Special Needs Consortium

09/06/2026

Thank you to our Silver Sponsor, for their generous support of the Special Needs Consortium Disability Summit on October 8th. Get all the details and your tickets at www.specialneedsconsortium.org.

The Special Needs Consortium, in collaboration with the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, is pleased to provide 5.5 hours of PA Act 48 continuing education to registered participants.

09/06/2026

Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind event! We’re collaborating with Foundation Fighting Blindness (Foundation Fighting Blindness) for an Inclusive Goalball Try-It event that features goalball, guest speakers, resources, vendors, lunch, and a whole lot of fun.

🗓️ When: Sunday, September 27 from 1:00PM - 5:00PM
📍 Where: Plum Borough Complex (2000 Mike Thomas Way, Pittsburgh, PA 15239)
👥 Who: Open to all ages and abilities! Everyone is welcome!
🍊 Fuel: Food donated by Olive Garden and Fox’s Pizza
💲Cost: FREE!
🔗 Registration: https://www.fightingblindness.org/events/pittsburgh-goalball-try-it-event-with-envision-sports-7764

👉 To learn more about the event visit the link above.

If you have any questions, please contact Jillian Stringfellow at [email protected]

09/04/2026

Thank you to our Gold Sponsor, Autism Pittsburgh, for their generous support of the Special Needs Consortium Disability Summit on October 8th. Get all the details and your tickets at www.specialneedsconsortium.org.

The Special Needs Consortium, in collaboration with the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, is pleased to provide 5.5 hours of PA Act 48 continuing education to registered participants.

09/04/2026

🌟 Join Us for a Day of Learning, Connection & Impact! 🌟
If you work in the disability field, you know the power of community — and how much stronger we are when we come together. On October 8th, the Special Needs Consortium invites you to gather your friends, co-workers, and your families for an inspiring day dedicated to advancing knowledge, sharing resources, and building connections that truly make a difference.

📚 Why Attend?
*5.5 hours of continuing education for registered participants, provided in collaboration with the Allegheny Intermediate Unit
*Expert-led sessions designed to empower and inform
*Opportunities to connect with passionate professionals and advocates
*A welcoming space for families and allies to learn together

Whether you’re a seasoned professional, a dedicated caregiver, or simply someone who wants to better support individuals with disabilities, this event is for you.
💡 Let’s fill the room with people who care. Tag a colleague, invite a friend, and share this information with your families — because change happens when we show up together.

🎓 Continuing Education Credits: The Special Needs Consortium, in collaboration with the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, is pleased to provide 5.5 hours of PA Act 48 continuing education to registered participants.

✨ Register today and be part of something meaningful. www.specialneedsconsortium.org

09/02/2026

⭐ UPCOMING TRAINING OPPORTUNITY ⭐

Critical Skills in Relationships

Relationships require effort but are meaningful. Our featured speaker, Shawn McGill from Shawn McGill MSW Consulting LLC will address basic and advanced skills like emotional intelligence and conflict resolution. With education and effort, we can all build and maintain healthy, rewarding relationships.

For more information or to register, scan the QR code in the image or visit: https://qrco.de/criticalrelationshipskills

09/01/2026

Bender Leadership Academy is invested in raising the bar for high school students with disabilities. Inquire at your school about our fall programs.

Image: Program Spotlight - Let's learn about Bender Student Leaders! Learning Journey: Raise the bar by learning about the world of work, advocacy, public speaking, and resilience. Post-Course Change: After taking the class, students are more poised when speaking in front of others, demonstrate increased initiative, and are more engaged in learning. Learn more: BenderLeadership.org

09/01/2026

Join us virtually on Monday, September 14, 2026 from 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm for our first monthly family support meeting of the new school year. Catherine Hughes, Director of Family Support and Community Engagement from Achieving True Self will be joining us and discussing how parents and guardians can establish a collaborative relationship with their child’s school. To support this goal, she will discuss what an Individualized Education Program (IEP) means in everyday practice, including progress monitoring, accommodations and modifications, and what parents can expect on a daily basis. She will also discuss communication between home and school, parent rights and procedural safeguards, community and school resources, and provide time for questions. Anyone interested in learning more can register for the meeting by contacting Vicki Donne at [email protected] or Deanna Hiltz at [email protected] or registering at Google Registration (https://forms.gle/Apwwfi41WiTh5Zr86) Upon registration, registrants will be sent a Google Meets calendar invitation.

08/31/2026

08/31/2026