Pennsylvania Advocacy and Resources for Autism and Intellectual Disability (PAR) applauds the plan announced by Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Dallas yesterday to close the Hamburg State Center. The Center is one of five remaining state-operated institutions where individuals with intellectual disability reside and receive services. As Pennsylvania’s largest association exclusively representing providers of services to people with intellectual disability or autism (ID/A), PAR has long advocated for a renewed commitment from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to a vibrant system of home and community based services for Pennsylvanians with autism or intellectual disability.
“PAR is committed to ensuring that all individuals with intellectual disability or autism have access to high-quality supports and services in their communities,” said Shirley Walker, President and CEO of PAR. “Institutional models are a thing of the past. The Governor’s proposal honors and acknowledges the advances that have been made to enable people with disabilities to live and have a wide range of opportunities in their communities.”
“Governor Wolf joined PAR in its 50th Anniversary Celebration of the MH/ID Act of 1966 at PAR’s annual conference. The Act of 1966 began the transition from institutional settings to the community system which has continued to unfold over the past 50 years. Closing the Hamburg Center is another important step in the right direction for people with disabilities,” said Shirley Walker, President and CEO of PAR. “Secretary Dallas’ announcement yesterday is a tremendously positive step and one which PAR strongly supports. We applaud Governor Wolf and Secretary Dallas for embracing this opportunity and taking leadership roles in increasing opportunities for people with intellectual disability or autism to live, work and engage in their communities.”
PAR was incorporated in 1970 as a statewide, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. PAR represents private providers of intellectual disability and autism services in Pennsylvania from every region of the Commonwealth. PAR’s mission is to strengthen the capacity of its membership to provide person-centered services and supports to Pennsylvanians with intellectual disability and/or autism. Our member organizations provide over $1.7 Billion in autism and intellectual disability services and supports in Pennsylvania and employ over 44,000 Pennsylvanians. PAR members provide the full range of supports and services to tens of thousands of children and adults with intellectual disability (including over 8,000 children and adults living with autism), in approximately 8,500 locations in the Commonwealth in addition to providing numerous non-residential and in-home supports.