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Disability health-care costs in Pennsylvania are more than $41 billion per year, or up to 37% of the state's health-care spending, according to the CDC. (Maria Vitkovska/Adobe)

Access for all: Making voting easier for Pennsylvanians with disabilities

Disability Voting Rights Week is an annual call to action that occurs during the second week of September. It focuses on advocacy, celebrating …

Los costos de atenci�n m�dica para personas con discapacidad en Pensilvania son m�s de $41.000 millones por a�o, o hasta el 37% del gasto en atenci�n m�dica del estado, seg�n el CDC. (Maria Vitkovska/Adobe)

Acceso para todos: facilitar la votación para residentes de PA con discapacidades

La Semana del Derecho al Voto de las Personas con Discapacidad es un llamado a la acción anual que ocurre durante la segunda semana de septiembre…

New Jersey's Medical Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act requires a physician to determine whether the patient is a New Jersey resident before writing a prescription for the medication. (Jon Anders Wiken/Adobe Stock)

Some Terminally Ill PA Patients Seek Medical Aid Across State Lines

Some Pennsylvania patients with long-term chronic illnesses are hoping to make legal headway, allowing them to seek medical aid in dying across state …

Pennsylvania ranks 45th in the nation for the share of K-12 school funding provided by the state. (Adobe Stock)

Report: PA Special Education Funding Leaves Students Behind

As the number of Pennsylvania students with disabilities rises, a new report says the share of state education funding has declined. Education …

More than 400 personal-care homes in Pennsylvania that served low-income clients, or 46% of the statewide total, have closed since 2006. (Adobe Stock)

PA Health Officials Want More Funding for Personal-Care Homes

Pennsylvania officials visited a personal-care home in York County on Wednesday to highlight the need for continued investment in the state's long-ter…

A recent Kaiser Family Foundation report found many people enrolled in Medicare go without dental care. (Adobe Stock)

PA Groups Back Expanding Medicare to 'Treat the Whole Person'

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. -- Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa, has introduced legislation to expand Medicare coverage to include dental, hearing and vision care…

From 2009 to 2019 the state share of spending for special education fell from 32 to 22 percent. (pabrady63/Adobe Stock)

Report: PA “Shortchanges” Students with Disabilities

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- A new report shows state spending on special education has remained almost unchanged for a decade, leaving school districts to …

A bill before Congress would establish state grants to improve accessibility for registration, absentee voting and voting in person. (Darylann Elmi/Adobe Stock)

Bill Supports Ballot Access for People with Disabilities

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Just in time for the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, a bill has been introduced in Congress to expand …

Teachers say without adequate funding, reopening schools will put teachers, students and their families at risk. (Halfpoint/Adobe Stock)

Teachers Urge Caution and Support to Reopen PA Schools

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Pennsylvania schools are scheduled to reopen on August 17, but teachers are concerned the planning and funding needed to reopen …

Even with schools closed, the law says all students should have access to the educational services they need. (GAYSORN/Adobe Stock)

Education Rights Still in Force During Pandemic

PHILADELPHIA - A new series of fliers is available to help inform parents and children about their rights to educational services while schools are cl…

Keeping in touch with loved ones through text or video chats can help fight feelings of isolation. (ulza/Adobe Stock)

Helping Family Caregivers Cope with Social Distancing

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- With social distancing taking hold across Pennsylvania, family caregivers and those they care for can find help to stay safe and …

Since 2008, the state share of special-ed costs has declined from 32% to less than 25%. (Olesia Bilkei/Adobe Stock)

More Funding Urged for Students with Disabilities

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Gov. Tom Wolf has received a request for $100 million more for students with disabilities. More than 40 organizations and …

A lawsuit filed against the Glen Mills School says children were subject to physical and emotional abuse, medical neglect and lack of education. (motortion/Adobe Stock)

Court Advances Suit Against Glen Mills School

HARRISBURG, Pa. - A class-action lawsuit charging abuse and inadequate education at a juvenile detention facility in Delaware County will be allowed …

HB 1800 allows private/religious schools to exclude students with special needs. (JuanCi Studio/Adobe Stock)

Education Advocates Oppose New Voucher Bill

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Education advocates say a new school voucher bill would drain district resources and allow discrimination against students …

Updating the special-education funding formula would help districts with higher proportions of disadvantaged students. (GAYSORN/Adobe Stock)

Report Proposes Simple Fix for Flawed Special-Ed Funding

HARRISBURG, Pa. — The proportion of state funding for special education has been falling for more than ten years, but a new report suggests a …

One study found that charter schools enroll fewer English-language learners and fewer special students who require high-cost services. (davit85/Adobe Stock)

Gov. Wolf Proposes PA Charter-School Reforms

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Education advocates are praising the new regulations and legislation proposed by Gov. Tom Wolf to reform Pennsylvania charter …

In 2013, African-American students made up 15 percent of all students in Pennsylvania, but 35 percent of those in AEDY programs. (ludi/Pixabay)

Victory for PA Students with Disabilities, English Learners

HARRISBURG, Pa. – A settlement between the U.S. Justice Department and Pennsylvania's Department of Education will mean significant changes in …

More than 270,000 children with disabilities attend Pennsylvania schools. (akshayapatra/pixabay)

Educators Urge Wolf to Up Funding for Special Education

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Education advocates want Gov. Tom Wolf to include increased funding in the next state budget for some of the state's most …

The First Step Act will apply to many of the 180,000 people in federal prisons. (PublicDomainPictures)

Criminal Justice Reform a Major Issue for People with Disabilities

HARRISBURG, PA. – The criminal justice reform bill making its way through Congress will help thousands of people with disabilities re-enter …

Without surrogate parents, a young person who is unaccompanied and homeless cannot enforce their right to educational services. (Wokandapix/Pixabay)

