The following is a general listing of disability resources.
We do not accept online solicitations or suggestions for additions to this page.
Information and Technical Assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act
Provide information, guidance, and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Pennsylvania chapter of The Arc, which is the largest advocacy organization in the United States for citizens with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and their families. The Lancaster chapter holds weekly meetings for
Disability Rights Pennsylvania (DRP) is an independent, statewide, non-profit corporation designated as the federally-mandated protection and advocacy agency in Pennsylvania.
National Organization on Disability
The National Organization on Disability researches, develops, and demonstrates creative approaches to disability employment issues.
Pennsylvania Statewide Independent Living Council
Information for state and federal advocacy and opportunities for getting involved.
http://selfadvocacyonline.org/
Find Self-Advocacy Groups, View Stories from Self Advocates, and learn about Self-Advocacy
TASH is an international leader in disability advocacy. Founded in 1975, TASH advocates for human rights and inclusion for people with significant disabilities and support needs – those most vulnerable to segregation, abuse, neglect and institutionalization. TASH works to advance inclusive communities through advocacy,
Services for individuals who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing, such as: Assistive Technology and Hearing devices as well as Hearing Screenings
The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. (RID), a national membership organization, plays a leading role in advocating for excellence in the delivery of interpretation and transliteration services between people who use sign language and people who use spoken language. In collaboration with the Deaf community, RID supports our members and encourages the growth of the profession through the establishment of a national standard for qualified sign language interpreters and transliterators, ongoing professional development and adherence to a code of professional conduct.
Office of Disability Services at Penn State University
Accommodations and services for students with disabilities.
Temple University Disability Resources
Resources and services for students, faculty, administration, and families with disabilities.
Dedicated to uniting people interested in rights and issues affecting people with disabilities, with particular emphasis on college students and access to higher education and employment issues.
Advocacy for people with disabilities administered by the Center for Disability Law & Policy.
Pennsylvania Client Assistance Program
Advocacy for people with disabilities administered by the Center for Disability Law & Policy.
Assists people in: finding a job, obtaining job training, keeping health insurance, getting assistive technology, finding additional support.
Assistive Technology Lending Library
A free service that loans assistive technology devices to people with disabilities, available to Pennsylvanians of all ages and disabilities.
Welcome! Accessible Pharmacy Services for the Blind is a comprehensive, home delivery pharmacy service specializing in the needs of people who are blind, DeafBlind and have low vision. We are the only provider of its kind and the largest blind-owned healthcare company in the country.
https://www.ucpcentralpa.org/services/assistive-technology/changing-hands/
Changing Hands is an equipment exchange program that provides restored and refurbished home medical equipment to Pennsylvania residents of all ages.
Computer Accessibility for the Blind
This page contains information and links for computer accessibility for legally blind individuals.
Accessible vans
https://www.reagansjourney.org/
Reagan’s Journey exists to make life better for
children with special needs in (3) ways.
1. Pediatric Equipment & Supply Closet to make sure families/caregivers/therapists have access to the right equipment to help a child reach their full potential. Often times, insurance will only cover one piece of equipment every five years and the average wait time to receive a custom piece of equipment is 6 months. That is a hardship to families when children experience growth spurts and developmental changes. We’ve been able to partner with many local agencies, therapists, and hospital social workers to keep our closet full of equipment and supplies.
2. Family Events that are meant to create an environment where each child’s uniqueness is not only welcomed, but celebrated! We want families to be themselves and enjoy each other without reservation. These events become a fantastic springboard to facilitate friendships and create a sense of community.
3. Resources: We’ve been operating our online resource group since 2012. The group has become a hub to share resources and information as well as link arms with families facing similar experiences with disability. It has doubled in size from 2022-2023. We also pride ourselves in offering a “Resource Sheet” during our in-person appointments and with social workers/therapists.
The official government site for the Affordable Care Act and the Healthcare Marketplace.
Provides assistance with medical debt crisis, insurance access issues, and job retention issues.
Pennie is Pennsylvania’s official health and dental coverage marketplace and the only place to get financial assistance to help lower the cost of coverage and care.
support parents caring for their children with special needs and disabilities.
prohibits discrimination by direct providers of housing, such as landlords and real estate companies as well as other entities, such as municipalities, banks or other lending institutions and homeowners insurance companies whose discriminatory practices make housing unavailable to persons based on Race/color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status or disability.
Lancaster City Housing Authority
Lancaster City Housing Authority (LCHA) owns and operates 564 Public Housing units consisting of 259 family units and 305 elderly/disabled units set in six communities.
