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
Children’s Home and Lemieux Family Center
412-441-4884
www.childrenshomepgh.org
Every Child, Inc.
412-665-0600
www.everychildinc.org
Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Pittsburgh
412-422-7200
www.jfcspgh.org
Three Rivers Adoption Council
412-471-8722
www.3riversadopt.org
Autism
Autism Connection of Pennsylvania
412-781-4116
800-827-938
www.autismofpa.org
Every Child, Inc.
412-665-0600
www.everychild.org
Watson Institute
412-914-8800
www.thewatsoninstitute.org
Highlands Hospital Regional Center for Autism
724-603-3360
www.highlandhospital.org/services/
autism
Research Programs for Adults, Children and Teens
If you would like to help make miracles for individuals with ASD by participating in research studies, or for more information, contact (412) 246-5485, 1-866-647-3436, or autismrecruiter@pitt.edu.
To contact Carla Mazefsky, Ph.D., email mazefskyca@upmc.edu.
The Children’s Institute
412-420-2362
www.amazingkids.org
The Early Learning Institute
412-922-8322
www.telipa.org
Wesley Spectrum Services
724-443-4888
www.wesleyspectrum.org
Hearing Loss
WESTERN PA School for the Deaf
412-244-4269
www.wpsd.org
Home Healthcare
Next Evolution Healthcare
724-201-1487
www.nextevolutionhealthcare.com
Development and Early intervention
Achieva
412-995-5000
www.achievaearlyintervention.org
Children’s Therapy Center of Washington Health System
www.whs.org/ctc
TEIS Early Intervention Provider
412-271-8347
www.teisinc.com
The Alliance for Infants and Toddlers
412-885-6000
www.afit.org
The Early Learning Institute
412-822-8322
www.telipa.org
Blindness / Vision Loss
Western PA School for Blind Children
1-800-444-1897
www.wpsbc.org
Behavior
PACE School
412-244-1900
www.paceschool.org
Camps and recreation
Camp Laughalot
724-222-6960 x225
www.aadvantageinc.org
Woodlands
724-935-5470
Food insecurity
Greater Pittsburgh
Community Food Bank
www.pittsburghfoodbank.org
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.
Schools
Watson Institute
412 914-8800
www.thewatsoninstitute.org
Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children
1-800-444-1897
www.wpsbc.org
Day School at The Children's Institute
412-420-2222
www.amazingkids.org
Special Needs Day Care
Childs Way 412-441-4884
Special Needs Trust
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.
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
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
Education – College Bound
- ACCLAIM – Watson Institute
412-914-8800
- AHEADD – Achievement in Higher Education with Autism & Devel Disability
412-856-7223
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.
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
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
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
Special Needs Dentistry
- Pitt School of Dental Medicine
412-648-3039
- Accessible Dentists
724-775-0448
- East Liberty Family Health Center
412-661-2802
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

CAMPS AND ACTIVITIES
Amazing Bike Camp
ICANSHINE Inc. and The Children’s Institute partner to provide children with special needs a camp to learn how to ride a bike without training wheels! Children attend camp sessions for 5 consecutive days, each session is an hour and fifteen minutes long. Participants must be 8 years of age or older, a minimum
height of 40 inches or minimum inseam measurement of 22 inches, and maximum weight of 220lbs.
For more information, contact Alyse Roberts at (412) 420-2212 or ayr@the-institute.org or Staci Gratton at (412) 420-2248 or Stg@the-institute.org.
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.
Camp Success
Camp Success is a family enrichment program offered by The Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh. It is an accessible, inclusive, non-therapeutic, single-site summer day camp for children with and without disabilities. The camp accommodates children ages 6-12 with physical, sensory, emotional, behavioral and cognitive needs. Often these families struggle to find summer programs for their children because of barriers created by expense, transportation, exclusion of non-disabled siblings, and inability to accommodate children with behavioral problems. Camp Success serves Pittsburgh’s East End and surrounding communities.
For more information, contact Amy Haid at (412) 420-2316 or aeh@the-institute.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.
Return to Top

|