January

Thursday, January 8, 2026: PA ABLE & ABLE Age Expansion Webinar, 10:00-11:00 AM

The PA ABLE Savings Program gives individuals with qualified disabilities a tax-free way to save for a wide range of disability-related expenses while maintaining important benefits. Some of the topics we will discuss include: eligibility requirements for opening a PA ABLE account, the federal and state tax benefits, ABLE Age Expansion, and how PA ABLE interacts with important benefits.

If you require accommodations to participate in this webinar, please contact us at info@paable.gov

Register here: https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/b07b102b-ef83-4eb5-82af-4beb75768981@aff0f5b6-7ab3-4f66-b46c-0b7d250ad998

Friday, January 9, 2026: Fridays with Friends:  6:00-7:00 PM

Location: Ambler YMCA

Audience: Special Needs Teens and Young Adults (age 15+)

Cost: $10 Members; $20 Nonmembers

Spend Friday evenings with your friends at the Y! This is an opportunity for our special needs community to socialize, meet new friends, and try new activities! We will have arts, crafts, swimming, snacks, and social time.

Future dates: February 13, March 13, April 10, May 8, September 11

Contact Katie McGuigan at katie.mcguigan@philaymca.org for any questions.

Registration is required. 

Thursday, January 15, 2026: Families CCAN Info Session via Zoom, 12:00-12:30 PM 

 Come find out what Families CCAN is all about! Whether you're planning for a transition from high school to adulthood or you're starting your journey to independent living, we have resources and programs that can help.  

Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf2DwZHzn8Rl1nAIs0m8vVFR6TFoh8SgfbCJkw5JGcYtBnH9g/viewform

Friday, January 16, 2026: PA Family Network presents "Peace of Mind Long Term Planning", 6:00-8:00 PM 

 Join the PA Family Network in this interactive workshop to: Get information and strategies on handling Long Term Planning* and Identify services/supports so you and your loved one can live a good life

 (*Legal or financial advice cannot be offered.)

Link to Registration

Tuesday, January 20, 2026: Transition Talks Family Workshops "From High School to the Workplace: Setting an Expectation for Employment", 6:00-7:00 PM

High school doesn’t last forever, so what comes next? This workshop explores supported employment for young adults and how families can prepare for the transition to meaningful work. We’ll break down what competitive integrated employment really looks like, the planning and supports that make it possible, and how to connect individual interests and talents with the right job opportunities.

Panel Speakers: Zac Sappenfield, M.Ed., CESP, Training Facilitator, University of Kentucky Human Development Institute, Supported Employment Training Project;

Katie Whaley, Project Director, University of Kentucky Human Development Institute, Supported Employment Training Project

Link to Registration

Thursday, January 22, 2026: PA Family Network presents "Transitions Through the Lifespan", 4:00-6:00 PM 

Join the PA Family Network in this interactive workshop to: 

• Obtain information and identify services, supports, and resources 

• Utilize the LifeCourse Framework to plan for transitions in early childhood, school age, high school, adulthood, aging, and through medical transitions 

Link to Registration

Friday, January 23, 2026: The Art of Friendship Social-Coping Seminar: "How to Choose the Right Summer Camp for Your Neurodivergent Child": 12:00-1:00 PM

A FREE lunch and learn series equipping parents, educators, & professionals to help neurodiverse children connect, cope, and thrive. 

Join Mike to learn critical tips to ensure that you find a summer camp that is a great fit for your child with autism or ADHD. Rather than endorsing specific camp programs, you will learn a research process to yield confidence that your chosen camp(s) will provide your child a summer of fun, friendship, and SUCCESS. You'll learn when and how to include your child in the selection process. You'll discover insightful interview questions to ask camp directors to get inside the program's philosophy about neurodivergent acceptance and support. The goal? To ensure your confidence the camp will properly support your child's unique wiring and behavior, in both happy times and challenging moments. 

Register Click the link to register  to attend either the online webinar on the Google Meet platform OR in-person meeting in Center City, Philadelphia, at 1420 Walnut St. Ste. 1301, Philadelphia, PA 19102.

Sunday, January 25, 2026: Inclusive Post-High School Resource Fair: 1:00-5:00 PM

Location: Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, Hall A, Oaks, PA

Through a partnership that includes my office and the offices of other state elected officials in Southeastern Pennsylvania, I’m happy to announce my participation in the Representative Joe Webster/The Arc Alliance FREE Inclusive Post-High School Resource Fair.

Ideal vendors currently serve high school students with IEPs and 504 plans and those who have recently completed their time in high school. Vendors will offer post-secondary opportunities such as employment, internships, apprenticeships, transitional services, continuing education, or supported living programs.

**Post-Secondary Education, Inclusive Employment; Transition and Life Skills; Behavioral Supports; Transportation; Nursing Care; Day Programs; Community Supports; Legal & Financial Planners; Self-Advocacy Groups; Residential Programs; Arts & Recreation; Social & Community; & More**

Link to Virtual Flyer

Monday, January 26, 2026: Families CCAN January Resource Meeting via Zoom: Social Opportunities for Adults with Disabilities, 7:00-8:30 PM 

Join us as we welcome representatives from several local organizations who provide social opportunities and connections for adults with disabilities.

Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeS5nJA8L33yuvKTs5yAzSfhRzSK6tc0N5z9eQ4MC8HnkI05g/viewform 

Tuesday, January 27, 2026: PA Family Network presents "Using Lifecourse to Plan and Problem Solve- Part 1", 10:00-11:30 AM

Join the PA Family Network in this interactive workshop to: 

• Identify service/supports so your loved one can live an Everyday Life 

• Learn to use the LifeCourse framework and tools to plan for your future.

Link to Registration 

Wednesday, January 28, 2026: PA Family Network presents "Using Lifecourse to Plan and Problem Solve- Part 2", 10:00-11:30 AM

Join the PA Family Network in this interactive workshop to: 

• Obtain information and identify services, supports, and resources 

• Utilize the LifeCourse Framework to plan for transitions in early childhood, school age, high school, adulthood, aging, and through medical transitions 

Link to Registration 

Friday, January 30, 2026: PATF presents "Resources for the 2026 Tax Season", at 1:00 PM

Tax season is approaching, and it is important to know what trustworthy resources are available to you. Did you know that the IRS offers free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program? Services are delivered by IRS-certified volunteers and reviewed for quality and accuracy. 

Join Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation and United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania for our free webinar to learn more.

This one-hour webinar will include a presentation by United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania and will cover tax filing basics, including who needs to file, available tax credits, how to access free and trusted tax preparation resources like VITA, other disability-friendly tax resources, safe banking options, how to avoid costly tax products, and PATF’s loan options.

Date and time: Friday, January 30, 2026, at 1:00 PM EST

This webinar will include CART, ASL, and Spanish language interpretations. Recordings and slides will be made available after the webinar. Registration is required. 

To register, click the link: Resources for 2026 Tax Season 

If you have any questions or need assistance with registering, please contact PATF at 484-675-0506 or communications@patf.us.