The 10th annual Disability & Mental Health Summit will be Thursday, May 11, 2023, at the Beth El Synagogue. This year’s program will feature two keynote sessions, each of which will be followed by a legislative panel. A morning panel will focus on mental health, and an afternoon panel will focus on disability issues in Pennsylvania.
And of course, there will once again be a community Resource Fair from 11 am to 1 pm, featuring many of the wonderful organizations, nonprofits, and support services in our region. Experts will be on hand to answer your questions and provide valuable insight.
Remember, this is a free event and is a terrific resource for individuals, families or people in the disability and mental health community! If you have questions or would like more information about the Disability & Mental Health Summit,
please visit DisabilitySummit.com.
Morning Keynote
Speaker: Dr. Dale Adair, Chief Psychiatric Officer for the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services
Time: 9:00 am – 10:00 am
A discussion on the mental health landscape in Pennsylvania.
Mental Health Legislative Panel
Speaker: Dr. Dale Adair, Chief Psychiatric Officer for the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Focusing on mental health needs in schools and the Behavioral Health Commission recommendations.
Discussion of the Behavioral Health Commission Report on Adult Behavioral Health
Time: 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Speaker(s): Mike Schlossberg
Recommendation 1: Stabilize, Strengthen, and Expand the Workforce
Speaker(s): Noreen Fredrick, UPMC Western Behavioral Health, and Christine Michaels, NAMI Keystone PA
Recommendation 2: Improve Criminal Justice and Public Safety Systems
Speaker(s): Lucas Malishchak, Department of Corrections, and Chief Jason Haberman, Mt. Lebanon Police Department
Mental Health Needs in Schools
Time: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Speaker(s): Emily Born, Allegheny County Office of Behavioral Health, Shannon Fagan, Allegheny Intermediate Unit, Emilia Peiffer, Pennsylvania School Counselors Association/PSEA, and the Pennsylvania School Board Association
Resource Fair
Time: 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
A free community resource fair where you can collect information and swag.
Check out this year’s Exhibitors
- ACCESS/Pittsburgh Regional Transit
- Achieva
- Allegheny County Department of Human Services
- Allegheny Family Network
- Allegheny Health Network – Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Institute
- Allegheny Intermediate Unit
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
- Apraxia Kids
- ASERT*
- Autism Connection of PA*
- Autism Employment Network*
- Be Smart
- Bender Leadership Academy
- Changing Spaces
- Community Living And Support Services (CLASS)
- DeafStone Services, Inc.
- Disability Options Network
- Disability Pride PA
- Disability Rights Pennsylvania
- Easterseals – Western and Central PA
- Every Child, Inc.
- Evolve Coaching
- Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania
- Hidden Disabilities Sunflower
- Home Learning & Sensory Strategies
- Human Service Administration Organization (HSAO)
- In-Stride with Therapeutic Riding, Inc.
- Mainstay Life Services
- Mental Health America of Southwestern PA
- NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania
- Office of Vocational Rehabilitation – Pittsburgh District Office
- Outreach Teen and Family Services
- PA Deaf-Blind Project & Pennsylvania Partnership for the DeafBlind
- PA Department of Labor & Industry – Commonwealth Technical Institute at the Hiram G. Andrews Center
- PA Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- PA Tourette Syndrome Alliance
- PA Treasury Department
- Pathways
- PEAL Center
- PLEA
- Ruder Law
- Southwood Psychiatric Hospital
- Spina Bifida Alliance
- St. Clair Hospital Psychiatric Service Department
- The Alliance for Infants and Toddlers
- The Arc of Pennsylvania – Include Me
- The Children’s Institute
- The Provider Alliance
- United Spinal Association
- UPMC Disabilities Resource Center
- UPMC Western Behavioral Health
- Wesley Family Services
- Western Pennsylvania Disability History and Action Consortium
Afternoon Keynote
Speakers: Dr. Val Arkoosh, Acting Secretary of the State Department of Human Services, and Kristin Ahrens, Deputy Secretary of the Office of Developmental Programs
Time: 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
A discussion on the changing landscape of disability services in Pennsylvania.
Disability Legislative Panel
Focusing on disability and mental health for college students and the Employment First Commission recommendations.
Recommendations of the Employment First Oversight Commission
Time: 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Speaker(s): Josie Badger, Employment First Oversight Commission, Steven Suroviec, Employment First Oversight Commission, Marci Katona, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, and Eve Hill and the SEED Team
Supports for Disabled College Students
Time: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Speaker(s): Heather Conroy, Evolve Coaching, Jim Lilley, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Daphna Gans, and Ruder Law
Tessa Watkins, the autistic self-advocate that owns this website, is on the planning committee for this event and will be tabling with the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower during the free Community Resource Fair from 11am to 1pm. Stop by and grab a free sunflower lanyard! Also, please note that not all speakers and exhibitors share the same values as Just 1 Voice, and may even hold opposing values. The information displayed here is for convenience and completeness for understanding the format of the event.
