Action Needed – My Work, My Choice

PLEASE take time to comment on Proposed Changes that the Commonwealth is planning to make on individuals with an intellectual disability.

These changes will eliminate an individual’s CHOICE on where they want to work.  

The deadline to comment is January 17, 2017.  

Here is the information that you can use to comment on these changes.  

As a concerned resident of the Commonwealth, I would like to take this opportunity to Comment on Appendices A through H of the Consolidated and Person/Family Directed Support Waiver Renewals, effective July 1, 2017 (PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 16-2086).  My comment will specifically focus on Appendix C pertaining to the service known as “Community Participation”. 

I firmly believe that ALL individuals with developmental disabilities should have a CHOICE to achieve greater independence and opportunity in their lives.  As you are well aware, this is also the mission of the Office of Developmental Programs.  The most important piece of this statement is CHOICE.  I do not agree with limitations placed on ones CHOICE in Appendix C pertaining to Community Participation.

The following limitations placed on attendance in Vocational or Adult Training Facility settings take away ones CHOICE.  

  • From 1/1/18 to 6/30/18, a participant may not receive Community Participation Support services in a licensed Adult Training Facility or a licensed Vocational Facility for more than 75 percent of his or her support time, on average, per week.
  • From 7/1/18 to 12/31/18, a participant may not receive Community Participation Support services in a licensed Adult Training Facility or a licensed Vocational Facility for more than 50 percent of his or her support time, on average, per week.
  • Starting 1/1/19, a participant may not receive Community Participation Support services in a licensed Adult Training Facility or a licensed Vocational Facility for more than 25 percent of his or her support time, on average, per week.

The amount of time an individual wants to attend Vocational or Adult Training Facility settings should be the CHOICE of each individual and should not be mandated.

Please contact Governor Tom Wolf at Office of the Governor, 508 Main Capitol Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120 or call 717-787-2500 or fax 717-772-8284.

You may also email your comment to RA-odpcomment@pa.gov

If you want to get more involved, contact Tim Miller at tmiller@wcbainpa.org or at 724-837-1250, ext. 16 

Lions Club Donation

Thanks to the 
District 14-E Lions Club (Westmoreland County) who recently donated a check to the Westmoreland County Blind Association in the amount of $3,240 for equipment needed in our Work Activity Center!

Our Shredding Department has many options to fit your document or hard drive destruction needs. Whether you are a large company, small business, or have your own personal documents, no job is too big or small! By selecting WCBA as your document destruction service, you will be supporting our employees with visual, intellectual and/or developmental disabilities to help maintain their independence and productivity.

For many, finding meaningful employment in today’s economic climate is difficult and have diminished employment opportunities in our community. It is through the kindness of our neighbors that the WCBA mission endures!

Volunteers Needed

We are in need of volunteers for answering telephones and/or stuffing envelopes for our direct mailing projects. The work would be performed during our business hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Shifts are very flexible and based on your preferred days and times. Contact Rebecca Labuda, Human Resources Coordinator at 724-837-1250 ext 14 to learn more.

2017 Visions of Springtime

Save the date for Visions of Springtime, an entertaining evening with the Westmoreland County Blind Association!

  • Date: Friday, February 24
  • Time:
 6:00 p.m.
  • Location: 
Greensburg Country Club
  • Price:
 $50 per person
  • RSVP:
  724-837-1250 ext 12

We’ll have a pasta bar, heavy hors d’oeuvres and cash bar along with excellent gift baskets and raffles. Entertainment provided by HitPlay 304.

We also have a variety of sponsorships available. Download the advertising package to learn more.

gala-save-date-2017

Sponsorship Opportunities – Visions of Springtime

We have a variety of sponsorships available for the WCBA’s “Visions of Springtime” fundraiser! The participation of businesses and individuals is critical to the success of our annual gala and greatly appreciated.

Please consider showing your support by choosing an advertising package or by donating items used for raffle prizes. Use this 
link or download the flyer below to learn more.

A-Team Pennsylvania

We hosted our first meeting of A-Team Pennsylvania yesterday at WCBA in Greensburg. More than 25 staff members from a dozen pre-vocational providers came together to form this new mission for disabled workers. Vincent M. Loose, President & CEO of UniqueSource, was our guest speaker. See the A-Team Photo Album for additional event coverage.

Here is a little more information on the initiative:

MY WORK. MY CHOICE.
A-TeamGoal: Promote people with diverse abilities experiencing the dignity of work in a full array of employment settings.

Mission: Ignite the passion and energy of persons with diverse abilities and their families…
-to advocate in a grassroots efforts.
-create awareness in the community.
-advise those who care for our citizens with special needs to ensure service choices are protected and sustained.

We are looking for serious volunteers who would like to join the A-Team to ignite the passion and energy of persons with diverse abilities along with their families to ensure that service choices are protected and sustained. Please contact the Westmoreland County Blind Association at 724-837-1250 to learn more.

Our A-Team/Pennsylvania campaign will continue in preparation for our “Embrace the Abilities Day” in Harrisburg on October 17th and 18th. Many of our intellectually and developmentally challenged individuals, family members, staff members, and providers from numerous pre-vocational organizations throughout the state will be traveling in support of this cause. Actual stories and videos will be shared with legislators and the Wolf Administration during this meeting. For more information, please visit A-Team Pennsylvania or this website.