Elizabeth Stoner

This article was originally published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
By Kate Giammarise
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

With the topic of employment for people with disabilities high on the agenda, 2,000 people are expected to convene next week at an annual disability and mental health summit in Downtown.

The gathering March 3 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center is organized by state Rep. Dan Miller, D-Mt. Lebanon; this is the summit’s seventh year and it is expected to be much larger than previous gatherings.

“Each year, the needs and issues continue to grow,” Mr. Miller said.

Many sessions will focus on the topic of employment for individuals with disabilities. But the more than 40 discussions will also include state human service officials giving information and updates on mental health resources, sessions for caregivers, sessions on understanding the intersection of mental health and addiction, and information about navigating the state’s Medicaid program.

There will also be a focus on the Americans with Disabilities Act, which this year marks its 30th anniversary.

“There are many, many people who don’t know that history … it’s important that people realize and remember that the ADA is one of the most important pieces of disability legislation ever passed in this country,” said Nancy Murray, president and chief executive officer of The Arc of Greater Pittsburgh/ACHIEVA, who has been involved in planning for this and prior conferences.

A bipartisan panel of state lawmakers will also be discussing policies on disability and mental health.

“This is not about politics,” said Rep. Natalie Mihalek, R-Upper St. Clair, who will co-chair the legislative panel. “This is about the people of Pennsylvania, and certainly some of our most vulnerable citizens.”

Ms. Mihalek was speaking at a news conference last week about the event.

“I think it is a great one-stop shop for people getting lots of different kinds of information,” said Mary Anderson Hartley, project director for Western Pennsylvania Disability and Action Consortium, who will be speaking on a panel about housing.

The event is “community-driven,” with programs that aim to give the information people are seeking, she said.

The event is free for attendees. Sponsors include Highmark, Gateway Health, The Staunton Farm Foundation, Community Care Behavioral Health Organization, FISA Foundation and PNC Financial Services Group.

The summit has taken place in prior years at Beth El Congregation of the South Hills in Scott, but it has outgrown that space, Mr. Miller said.

The planning and content development of the event is run through Mr. Miller’s office, but the fundraising is not, he said. The Jewish Healthcare Foundation serves as a fiscal agent.

State legislators often host gatherings for their constituents — meet-and-greets, paper shredding events, concealed carry permit events, or senior or veteran-focused resource fairs.

But the scale of this event is much greater.

“There’s nothing else like it,” said Bill Patton, a spokesman for House Minority Leader Frank Dermody and the House Democratic Caucus.

Mr. Miller has invited all of his House and Senate colleagues to attend, and the event has inspired another disability-focused event in the eastern part of the state, Mr. Patton said.

“He’s been careful to do it the right way. It’s very policy-focused. It’s not a tool for political promotion. He’s well-connected with advocates and experts and able to leverage that into getting everyone together at one time,” Mr. Patton said.

More information is available at http://www.disabilitysummit.com/

This article was originally published in the Pittsburgh Patch.
By Eric Heyl
Pittsburgh Patch

ROSS TOWNSHIP, PA – North Hills School District will host a town hall on the dangers of vaping next month. The event will occur March 19 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. in the North Hills Middle School auditorium.

District families and members of the community are invited to join school district officials, Ross and West View police and District Judge Richard Opiela for an evening of education about vaping and health-related concerns associated with younger populations.

Allegheny Health Network pulmonologists Dr. Briana DiSilvio and Dr. Meilin Young will discuss the dangers of vaping and how it pertains to lung health during their presentation “Vaping and Lung Health.” Maggie Conrad from Wesley Family Services will explore and discuss the places teens typically hide vaping devices and paraphernalia in her presentation “A Stash Room Experience.”

Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. to allow attendees to visit with vendors including emergency response services, drug and alcohol recovery services, counseling and therapy services and behavioral health services. The presentations will begin at 7 p.m.

This is the third year North Hills is hosting a town hall. The first two events in 2018 and 2019 focused on the opioid epidemic.

This article was originally published in the Tribune Review.
By Bob Bauder
Tribune Review

People with disabilities or mental health problems can access support organizations and attend informational seminars during a summit in March at Pittsburgh’s David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

Admission to the Disability and Mental Health Summit on March 3 is free. It runs from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and features more than 40 informational sessions on topics of interest and a resource fair with more than 230 service providers and advocacy and support groups.

“The main point is to help people with resources in designing their future,” said state Rep. Dan Miller, D-Mt. Lebanon, who is hosting the event. “We want to increase opportunities across the board and find other ways too to decrease stigma. The focus is on employment and stigma.”

This is the seventh year that Miller has hosted the summit. He chose the convention center this year in recognition of the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and because of increasing attendance.

About 500 people attended the first summit and the number increased to around 1,500 last year, he said. About 2,000 people have signed up for this year’s summit, he said.

More than 20 local businesses, foundations and organizations donated $125,000 to fund the event.

This story was originally published by The Almanac.

From Sleeping Beauty to Buddy the Elf too, of course, Santa and Mrs. Claus, Wesley Family Services’ sixth annual Winter Wonderland offered something for everyone.

An array of familiar costumed characters, including the guy in a green suit made famous by Will Ferrell, greeted visitors to the nonprofit support organization’s South Fayette Township location for a Dec. 8 extravaganza that focused on Wesley’s creative arts program.

