bill Pay Assistance http://www.needhelppayingbills.com/
Brian J. Wittig Memorial Enrichment Fund https://www.epdsc.net/our-programs/brian-j-wittig-enrichment-memorial-fund/
Brighter Journeys https://www.brighterjourneys.net/grant-application
Cerner Charitable Foundation https://www.cernercharitablefoundation.org/request-funding
Challenged Athletes Foundation https://www.challengedathletes.org/grants/
Different Needz Foundation http://www.differentneedzfoundation.org/
Emily Ann Griffin Foundation https://eagf.org/
Fred’s Footsteps https://fredsfootsteps.org/our-program/
Giving Angels Foundation https://givingangelsfoundation.org/apply-for-help/
Help A Little One (H.A.L.O.) Foundation https://www.halo.org/request
Justin Hope Foundation https://www.justinhope.org/award-application.html
Kelly Anne Dolan Memorial Fund https://dolanfund.org/
Marty Lyons Foundation https://martylyonsfoundation.org/
Mitzvah Circle Foundation https://mitzvahcircle.org/
My Gym Foundation https://www.mygymfoundation.org/apply-for-a-gift/
Patches of Light https://www.patchesoflight.org/assistance
Sunshine Foundation https://sunshinefoundation.org/
Travelers Protective Association (TPA) https://www.tpahq.org/tpa-hearing-trust/apply/

PA Statewide Food Pantry Search https://www.dhs.pa.gov/about/Ending-Hunger/Pages/Food-Pantries.aspx

Berks County.: Helping Harvest https://helpingharvest.org/

Bucks County Alive Food Pantries https://buckscountyalive.com/business/Food-Pantries.cfm

Chester County Food Bank https://chestercountyfoodbank.org/our-approach/community-agency-network/

Chester County Meals on Wheels https://mowcc.org/

Delaware County Food Pantries https://www.delcopa.gov/health/pages/foodprograms.html

Montco Anti-Hunger Network https://www.montcoantihunger.org/mahn-member-food-pantries.html

Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger http://www.hungercoalition.org/food-pantries

Lasagna Love https://www.lasagnalove.org/

The Rachel Way http://www.therachelway.org/

Disability Rights Pennsylvania https://www.disabilityrightspa.org/

Juvenile Law Center http://jlc.org/

Legal Aid of Southeastern PA http://lasp.org/

Legal Clinic for the Disabled https://lcdphila.org/

McAndrews Law http://mcandrewslaw.com/practice-areas/special-education/

PA Health Law Project http://www.phlp.org/

COVID Initiatives https://thearcpa.org/healthcare-initiatives/

COVID Report from The Arc of Pennsylvania https://thearcalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Disability-Barriers-Report_Press_Release_8.23.22.pdf

Department of Human Services https://www.dhs.pa.gov/Services/Mental-Health-In-PA

Early & Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/early-and-periodic-screening-diagnostic-and-treatment/index.html

Mental Health Association in PA https://mhapa.org/

Mental Health Crisis Intervention https://www.dhs.pa.gov/Services/Mental-Health-In-PA/Pages/Crisis-Intervention.aspx

National Alliance on Mental Illness https://nami.org/Find-Your-Local-NAMI/Affiliate/Programs?state=PA

Philadelphia Coordinated Health Care https://www.pchc.org/

Accessia Health https://accessiahealth.org/financial-assistance/

Avon Grove Lions Club https://www.aglions.com/

Chariots4Hope https://chariots4hope.org/

Dental Lifeline Network https://dentallifeline.org/pennsylvania/

Free COVID Tests https://www.covid.gov/tests

HealthWell Foundation https://www.healthwellfoundation.org/patients/

Humanitarian Foundation Grottoes of North America https://www.hfgrotto.org/programs

Miracle-Ear Foundation https://www.miracle-ear.com/miracle-ear-foundation

PAN Foundation https://www.panfoundation.org/get-help/apply-for-assistance/

Special Kids Fund https://specialkidsfund.org/

St. Mary Financial Assistance Program https://www.trinityhealthma.org/patients-visitors/pay-your-bill/st-mary/financial-assistance

Starkey Hearing Foundation https://www.starkeyhearingfoundation.org/

The Assistance Fund https://tafcares.org/

The Hike Fund https://thehikefund.org/

United Healthcare Children’s Foundation https://www.uhccf.org/

DHS Reporting Abuse and Fraud: https://www.dhs.pa.gov/KeepKidsSafe/Pages/Report-Abuse.aspx

National Organization for Victim’s Assistance: http://www.trynova.org/

Victim’s Services Center: https://www.pccd.pa.gov/Victim-Services/Pages/default.aspx

Danny’s Wish: https://dannyswish.org/

IF I NEED HELP: https://ifineedhelp.org/

National Autism Association (NAA): nationalautismassociation.org

PA Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF): https://patf.us/

Team Children: http://www.teamchildren.org/2021-computer-application.html

Temple’s Tech Owl: https://techowlpa.org/service-for-a-person/

Barta: https://www.bartabus.com/red-rose-access/what-is-special-services

Bux-Mont: http://www.buxmonttrans.com/

Rover: http://krapfscoaches.com/rover/

Septa: http://www.septa.org/

TransNet: http://www.suburbantransit.org/

Disability Voting Commission of PA: http://www.padvc.com/

DMV- PA State ID: http://www.dmv.pa.gov/Driver-Services/Photo-ID2/Pages/Get%20An%20ID.aspx

PA Voting: http://www.votespa.com/en-us/Pages/Citizen-with-a-Disability.aspx

Social Groups

https://www.bestbuddies.org/pennsylvania/friendship
Fosters individualized friendships for people with and without an IDD diagnosis, with chapters for middle school, high school, college, and adults.

https://www.facebook.com/GraspPhilly/
A friendly, supportive virtual meeting group for adults ages 18 and older who are diagnosed with autism.

https://www.makingfriendssocialgroup.com/
Offers social strategies for children pre-K through 5th grade diagnosed with ADHD, social anxiety, and language disorder.

https://ourcommunitycup.com/
A welcoming place for all people, offering activities like open mic and games.

https://youthmovepa.wildapricot.org/Thrive-for-Hope/
A virtual, drop-in support group for young adults ages 16-29.

https://www.familiesccanphilly.org/services-programs
Supports families through resource meetings, virtual workshops, service navigation, and more.

https://www.jchai.org/
Free, virtual support group for parents/caregivers of adults (17+) with disabilities.

https://www.parenttoparent.org/
Matches a parent to a “mentor” parent to act as a peer support person.

If you are a parent, family member of a person or individual receiving Intellectual disAbility Services in Philadelphia and looking to make a connection in your area, please contact the following:

  • NW Family Support Group
    Germantown, Mount Airy, Chestnut Hill Representative: Verna Edwards –215-301-0436

  • Heart of the Family
    Center City / South Philly Parent Support Representative: Marjorie Anderson – 267-307-6915

  • There’s A Place For Us Support Group
    North Philadelphia Representative: Cleo Dupree – 215-329-5219

  • Abrienodo Caminos a los Latinos con Families”
    Exceptional Families “ (Latinos Support Group) Liaison: Marisol Ramos – 267-773-5296

  • Roxborough Parent Support Group
    Roxborough Representative: Carol Costello – 215-487-1240

  • West Philadelphia Parent Support Group
    West Philadelphia, Mantua, Overbrook & SW Philadelphia, Winfield Representative: Doreatha Davis- 215-303-3501