A
Area Agency on Aging: State agency offering comprehensive services for individuals with disabilities over the age of 60. Website
American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Organization concerned with intellectual disability and related developmental disabilities. Website
Acquired Brian Injury Network: Organization of brain injury survivors and family members. Website
Achieving a Better Life Experience Act: Federal legislation that aims to ease financial strains faced by individuals with disabilities by making tax-free savings accounts available to cover qualified expenses such as education, housing, and transportation. More information available on our site
Administration for Community Living: Part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and serve as the Federal agency responsible for increasing access to community supports, while focusing attention and resources on the unique needs of older Americans and people with disabilities across the lifespan. Website
Americans with Disabilities Act: Wide-ranging civil rights law that is intended to protect against discrimination based on disability. Website
Associated Programs For Rural Independent Living: A national grassroots, nonprofit membership organization concerned with the independent living issues of people with disabilities living in rural America. Website
Anthracite Region Center for Independent Living: The Center for Independent Living for people living with disabilities in Carbon, Luzerne and Schuylkill Counties. Website
Assistive Technology: An umbrella term that includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices for people with disabilities and also includes the process used in selecting, locating, and using them.
C
Client Assistance Program: Established to advise and inform clients, client applicants, and other individuals with disabilities of all the available services and benefits under the Rehabilitation Act of 197. Website
Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities: A coalition of national consumer, advocacy, provider and professional organizations advocating on behalf of people of all ages with physical and mental disabilities and their families. Website
Council for Disability Awareness: A non-profit organization dedicated to helping working people consider income protection as part of their financial health and wellness planning. Website
Community Development Block Grant: Funds local community development activities such as affordable housing, anti-poverty programs, and infrastructure development. Website
Community First Choice Coalition or Community First Choice Option: Federal state plan option that allows States to provide home and community-based attendant services and supports to eligible Medicaid enrollees under their State Plan. Website
Community Health Choices: Governor directed plan to implement a Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) program for older Pennsylvanians and adults with physical disabilities. Website
Center for Independent Living: A consumer controlled, community based, cross disability, nonresidential private nonprofit agency that is designed and operated within a local community by individuals with disabilities. Find a CIL in Pennsylvania
Center for Independent Living of Central PA: The Center for Independent Living for Cumberland, Dauphin, Juniata, Mifflin, and Perry counties. Website
Center for Independent Living of North Central Pennsylvania: The Center for Independent Living serving Centre, Clinton, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Tioga, and Union Counties. Website
Center for Independent Living Opportunities: The Center for Independent Living for York, Adams, and Franklin counties. Website
Community Living Advisory Committee
Committee
Community Resources for Independence, Inc.: Community based, nonprofit, nonresidential organization that offers services and assistance to enable people with disabilities to expand their options. Website
D
Department of Community Affairs: In 1996, the Departments of Community Affairs and Commerce were merged to create the Department of Community and Economic Development.
Department of Community & Economic Development: A cabinet-level state agency in Pennsylvania created to enhance investment opportunities for businesses and to improve the quality of life for residents. Website
Developmental Disabilities Council: Pennsylvania council engaged in advocacy, systems change and capacity building for people with developmental disabilities and their families. Website
Developmental Disabilities Planning Council
Disability Empowerment Center: The Center for Independent Living for Lancaster and Lebanon counties. Website
Disabled In Action: A civil rights organization committed to ending discrimination against people with disabilities – all disabilities. Website
Disabled Individuals Movement for Equality Network: provides accessible access to the information infrastructure to people with disabilities through Independent Living Centers. Website
Disabilities Law Project
Durable Medical Equipment
Disability Options Network: The Center for Independent Living serving Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Greene, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, Warren, Washington, and Westmoreland counties. Website
Disability Rights Pennsylvania: Formerly Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania. Organization which protects and advocates for rights of people with disabilities so that they may live the lives they choose, free from abuse, neglect, discrimination, and segregation. Website
Disability Voting Coalition: A project of Disability Rights Pennsylvania (DRP) that is funded by a grant from the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council (PADDC) focused on promoting voter registration, voting and civic engagement by people with disabilities, our families and allies. Website
E
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: Federal agency that administers and enforces civil rights laws against workplace discrimination. Website
F
Federal Aviation Administration: The national aviation authority of the United States, with powers to regulate all aspects of American civil aviation. Website
Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (for Medicaid and Multiplier): The percentage rates used to determine the matching funds rate allocated annually to certain medical and social service programs in the United States of America.
G
Grassroots Advocacy Project (see SWAT): Grants intended to provide a limited amount of resources for a short term period (usually 12 to 18 months) in order to increase the capability and the resources of local groups to pursue such advocacy initiatives of their choice.
