Helps Individuals with Disabilities at Every Stage of Life

By Vanessa Orr

When Jennifer Kmonk’s three-year-old daughter, Madison, was less than a year old, she seemed to be developing more slowly than other children her own age. After consulting Madison’s pediatrician, Kmonk decided to contact ACHIEVA, western Pennsylvania’s largest provider of comprehensive services and supports for children and adults with disabilities.

“When Madison was about five months old, I started noticing that she was having trouble doing certain things,” explained Kmonk. “By the time she was seven months old, she still wasn’t able to sit up, and she was making pretty slow progress developmentally.

“By working with physical therapist Jean Riddles and developmentalist Krisztina Weiszhaupt, Madison has gotten much better,” Kmonk added. “She wouldn’t be where she is right now without ACHIEVA’s help.”

Madison, who will enter preschool in September, started working with ACHIEVA staff at the age of six months. “The staff is wonderful and Madison is crazy about them,” said Kmonk. “They work with her at home, or we meet at a playground or a play yard in the mall. They involve her in play activities that incorporate physical therapy, and they also give me lots of idea on how to help her develop.”

Early intervention is just one of the services that ACHIEVA offers its clients, who range in age from birth to latter adulthood. “While a number of organizations provide some of the supports we do, our biggest distinction is that ACHIEVA is focused on being there at every stage of an individual’s life,” explained Marsha Blanco, ACHIEVA’s president and CEO.

Since its beginning in 1951, ACHIEVA (formerly Arc Allegheny) has built upon a strong foundation, rooted in the passion and dedication of parents who came together to ensure that their children with disabilities had the same chances in life that all children should be given. “Back then, families were often told to leave their children with disabilities at the hospital and they would be placed into state institutions,” explained Blanco. “Through newspaper ads, ACHIEVA’s founding families sought out each other and began establishing support systems within their local communities.”

And the idea took hold. As a chapter of The Arc of the United States, ACHIEVA is affiliated with the eighth largest charity in the nation according to Forbes magazine. Locally, ACHIEVA serves more than 7,000 clients a year. For the past 20 years, the organization has grown by between eight and 23 percent annually.

In addition to early intervention services, ACHIEVA also provides advocacy services, including providing free assistance to families attempting to resolve issues with various school systems. “Until 1975, school districts were still allowed to say that children with disabilities were not educable,” said Blanco. “ACHIEVA was part of the initial lawsuit that required school districts to provide an education for children with significant disabilities. As a result, Congress enacted special education.”

Through the Department of Public Welfare, ACHIEVA, as part of the Pennsylvania Training Partnership, also provides training for families in 23 counties to help them navigate the system. “We help families learn to deal with health care issues, social security benefits, education issues, job issues and more,” said Blanco. “We also provide this as an online training service, for even more convenience.”

Clients who want to work can find assistance through ACHIEVA’s large vocational preparation and training component, which helps more than 500 people a day learn how to prepare for and find a job. They even offer on-the-job training. “We’re very proud that we are able to teach people with disabilities the skills that will enable them to earn a living and work toward greater independence,” said Blanco.

ACHIEVA has a large residential support program that includes community living options as well as in home services, and also provides year-round camping opportunities for more than 400 individuals each year. In addition, the organization’s highly qualified caregivers provide respite care for families who need some time away from the day-to-day demands of caring for an individual with disabilities.

In 1998, ACHIEVA established the ACHIEVA Family Trust, which enables an individual with disabilities or their family to place private funds into a trust without affecting their eligibility for important government benefits. “To qualify for government assistance, individuals basically need to live in perpetual poverty,” said Blanco. Through the Trust, which now totals $37 million, nearly $100,000 is distributed each week to enhance the lives of beneficiaries. Last year alone, the Trust grew by 20 percent.

By remaining true to the mission of its founders, ACHIEVA has branched out, creating a lifelong support system and partnership with individuals with disabilities and their families. “Individuals with disabilities have gone from living isolated, segregated lives to living full, inclusive lives in our local communities,” said Blanco. “And ACHIEVA is proud to be a bridge that makes that happen.”

For more information, call (412) 995-5000 visit www.ACHIEVA.info.