Regional Advocacy Services

  • Special Kids Network
    The SKN helpline assists providers and parents of children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) access local services and supports. SKN connects families to resources within their community to allow CYSHCN to be successful and develop to their full potential. SKN serves children and youth with physical, developmental, behavioral or emotional needs from birth through age 21.
    Phone: 1-800-986-4550
    https://www.pa.gov/en/agencies/health/programs/healthy-living/special-kids-network.html

  • ASERT (Autism Services, Education, Resources and Training) Collaborative
    ASERT (Autism Services, Education, Resources and Training) is a partnership of medical centers, centers of autism research and services, universities, and other providers involved in the treatment and care of individuals of all ages with autism and their families. ASERT was developed to bring together resources locally, regionally, and statewide.
    Phone: 1-877-231-4244
    http://paautism.org

  • Autism Connection of Pennsylvania
    Founded by parents in 1996, Autism Connection of PA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, serving thousands of people seeking help for autism concerns. Professional staff, all parents who understand, provide telephone support, weekly autism news, autism-friendly activities, and coordinate support groups across Pennsylvania.
    Phone: 412.995.5000
    https://autismofpa.org/

  • Parent Education & Advocacy Leadership (PEAL) Center
    The PEAL Center helps families and individuals with disabilities and special health care needs
    Phone: (866) 950-1040
    http://pealcenter.org

  • PA Elks Home Service Program
    Since 1963, the PA Elks Home Service Program has been helping to improve the quality of life for thousands of children and adults throughout Pennsylvania. We provide support and advocacy services to individuals of any age who have a developmental disability.
    https://paelkshomeservice.org/

  • PA Department Of Education ConsultLine
    Help for families and advocates of children with special needs about: Special Education Regulations, School Related Concerns or Procedural Safeguards
    Phone: 1-800-879-2301 (Voice/TTY/TDD)
    https://www.education.pa.gov/

  • PA State Task Force on the Right to Education
    The Pennsylvania State Task Force is charged with ensuring that the mandate and spirit of the Right to Education Consent Agreement are carried out throughout the commonwealth. The Right to Education was launched initially as a statewide education campaign designed to identify and locate school-aged children with mental retardation/intellectual disabilities. The State Task Force now addresses the educational needs of all children with disabilities.
    Phone: 1-800-360-7282

  • PA Families, Inc.
    PA Families Inc. (PFI) is a not for profit Statewide Family Network providing support to families raising children and youth with emotional, behavioral, and special needs, as well as serving as an advocate in the different child serving systems.
    Phone: 1-800-947-4941
    http://pafamiliesinc.org/

  • PA Parent and Family Alliance
    We provide 1-on-1 support to parents and caregivers whose children (including those 18+) may be experiencing social, emotional, behavioral and/or mental health struggles, including learning and attention issues and substance use disorders.
    Phone: (888) 273-2361
    https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/

Disability Services

  • National Association of the Deaf
    The NAD is the nation’s premier civil rights organization of, by and for deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the United States of America. The NAD is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supported by the generosity of individual and organizational donors, including corporations and foundations.

  • Phone: (301) 587-1788
    https://www.nad.org/

  • National Federation of the Blind-PA
    Since 1977, the National Federation of the Blind of PA has been helping members live the lives they want! We know that the real problem concerning blindness is not blindness itself but the lack of knowledge, understanding, and opportunity from our sighted peers.
    Phone: (215) 988-0888
    http://nfbp.org/

  • PA Association for the Blind
    With over 110 years of experience serving Pennsylvanians with Vision Loss, PAB knows what it takes to respond to your needs. Whether you’re the parent of a blind child, a Veteran, or an older adult looking to connect with peers who are experiencing the same issues, we offer customized instruction and support to improve your quality of life, or that of a loved one.
    Phone: (717) 766-2020
    https://www.pablind.org/

Statewide Advocacy Organizations

  • Disability Rights Pennsylvania
    As the protection and advocacy agency in Pennsylvania, DRP works to advance and protect the civil rights of adults and children with a wide range of disabilities to ensure their rights to live in their communities with the services they need, to receive a full and inclusive education, to live free of discrimination and abuse and neglect, and to have control and self-determination over their services.
    Phone: (800) 692-7443
    https://www.disabilityrightspa.org/
  • Client Assistance Program (CAP) Center for Disability Law and Policy
    PaCAP is an advocacy program that helps individuals with disabilities seeking services from OVR, CILs and programs providing pre-employment transition services and supported employment services with questions or concerns about these services. See less
    Phone: 1-888-745-2357
    https://www.equalemployment.org/
  • Education Law Center
    The Education Law Center’s mission is to ensure access to a quality public education for all children in Pennsylvania. We pursue this mission by focusing on the most underserved students: children living in poverty, children of color, children with disabilities, children in the foster care and juvenile justice systems, children experiencing homelessness, English learners, LGBTQ and gender-nonconforming students – and many who are at the intersection of these identities. You can view a short introductory video here.
    Phone:412-258-2120
    https://www.elc-pa.org/
  • Pennsylvania Health Law Project (PHLP)
    PHLP provides free legal services to lower-income consumers, seniors, and persons with disabilities who are having trouble accessing publiclyfunded healthcare coverage or services. If you are denied or terminated from enrollment in a publicly funded healthcare program, or if you have a service such as assistive technology denied, reduced, or terminated, PHLP may provide you free direct representation on your appeal. PHLP also works on health policy changes that may impact citizens in greatest need and provides training on changes in health insurance coverage for low income people, individuals with disabilities, and older peoples.
    Phone: 1-800-274-3258
    http://www.phlp.org/