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View our list of Special Needs articles
View our list of Special Needs Facilities

SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL NEEDS
Adoption & Foster Care
Autism
Behavior
Blindness / Vision Loss
- Western PA School for Blind Children
1-800-444-1897
www.wpsbc.org
Camps and Recreation
Development and Early intervention
Early Intervention Services
Food Insecurity
Hearing Loss
Home Healthcare
Living with a Disability
- ACHIEVA FAMILY TRUST
ww.achievafamilytrust.org
Trust administration for Special Needs Trusts for persons with disabilities. In addition, AFT provides no-cost Future Planning Services for families who are trying to plan for the future of their children.
Recreation and Socialization
- Camp Laughalot
724-222-6960 x225
- The Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh – Virtual Social Skills Groups
412-420-2222
amazingkids.org/virtual-social-skills-groups
- Wilfred R. Cameron Wellness Center Summer Camp
- Woodlands
724-935-5470
Schools
Special Needs Day Care
Trusts and Future Planning Services
- ACHIEVA FAMILY TRUST
www.achievafamilytrust.org
Trust administration for Special Needs Trusts for persons with disabilities. In addition, AFT provides no-cost Future Planning Services for families who are trying to plan for the future of their children.
SERVICES FOR ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES
Access Products
- Independent Mobility
412-449-0013
Access Ramps, Stair Glides, Residential and Commercial Platform Lifts and Elevators
Adult Day Programs
- PACC (Pa Connecting Community)
412-621-6151
Advocacy
- Achieva
412-995-5000
- ARC Human Services
724-222-6960
www.aadvantageinc.org
- PEAL Center (parent education and advocacy)
412-281-4404
Education – College Bound
- ACCLAIM – Watson Institute
412-914-8800
- AHEADD – Achievement in Higher Education with Autism & Devel Disability
412-856-7223
Employment/Job Training
- AHEDD (job placement)
412-381-3313
- Achieva/ARC Bidwell Training Center
412-322-1773
- Blind and Vision Rehab
412-368-4400
- Goodwill Job Training
412-632-1706
- Life’s Work
412-471-2600
- CLASS
412-683-7100
- Mainstay Life Services
mainstaylifeservices.org
(412) 477-7785
Mainstay Life Services offers compassionate, specialized support that helps people with developmental disabilities achieve their greatest life goals.
- PACC
412-621-6151
- Project Freedom (technology skills training)
412-246-4434
General Resources
- ADA Phone Line
800-514-0301
- Allegheny County Family Resource Guide
412-350-7079
- Allegheny County Department of Human Services Office of Intellectual Disability (OID) Every person registered for OID services receives Supports Coordination
412-236-2750
- Connections Pittsburgh
- Multicultural Disability Leadership Center
- Educational Rights Network
- PA Health Law Project
http://www.phlp.org
- UPMC Disability Resource Center- Forbes Tower
412-605-1483
- PA Statewide Information and Referral Resources for Persons with Disabilities
PA 211 or 1-888-553-5778 or 211
Human Services and Disabilities
- Mainstay Life Services
mainstaylifeservices.org
(412) 477-7785
Mainstay Life Services offers compassionate, specialized support that helps people with developmental disabilities achieve their greatest life goals.
Independent Living
- ACTION Housing
412-281-2102
- Disability Options Network (Center for Independent Living)
1-866-652-5121
- CLASS – Community Living & Support Services
412-683-7100
- Transitional Paths to Independent Living
724-223-5115
- Emmaus Community
412-381-2277
- PACC
412-621-6151
In-Home & Community Support
- Live-in Disability Solutions
412-704-5162
www.liveindisabilitysolutions.org
- Mainstay Life Services
mainstaylifeservices.org
(412) 477-7785
Mainstay Life Services offers compassionate, specialized support that helps people with developmental disabilities achieve their greatest life goals.
