Resources

This is a collection of resources with a focus on local resources that serve the needs of the disabled community. If we are missing something, tell us here!

General

• COMPASS

  • Apply to SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, OLTL, and other state assistance programs.

• PA 211 Southwest

  • Help finding resources. You can also dial 2-1-1 in Southwest Pennsylvania.

Assistive Technology

• Disability Options Network DME Reuse Program

  • Provides gently used assistive tech and DME to residents for free or low cost.

• PA Assistive Technology Foundation

  • Financial planning and low-/zero-interest loans to support the purchase of assistive technology.

• TechOWL

  • Assistive technology library available to Pennsylvanians for free! Also device demos and free consultations. 

Autism and Developmental Disabilities

• AASPIRE Healthcare Toolkit

  • Toolkit to support autistic adults in managing their own healthcare.

• Autism Connection of PA

  • Provides advocacy and referral for autistic people and their families.

• Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN)

  • Legislative advocacy, easy-read guides to policy, and resources for getting involved.

• Autistic Women and Nonbinary Network

  • Disability justice, health access, and information for autistic women and transgender people.

• Evolve Coaching

  • Provides coaching for transition-age individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.

• Friendship Circle

  • Provides a variety of recreational programming for youth and young adults with and without disabilities.

• Pittsburgh Center for Autistic Advocacy

  • Advocacy, support, and referral for autistic and disabled people in Pittsburgh and surrounding areas.

Blindness and Vision Disabilities

• Pennsylvania Association for the Blind

  • Referral to local services, braille embossing, and information about eye health and visual disabilities.

• VisAbility

  • A variety of supports for blind/low vision community members.

Children and Youth

• Allegheny County - Family and Child Health Programs

  • A variety of supports or new parents in Allegheny County.

• The Alliance for Infants and Toddlers

  • Provides supports for families with infants and toddlers 0-3 living in Allegheny and several adjoining counties.

• FosterLove Project

  • Support groups, hair care, clothing, back to school items, and other supports for foster children and their families in Allegheny County.

• Jeremiah's Place

  • Free 24/7 crisis nursery for children 0-6. Also provides community closet, support groups, and resources and referral.

• Trying Together

  • Provides Parenting Warmline, advocacy toolkits, guides for navigating programs and services.

Civil Rights

• Allegheny County Human Relations Commission

  • Advocacy and mediation for civil rights violations in Allegheny County.

• Department of Justice - Civil Rights Division

  • File an ADA Complaint or get ADA technical assistance.

• Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations

  • Support, advocacy, and mediation for civil rights violations in the City of Pittsburgh.

Deaf and HoH

• Hearing and Deaf Services

  • Provides a variety of services, interpretation, and assistive technology for d/Deaf and HoH community members.

• Sign Language Interpreting Professionals (SLIP)

  • Interpretation and consulting services.

Deafblindness

• PA Association for the Deafblind

  • A variety of resources for those who are Deafblind.

Employment

• Bender Consulting Job Board

  • Job board for positions in organizations committed to hiring disabled people.

• Job Accommodation Network (JAN)

  • Department of Labor resource for reasonable accommodations for disabled workers.

• Office of Vocational Rehabilitation

  • Provides a variety of assistance programs, including assistive tech, job placement, training, vehicle modifications, among others.

Financial Help

• Achieva Residual Charitable Trust Program

  • Provides critical supports for disabled children and adults with demonstrated need in PA.

• Hebrew Free Loan Association

  • Nonprofit providing zero-interest loans for a variety of expenses.

Food

• Just Harvest

  • Help with SNAP, food access, welfare advocacy, tax prep

• Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank

  • Directory of food pantries and other food resources.

• JFCS Food Pantry

  • Food pantry for individuals living in 15217 as well as those who keep kosher or live with celiac disease.

• North Hills Food Pantry

  • Food pantries for those living in Northern Allegheny County as well as those with celiac disease.

• Steel City Food Not Bombs

  • Volunteer-run food distribution.

• Pittsburgh Foodshare Network (Facebook)

  • Facebook group with food distro resources and mutual aid foodsharing.

• 412 Food Rescue

  • Food access resources and map of food distributions and hot meals.

Intimate Partner Violence

• Alle-Kiski Hope Center

• Prevention, support, rehousing, and other services for victims of domestic violence.

• How to Obtain a PFA

  • Specific steps for obtaining a Protection from Abuse Order (restraining order) in Allegheny County.

• Women's Center and Shelter

  • Services, prevention, and education for survivors of domestic violence.

Housing

• Allegheny County Housing Authority

  • Public housing and HCVP (Section 8) vouchers in Allegheny County.

• Allegheny County Housing and Community Environment Program

  • Support through enforcement of policies around things like lead, pests, and property code violation complaints.

• Allegheny Link

  • Access point for all homeless and housing instability services in Allegheny County.

• Fair Housing Partnership of Greater Pittsburgh

  • Help with housing discrimination.

• Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh

  • Low-income, senior, and disability housing and HCVP (Section 8) vouchers.

IEPs and School Issues

• Education Rights Network

  • A parent- and caregiver-run network that provides advocacy, support, and education for parents and young people in public schools.

