Pennsylvania Special Education PTA

09/21/2026

https://www.upmc.com/Services/rehab/rehab-institute/wheelchair-wash?et_cid=1170174&et_rid=681702&utm_medium=email&utm_source=salesforce&utm_campaign=swpa-regional&utm_content=Regional&em_id=UPMC-SouthwestPaNewsletter-092126_NEWS

Learn about UPMC Rehabilitation Institute Wheelchair Wash & Tune-Up event.

09/06/2026

A deaf quarterback changed how football teams call plays.

Paul Hubbard played for Gallaudet, a university for deaf students, back in 1894. His team was facing another deaf squad that could read his hand signals from yards away.

So Hubbard had his teammates form a tight circle to hide his hands from the other side. Other colleges started copying it within a few seasons.

That tight circle is still called the huddle.

09/06/2026

09/06/2026

September is Deaf Awareness Month!

The PEAL Center is proud to highlight our partner, the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, and its commitment to creating accessible learning opportunities where Deaf and hard-of-hearing students can communicate, learn, grow, and thrive.

PEAL is grateful to have led Youth Leadership Academies this past year supporting WPSD students and teachers. We value this partnership and the way WPSD supports youth, families, and the Deaf community throughout Western Pennsylvania.

Learn more about PEAL's Youth Leadership Academies here: https://pealcenter.org/what-we-do/youth-young-adults.html

09/05/2026

📚 Back-to-school season is here! ELC-PA's 2026-27 Back to School Guide is now available, featuring practical know-your-rights resources and self-advocacy tools to help Pennsylvania families and advocates prepare for a successful school year.
This year, we’ve added 12 new resources and updated 27 more to reflect changes in federal and state law — covering LGBTQ+ students’ rights, disability protections, cyber charter school requirements, and more.

🔗 Read the guide: https://elc-pa.org/back-to-school-guide