At the heart of the event were performances by the program’s rock bands, the Flying Sock Monkeys and Snow Phantoms, providing plenty of sing-along opportunities with a variety of holiday favorites, with the show emceed by Drew Evans.

Winter Wonderland also featured numerous activities, including creative arts program supervisor Katie Harrill leading holiday-themed music-making. Crafts, painting, drama, and dance also were on the agenda, and everyone was treated to seasonal snacks.

The creative arts program provides an innovative and fun approach to music therapy for individuals of all ages with behavioral, social, psychological, communication, physical and motor/cognitive functioning issues in the Wesley Family Services facilities in South Fayette, Monroeville and Marshall Township.

For more information, visit wfspa.org/service/creative-arts-program.

Why do I work for Wesley Family Services? Because all my life I have felt driven to make a difference, but I didn’t know how.

Somehow I had the false idea that to make a meaningful impact, one had to be someone more extraordinary than someone like me, who was shy, who didn’t make the best grades, who seemed to have below average luck. But, despite those feelings, I knew that my purpose was to somehow be a part of the movement for positive change in the world.

As a high school student, I thought about how I could do this. I traveled to other countries on mission trips to help those in need and contemplated joining the Peace Corps, or being a missionary. I loved traveling and I adored the wonderful people I met abroad.  However, deep down I knew my mission was at home. Mother Theresa said, “Stay where you are. Find your own Calcutta. Find the sick, suffering, and the lonely right where you are.”

I thought about how I could do this, and I felt drawn to social services. One day I found Wesley, whose mission is to empower children, adults, and families. This mission aligned perfectly with my own; I knew working with Wesley would empower me to be a part of the movement for positive change in the world.

I joined Wesley and have found great fulfillment working with wonderful people! My colleagues are amazing and have the same heart and passion as I do, and together we are driving change in our corner of the world.

Finally, I have the means to make a difference and help others. Not only that, I have a bright future here. I have a career path. I can make a difference in my community while proving for my family. If you want to find a place that empowers you to be a part of the movement for positive change in the world while providing for yourself and family, join our mission. We need more people like you with the same heart and passion. I would encourage you to visit our website, www.wfspa.org/careers, and take a look at all of the administrative and clinical positions we have open.

 

This article was written by Renee Tabak, MS-HRM. Renee  works in our Human Resources Department as a Talent Acquisition staff member.

Pittsburgh International Airport was in the news recently for something very special: the introduction of a new sensory room for passengers with sensory processing needs. The idea came from Jason Rudge, an employee at the airport whose son is diagnosed with autism. He came up with the idea when he saw how beneficial the sensory room at school was to help his son regulate and participate in school activities. At Wesley Family Services, we see similar benefits by incorporating sensory rooms in our programs. These rooms play a role in our Wonder Kids program and Autism Outpatient but can also be utilized by clients in other programs when available. As an organization, we strive to accommodate sensory needs in other ways through the use of adaptive seating, lighting covers, weighted vests, etc. Wesley also supports sensory-friendly events in the community and provides support in any way possible.

There are a few things that I really like about the space at the airport in particular:

1. Inside Presley’s Place (the name of the sensory room, named after Jason’s son) there is a replica of an airplane cabin for passengers to become acclimated to the actual look and feel of being on the plane. The replica is made of materials used in a real cabin, and passengers can sit in the seats and experience what it is like to be in the environment of a plane before getting on. This helps individuals prepare and makes the airplane less of an unknown situation for them.
2. With the Pit Pass Program, families can come check out the airport, the sensory room, and explore the mock cabin even before the day they are scheduled to fly! This also helps passengers become used to the environment, since going to the airport can be such a large shock to someone’s routine. Giving the time and space for people to get accustomed first can make a world of difference.

3. The room is designed in such a way that it is suitable for all ages, not only kids. With guidance from other organizations that have sensory rooms in the area, they found that “less is more.” The room is not too overwhelming with toys, lights, and colors. It provides a comfortable environment that is away from the hustle and bustle of the airport.

4. Along with that, the team that put this together seemed to really do their research. Not only did they reach out to facilities in Pittsburgh and other airports that have spaces designated for this purpose, but they also received input from caregivers of individuals with neurodevelopmental diagnoses, which influenced how they created the space. The best way to understand someone else’s needs is to ask them directly. While everyone’s experience is a bit different, in order to learn more we be open-minded and accepting of others.

It is great to see public spaces educating themselves and making their environments more inclusive for all individuals. In keeping with our mission to empower children, adults, and families by providing transformational care, Wesley Family Services is proud to offer sensory rooms at a number of our locations. In a video about the space, Jason shares a great sentiment that I believe really reflects what Sensory Awareness Month is all about. He said, “It’s not about awareness…acceptance. We want to accept everybody that’s different. Just because they look different or act different, they’re no less than us.” We all have certain sensitivities to sensory stimulation, such as nails on a chalkboard, or chewing noises for some. We also have sensory experiences that help calm us, such as massages or listening to music. Sensory Awareness Month is about learning to accept the range of sensory needs experienced by all individuals. The more we learn about others’ experiences that may be different than our own, society as a whole will become a more inclusive and safe space for everyone.

 

*This article was written by Arianna Bendlin, MT-BC, a music therapist in our Creative Arts Program.