• PA Local Task Force on the Right to Education 2

  • Parent-led advocacy group that works with the LEA and Pittsburgh Public Schools to ensure children with disabilites receive an appropriate education.

• PA Local Task Force on the Right to Education 3

  • Parent-led advocacy group that works with the LEA and the 42 school districts outside of the City of Pittsburgh to ensure children with disabilites receive an appropriate education.

• PEAL Center

  • A wide variety of supports for parents of children with or in need of IEPs and 504 plans.

Immigration and Refugees

• Casa San Jose

  • Support for Latine individuals and families in Pittsburgh, including social services, health and wellbeing, and youth groups.

• ISAC

  • Support for immigrants, refugees, and others who reside in Allegheny County and face language or cultural barriers to accessing resources.

• JFCS Refugee and Immigrant Services

  • Services include resettlement, employment services, and support groups, among others.

Legal Support

• Allegheny County Public Defender

  • Representation of low-income individuals in criminal matters.

• Allegheny Bar Foundation - Pro Bono Center

  • Provides support for low-income residents of Allegheny County with uncontested divorce, criminal record clearing, community legal clinics, and wills and advance planning.

• Disability Rights Pennsylvania

  • Provides legal help in cases of disability discrimination, institutionalization, segregation, and abuse and neglect.

• Neighborhood Legal Services

  • Legal aid for low-income individuals. Does not handle criminal matters, though can occasionally help with record expungement.

LGBTQIA+

• Advocates for Transgender Equality - Name Change Project [CURRENTLY PAUSED]

  • Provides legal support for legal name changes for low-income transgender individuals.

• Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation

  • Wide variety of supports and services for queer youth, adults, and elders.

• Persad Center

  • Psychotherapy, support groups, clothing swaps, gym, and community events.

• PFLAG Pittsburgh

  • Peer support for LGBTQIA+ people and their families and friends.

• Pittsburgh Equality Center

  • Events, community, education, and queer little libraries.

• Pittsburgh LGBTQIA+ Commission

  • Serves as a link between the LGBTQIA+ community and the City of Pittsburgh.

• Project Silk

  • Community events and supports centering LGBTQIA+ BIPOC youth and young adults.

• ProudHaven

  • Supports for LGBTQIA+ young adults (18-25) experiencing homelessness.

• SistersPgh

  • Safer space for transgender and gender non-conforming people, centering BIPOC individuals. Provides clothing, food, toiletries, access to computers, and referral to trans-competent resources.

• TransYouniting

  • Advocacy, events, mutual aid, and community referral centering transgender people.

• QMNTY Center

  • Community closet, food, housing, drop-ins for youth and adults, events, and event space.

Medical Care

• AHN Financial Assistance Application

• Allegheny Health Department

  • Low-cost immunizations, STI/HIV Clinic, WIC, and many other programs to support the health of residents.

• Find a Federally Qualified Health Center

  • Directory of health centers that provide sliding-scale services for individuals regardless of insurance.

• PA MEDI

  • Help navigating Medicare.

• PA Health Law Project

  • Help with Medicaid issues and appeals.

• Pennsylvania Health Access Network (PHAN)

  • Help with Medicaid, Pennie, waivers, and more.

• UPMC Financial Assistance Application

  • Individuals and families making less than 400% FPL may qualify.

Mental Health

• Community Care Behavioral Health

  • Managed Care Organization for Medicaid Mental Health Services in Allegheny County.

• Howard and Sally Levin Clubhouse

  • Mental Health Clubhouse supporting individuals with persistent mental illness.

• Mental Health Crisis Services

  • Crisis lines to call that DO NOT engage in active rescue.

• OpenPath Collective

  • Online, sliding-scale therapy.

• Peer Support and Advocacy Network Warmline

  • Warmline staffed by people with lived experience.

• Resolve Crisis Network

  • Mental health crisis support 24/7. Includes phone, in-person, and short-term residential support. May involve police in some circumstances.

Reproductive Health

• Allegheny Reproductive Health Center

  • Reproductive health care, gender care, and termination services. Western PA Fund for Choice can provide financial assistance to those in need.

• Planned Parenthood of Western PA

  • Reproductive health care and termination services. The Vivian Campbell Fund can provide financial assistance to those in need.

Transportation

• ACCESS

  • Pittsburgh's door-to-door para-transit service.

• Medical Assistance Transportation Project Application (pdf)

  • Provides free transportation for Medical Assistance beneficiaries to and from medical appointments and the pharmacy.

• Pittsburgh Regional Transit Accessibility Options

• Pittsburgh Regional Transit Discounted Fares Programs

  • Individuals with disabilities, senior citizens, and those receiving SNAP may qualify for discounted fares.

Victim Services

• Center for Victims

  • Comprehensive services, advocacy, and resources for Pennsylvanians who have been victim of a crime. 

• Pennsylvania Victims Compensation Fund

  • Provides funding to cover expenses incurred as the result of a crime in Pennsylvania.

Waivers

• OLTL (Physical Disability) Waiver Application

  • Application for physical disability services for low-income individuals, above and beyond Medicaid/Medicare.

• ODP (Autism, Intellectual Disability, and Medically Complex) Waiver Intake

• • Application for developmental supports for low-income individuals, above and beyond Medicaid/Medicare. (more information[pdf])