Housing is also provided through the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program. The LCHA administers Vouchers by matching up eligible applicants with participating private landlords.
Lebanon County Housing Authority
The Redevelopment Authority administers Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME, and other state/federal community development programs. The City of Lebanon receives about one million dollars annually of CDBG funding. The County of Lebanon receives about $450,000 of Small Cities CDBG. HOME funding has been averaging about $500,000 per year.
http://lancaster.offthestreetsnow.com/
Off the Streets helps families and individuals in Lancaster, PA get off the streets and into permanent housing. We fill critical missing pieces to transition those who are homeless into housing. We work with local service agencies to identify those who need help and then we provide:
a security deposit sent directly to the landlord
basic furnishings and household items
Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency
Housing assistance for people renting and buying homes in Pennsylvania through loan and grant programs.
Tabor and LHOP are now Tenfold. With 80 years of collective expertise, we will continue to serve as your trusted community partner offering a broader continuum of services to address homelessness to affordable rental housing to homeownership, and the creation of new housing units through Tenfold Community Lending.
At Tenfold, we are committed to sparking the power in all people to achieve equitable housing and financial security. We walk alongside our clients and help them unlock a new path forward to a brighter future.
By collaborating as one team, we can take a holistic approach to serve as your trusted community partner focused on achieving quality, fair and affordable housing that is inclusive to all people through:
Proactive coaching
Education
Lending
Advocacy
Together, the Tenfold team is multiplying its impact by leveraging our team’s combined expertise and community partners to develop new and innovative ways of addressing the wide range of critical housing needs within our community such as homelessness, renting, homeownership, and community lending.
United DIsabilities Services Home Modifications
Accessible home modifications make your home safer and better suited to your needs. Every area of your home can be modified to ensure accessibility and convenience.
National Council on Independent Living
Resources on Independent Living throughout the United States.
Pennsylvania Council on Independent Living
Resources for Independent Living throughout Pennsylvania.
DRP is the federally authorized, protection and advocacy system, in Pennsylvania to provide legal and advocacy services to persons with disabilities.
DRP staff works diligently statewide to:
improve disability service and social systems
work to ensure civil rights and to empower the community
provide technical and training assistance
Each fiscal year, Disability Rights Pennsylvania’s Board of Directors adopts priorities based on feedback from individuals with disabilities, family members, advocates and professionals about the work that DRP should prioritize.
The priorities for Fiscal Year 2022 are found here:
People with disabilities will not be subject to abuse, neglect, exploitation, or rights violations.
People with disabilities will not be subject to unnecessary segregation and institutionalization, including, but not limited to, unnecessary segregation in home and community-based settings.
People with disabilities will have access to high-quality, consumer-controlled, consumer-driven, person-centered, and recovery-oriented services and benefits to enable them to live and thrive in their own homes and communities.
People with disabilities will not be subject to discrimination and will be fully integrated in all aspects of society.
https://www.midpenn.org/file_download/inline/4e892c51-4b2d-4cf8-ac93-bb3e976edf5f
MidPenn Legal Services is a non-profit law firm providing free civil legal aid to low-income families in crisis. We provide legal advice and counsel to help very low-income
families solve problems that focus on improving their personal safety, family stability
and economic security. MidPenn attorneys and paralegals handle cases involving
domestic violence, housing law, public benefits, expungement, supportive benefits,
consumer law, family law, tax controversies and elder law.
https://www.midpenn.org/file_download/inline/60a59dfe-f4e2-4651-a3c0-c7e5724d4894
MidPenn Legal Services is a non-profit law firm providing free civil legal aid to low-income families in crisis. We provide legal advice and counsel to help very low-income
families solve problems that focus on improving their personal safety, family stability
and economic security. MidPenn attorneys and paralegals handle cases involving
domestic violence, housing law, public benefits, expungement, supportive benefits,
consumer law, family law, tax controversies, and elder law.
The Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network is a statewide consortium of independent legal aid programs. We coordinate the delivery of civil legal assistance to the Pennsylvanians who need it most.
a guide to legal information and free civil legal services for low-income persons and seniors in Pennsylvania. Here you can locate information on a variety of legal issues, as well as information on how to contact programs providing legal assistance in Pennsylvania. This includes basic eligibility and contact information for the programs proving free legal assistance in Pennsylvania.
.
A Philadelphia attorney, providing valuable information on the enforcement of the ADA act.
At Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition, we are committed to building a supportive and enriching community abundant in opportunities for LGBTQQIA+ individuals and those with a stake in creating a more inclusive Lancaster County.
is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention to queer youth
Mental Health Resources
Lancaster BHDS BH/DS is mandated by state and federal law to provide services to individuals with serious and persistent mental illness, children and youth with emotional disturbance, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and children age birth to three years old who have developmental delays.
Lebanon County Mental Health Intellectual Disabilities/Early Intervention The Lebanon County MH/ID/EI Program provides services to Lebanon County residents who have certain mental health diagnoses, a diagnosis of intellectual disability, or to children from birth up to the age of three who have a developmental delay or are at risk for a developmental delay. Through case management, MH/ID/EI provides intake, assessment, and coordination of the following services: outpatient psychotherapy, psychiatric and psychological evaluation, medication monitoring, vocational and social rehabilitation, short-term inpatient, partial hospitalization, early intervention services (birth to three years) and 24-hour emergency services. Consultation and education services are available upon request.
Promotes optimal Mental Health through advocacy, education and support
Parent to Parent of Pennsylvania
Linking families of children and adults with disabilities or special needs.
https://www.easterseals.com/wcpenna/
Easterseals Western and Central Pennsylvania is proud to offer various camping and recreational programs for children and adults with disabilities and other special needs. The programs vary from residential and day camps, weekend respites, community-based programs, and adaptive adventure sports. All of our programs offer opportunities for individuals with disabilities to play and have fun while working on goals that can improve quality of life such as socialization, fine and gross motor skills, attention to task, and more.
https://www.empowersci.org/ EmpowerSCI is a non-profit corporation established to enable individuals with spinal cord injuries to lead happier, more meaningful and more independent lives. EmpowerSCI seeks to fill the gap in the rehabilitation industry that has been created by a decrease in length of stays at rehabilitation hospitals and outpatient services during the recovery from a spinal cord injury.
https://www.fitness4focus.com/
INDIVIDUALIZED FITNESS COACHING
We have created a fitness program that challenges athletes both physically and mentally. Over the past ten years, our curriculum has been designed and modified to give each athlete the very best. Our athletes are guaranteed a full body workout each time they come to the gym, but they get much more than that.
Support for active lifestyles for individuals with disabilities including adaptive equipment, inclusive fitness, and advocacy.
Social Security Administration
The official government site of the Social Security Administration. ALso able to apply for SSD through this site
helps individuals with hospital bills by analyzing your hospital bill for coding errors and pricing discrepancies, and then negotiate to save you money.
IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Programs
The IRS’s free local tax help for VITA and TCE programs.
https://www.paable.gov/overview/
A PA ABLE account gives individuals with qualified disabilities (Eligible Individuals), and their families and friends, a tax-free way to save for disability-related expenses, while maintaining government benefits. Federal and state law authorized the creation of PA ABLE accounts.
Tax Tips for the Legally Disabled
TurboTax’s information on tax breaks available for legally disabled individuals.
Pennsylvania Secondary Transition Guide
Provides youth, young adults, parents, and professionals with secondary transition resources.
LEMSA Lancaster EMS is equipped to provide both Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulance services, community paramedicine, medical stand-bys for your event or gathering, and non-emergency wheelchair and sedan transport.
RRTA The public transit system in Lancaster County PA.
Lebanon Transit Lebanon Transit (LT) is one of the premier public transportation agencies in Pennsylvania. LT is dedicated to providing our local community with affordable and environmentally-friendly service throughout the entire county and beyond. Whether you’re going to work, running errands, visiting friends or exploring the county, LT is the convenient, reliable and friendly way to get there.
Travel Accessibility Resources for the Disabled
An interesting article about traveling and special considerations, as well as many links to other resources for traveling with a disability.
Healthcare assistance, job opportunities, and more for paralyzed veterans.
An online application that allows veterans, family members, and veteran advocates to connect with the PA Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) to request information related to the valuable state benefits, programs, and services they have earned. By connecting with DMVA, registrants can also opt-in to receive the weekly DMVA DIGEST, filled with valuable veteran-related news, job opportunities, and events.
A free, confidential resource that’s available to anyone, even if you’re not registered with VA or enrolled in VA health care. The caring, qualified responders at the Veterans Crisis Line are specially trained and experienced in helping Veterans of all ages and circumstances.
Our mission is to assist veterans with the array of issues they may face, including obtaining proper disability compensation, financial assistance, information on the GI bill, and more. We have created some helpful guides and will continuously be adding more.
Guide for Visually Impaired College Students With the help of this guide, blind or visually impaired students can feel confident setting out on their academic journey.
More information about centers for independent living here
All Rights Reserved | Disability Empowerment Center
Powered By Create Socially