Recreation and Socialization
- Dis+Abilities Connection - Networking events for adults with disabilities
724-219-3290
- Camp Laughalot
724-222-6960 x225
- Wilfred R. Cameron Wellness Center Summer Camp
- Woodlands
724-935-5470
- ACHIEVA
412-995-5000
- The Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh – Virtual Social Skills Groups
412-420-2222
amazingkids.org/virtual-social-skills-groups
Residential Services
Special Needs Dentistry
- Pitt School of Dental Medicine
412-648-3039
- Accessible Dentists
724-775-0448
- East Liberty Family Health Center
412-661-2802
Transition to Adult Health Care
- Children’s Hospital Advisory Network for Guidance and Empowerment
412-647-2345
- PA Department of Health Transition Health Care Checklist
724-830-2701
Transportation
- Travel Training - Allegheny Intermediate Unit 3
412-394-5700
- ACCESS Shared Ride Service
412-562-5353
- MATP
888-547-6287
Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles
- Wheelchair Getaways (van rental)
800-642-2042
- Mobility Works
412-824-8091
- Port Authority of Allegheny County
412-442-2000
- Drivers Education – Special Needs
866-672-9466

CAMPS AND ACTIVITIES
Blind & Vision Rehabilitation Services Summer Camp for Teens
Blind & Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh's Summer Youth Program is for students who are blind, deaf blind or visually impaired. This five-week summer Career and Community Adjustment Program helps students ages 16 through 21 transition smoothly into work and adult life. For information, call 412-368-4400 ext. 2246.
Camp Can Do
This special summer camp program sponsored by the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Division of the American Cancer Society provides children with cancer the opportunity to enjoy a traditional summer camp experience. Any child (age eight to 17) who is or has been treated for cancer in Pennsylvania or Delaware, or who lives in Pennsylvania regardless of where they receive treatment, is eligible to attend Camp Can-Do. Two week-long sessions are held each August at beautiful Mt. Gretna in Lebanon County. Camp-Can-Do is provided free of charge to cancer patients.
For more information, call (717) 273-6525.
Camp Discovery
The Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf is proud to offer a camp experience for Deaf and Hard of Hearing children, between the ages of 7 to 17. WPSD's Camp Discovery offers campers an exciting week of activities and events that will be sure to create life-long memories and friendships. Their are a limited number of slots so be sure to sign up early. Please visit psd.org for more information and to register online.
Camp Frog
At YMCA Camp Fitch, North Springfield, PA (near Erie), Camp Frog is a fully integrated week-long overnight camp for children ages 8-17 (having completed 3rd grade but not yet graduated high school) with a primary diagnosis of epilepsy. Camp Frog staff includes a neurologist, nurse, and specially trained counselors.
Please call for more information and eligibility requirements 1-800-361-5885.
Camp Huff-n-Puff
Camp Huff-n-Puff is a four-day overnight camp adventure for children aged 8-13 with asthma. Camp is held each August at the Jumonville Camp and Conference center in Hopwood, PA. A dedicated group of volunteer physicians, nurses, and respiratory therapists work alongside camp counselors to ensure that all campers have a safe and fun experience.
To register, visit www.healthylungs.org or call (800) 220-1990.
Camp Laughalot
Camp Laughalot, a popular inclusive day camp for children and adults with developmental, intellectual and physical disabilities, and mental illness, is offered by Arc Human Services. The camp takes place twice each year; there is a seven-week summer camp plus a one-week winter camp, during school break between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Participants must be at least five years old, and there is no upper age limit. Camp Laughalot is in its nineteenth year of operation and is attended by 60 or 70 participants, with a staff of 25. The camp takes place at the Vernon C. Neal Sportsplex, an indoor recreation center in Washington PA, Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm. The 2018 summer camp begins June 18 and ends on August 3, with an agency-wide carnival which the public can attend. Quimber Nutter, Activities Coordinator for Arc Human Services, manages Camp Laughalot, which consists of a wide variety of structured, supervised activities: arts and crafts, music, games, swimming, dances, parties and field trips. The registration fee is $100 per week, which covers all activities, the swimming pool, and outings plus lunch. Financial assistance available. To register for Camp Laughalot, go to www.aadvantageinc.org/camp-laughalot.html. To contact Quimber Nutter, call 724 222-6960 ext. 225, or email nutter.quimberkay@ aadvantageinc.org.
Chatterbox Express Basic Social Skills Training
Chatterbox Express is a program to help preschoolers through teenagers (ages 6 to 14) build confidence and express themselves effectively when interacting with others. The program is offered by the Department of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC. Sessions are held at the Center for Independence in Wexford and at Children's South Communications Disorders in Bethel Park and is open to all children who may be experiencing difficulties with social communication, regardless of diagnosis. More information is available at (412) 692-5580 or www.chp.edu
Summer Therapeutic Activity Program (STAP)
New Story operates therapeutic programs during the summer months throughout Pennsylvania. Our Summer Therapeutic Activity Programs (STAPs) are designed to meet the needs of children with the most serious and/or complex behavioral challenges. New Story provides a day program offering recreational and social activities within a therapeutic environment to support each child’s continued growth and development.
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