H
Housing And Neighborhood Development Service: A private not-for-profit organization making stronger and more vibrant neighborhoods in partnership with the communities it serves through the development and management of quality affordable housing. Website
Home and Community Based Services: Also known as Waiver Funded Services or Waiver Programs. Provides for supports and services beyond those covered by the Medicaid program that enable a person to remain in a community setting rather than being admitted to a Long Term Care Facility. Website
Health Care Finance Administration: An administration created in 1977 to combine under one administration the oversight of the Medicare program, the Federal portion of the Medicaid program, and related quality assurance activities. Website
Homeowners Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program: Act designed to protect Pennsylvanians who, through no fault of their own, are financially unable to make their mortgage payments and are in danger of losing their homes to foreclosure. Website
Head Injury Program
Human Relations Commission: Pennsylvania commission which promotes equal opportunity for all and enforces Pennsylvania’s civil rights laws that protect people from unlawful discrimination. Website
I
Information and Referral
Intellectual Disabilities
Intermediate Care Facility for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities
Intermediate Care Facility for Persons with Other Related Conditions
Independent Enrollment Broker (IEB)-The Office of Long-Term Living launched the PA Independent Enrollment Broker, effective December 1, 2010. The Independent Enrollment Broker is a contracted statewide entity to facilitate and streamline the eligibility/enrollment process for applicants seeking services for several Pennsylvania waivers/programs for individuals with primarily physical disabilities. Click here for more information. In Pennsylvania, the organization in charge of this since 2011 has been Maximus.
Independent Living Rehabilitation Program
Independent Living Research Utilization: A national center for information, training, research, and technical assistance in independent living. Website
Independent Living Skills
L
Living Independence for the Elderly: An option that allows the elderly to live independently on their own while receiving services and supports that meet the health and personal needs of the individual. Website
Life and Independence For Today: The Center for Independent Living serving Elk, Cameron, McKean, Jefferson, Clearfield, and Potter counties. Website
Low Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program: Program that helps keep families safe and healthy through initiatives that assist families with energy costs. Website
Liberty Resources Incorporated: The Center for Independent Living serving Philadelphia metro and Philadephia, Montgomery, Bucks, Chester, and Delaware counties. Website
Long Term Supports and Services -this also refers to Medical Assistance Advisory Committee subcommittee in PA. Also known as Long Term Care Subcommittee.
M
Medical Assistance
Medical Assistance Transportation Program: Pennsylvania program which provides transportation to medical appointments for Medical Assistance recipients who do not have transportation available to them. Website
Mental Health Association
Mental Health and Mental Retardation
Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities
Medicaid (Medical Assistance) Managed Long Term Services and Supports: Refers to the delivery of long term services and supports through capitated Medicaid managed care programs. Website
Meetings
N
Neighborhood Assistance Act
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill: A nationwide grassroots advocacy group, representing families and people affected by mental disorders in the United States. Website
National Rehabilitation Information Center: The library of the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR.) Website
National Council on Independent Living: The longest-running national cross-disability, grassroots organization run by and for people with disabilities. Website
Nursing Home
Nursing Home Transition
O
Older Adults Protective Services Act: Protective services law for people over the age of 60. Website
Omnibus Budget and Reconciliation Act: A federal law that gives workers who lose their health benefits the right to choose to continue group health benefits provided by the plan under certain circumstances. Website
Office of Developmental Programs: Pennsylvania office created to support Pennsylvanians with developmental disabilities to achieve greater independence, choice and opportunity in their lives. Website
Office of Vocational Rehabilitation: Office created to assist Pennsylvanians with disabilities to secure and maintain employment and independence. Website
P
Pennsylvania Disability Employment and Empowerment Summit
Protection and Advocacy of Individuals Rights: provides grants for states to support systems for protection and advocacy for the rights of individuals with disabilities who are ineligible for services from the Protection and Advocacy for Developmental Disabilities (PADD) program and the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) program, or whose problems fall outside the scope of services available from the Client Assistance Program (CAP). Website
Personal Care Attendant
Pennsylvania Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities:Coalition of approximately 100 national disability organizations working together to advocate for national public policy that ensures the self determination, independence, empowerment, integration and inclusion of children and adults with disabilities in all aspects of society. Website
Personal Care Homes
Pennsylvania Council on Independent Living: A membership association of Centers for Independent Living (CILs). Website
Person Directed Services and Supports
Private Industry Council
Pennsylvania Protection and Advocacy
R
Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) refers to a standardized approach adopted to examine nursing home quality and to improve nursing home regulation. RAI is used when the resident is admitted first to a nursing home and at least annually to gather definitive information on a resident’s strengths and needs and thereafter to develop the resident’s plan of care.
Rehabilitation Engineering Society of North America: An interdisciplinary association of people with a common interest in technology and disability. Website
Rehabilitation Services Administration
S
Supports Coordination
Statewide Independent Living Council
State Plan on Independent Living Current State Plan
Strategic Planning Oversight Committee
Stakeholder Planning Team
Social Security Disability Income
Supplemental Security Income
Support Service Provider
Subcommittee
T
To Be Announced
To Be Determined
Traumatic Brain Injury
Transportation Networking Companies (Uber, Lyft, Yellow Z, etc.)
Three Rivers Center for Independent Living: A Center for Independent Living providing service coordination in Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Lawrence, and Westmoreland counties. Website
U
United Cerebral Palsy: An international nonprofit charitable organization consisting of a network of affiliates. Website
United Disabilities Services: A non-profit organization providing care to the aging, veterans and people with disabilities for a safer, more independent life in their own homes. Website