A Win for PA Students with Disabilities

PHILADELPHIA – Students with disabilities who are homeless in Pennsylvania have won an important victory. Following an investigation into the …

Since 2009, special-education costs in Pennsylvania have risen by $1.54 billion, but state funding has increased only $72 million. (ernestoeslava/Pixabay)

PA State Special-Ed Funding Falls Far Behind Need

PHILADELPHIA – Local school districts are picking up more and more of the costs of special education as state funding lags, according to a new …

There are more than 270,000 children in special-education classes in Pennsylvania. (ernestoeslava/Pixabay)

Education Advocates Call for Boost in Special-Ed Funding

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Two dozen disability-rights groups, child- and education-advocacy organizations have signed on to a letter asking lawmakers …

Down syndrome can be diagnosed as early as 10 weeks into a pregnancy. (jarmoluk/Pixabay)

PA House Abortion Ban Bill Called Unconstitutional

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Civil-liberties advocates call a bill passed Monday by Pennsylvania's House Health Committee "unconstitutional and unenforceable." …

Education Savings Accounts would give public education money to families to pay private school tuition. (Jason Pope/Flickr)

School Voucher Bills Called a Bad Deal for PA Schools

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Education advocates say bills pending in the General Assembly to create Education Savings Accounts would further defund …

More than 80 percent of those caring for injured veterans are ineligible for Veterans Administration caregiver benefits. (Desiree Palacios/USAF)

Most Veterans’ Caregivers Ineligible for Benefits

HARRISBURG, Pa. – This year, Veterans Day is being marked by the launch of a petition drive aimed at getting those who care for veterans with …

House Bill 59 would impose work requirements and premiums on Medicaid recipients in Pennsylvania. (Jason Burmeister/Flickr)

General Assembly Bill Targets PA Medicaid Recipients

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Fiscal analysts say a bill that could pass the General Assembly this week would force some Pennsylvanians off Medicaid…

The majority of older Pennsylvanians want to live independently, at home, as they age. (Tunstall/Flickr)<br />

Report: PA Needs to Boost Services for Seniors

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Pennsylvania has made some improvements in meeting the long-term care needs of seniors and people with disabilities, but there's a …

More than 90,000 Pennsylvanians participate in Medicaid-funded home- and community-based services. (agilemktg1/Flickr)

Report Says AHCA Would Force Seniors into Nursing Homes

HARRISBURG, Pa. – The GOP health bill now in the U.S. Senate would be especially harmful to seniors and people with disabilities, according to …

A Pittsburgh school district argued if an object is capable of inflicting bodily injury, it is a weapon. (marcelaarrubla0329/Pixabay)

Court Rules a Pencil is Not a Weapon

PITTSBURGH – A recent court ruling means schools will have to change a practice that has led to mandatory expulsion of students. The case …

House Bill 97 continues a financial incentive for charters to underserve severely disabled children. (amslerPIX/Flickr)

Education Advocates Call Charter-School Reform Bill Flawed

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Legislation to reform charter schools in Pennsylvania could come up for a vote any day now, but education advocates say the …

Charter schools often collect $10,000 more than they spend on a student with disabilities, according to the Pennsylvania School Board Assn. (Dscot018/Wikimedia Commons)

Challenging Charters' Profits from Students with Disabilities

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Public education advocates are asking legislators to fix a state law that currently gives charter schools more special-…

Children should be screened for developmental delays at nine months, 18 months, and 24 to 30 months of age. (Kasman/Pixabay)

Developmental Screenings Ensure Healthy Start

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Half of Pennsylvania's children in publicly funded health care are not getting simple screenings to detect developmental …

Some defendants have waited more than a year in jail for court ordered treatment. (Jumilla/flickr.com)

DHS Settles Lawsuit Over Delayed Treatment of Mentally Ill Defendants

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Pennsylvania has agreed to make sweeping changes in the delivery of mental health services to mentally ill persons facing …

Asbestos was used extensively in construction, shipbuilding and steel mills. (Joey Gannon/Flickr)

Advocates Call Asbestos Bill a "Bad Deal" for Victims

HARRISBURG, Pa. - A bill affecting compensation claims by Pennsylvanians suffering from asbestos-related diseases is scheduled for a key committee …

One-point-six million Pennsylvanians serve as unpaid family caregivers. (Jonathan Banks/flickr.com)

"Unsung Heroes" Need Senate Vote on Caregiver Bill - AARP

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Advocates are asking the State Senate to pass a bill that would give those caring for family members at home some needed help…

The mentally ill may wait years in jail for court-ordered competency restoration treatment. Credit: TryJimmy/pixabay.com

Lawsuit Challenges Prolonged Detention of Mentally Ill

PHILADELPHIA - The ACLU has filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of mentally-ill prisoners held in Pennsylvania jails while awaiting treatment. …

The Pennsylvania Health Care Plan would cover every resident of the state. Credit: Healthcare4ALL PA<br />

Single-Payer Health-Care Bill to be Introduced in PA

HARRISBURG, Pa. - A bill to create a single-payer health-care system in Pennsylvania will be introduced in the state Legislature by the end of the …

$PHOTO: Randy Moyer's tongue is just one of many spots where he says he experiences unexplained pain and swelling after his exposure to fracking waste, made up of a mixture of water and toxic chemicals. Photo courtesy of Moyer.$

Not All Pennsylvanians Agree with Gov. Wolf's Support of Fracking

HARRISBURG, Pa. - An organization calling itself "Stop Poisoning Pennsylvania" is demonstrating Tuesday at Governor Tom Wolf's inauguration, calling …

PHOTO: AARP says more should be done to recognize and support unpaid family caregivers. Photo courtesy of AARP.

AARP: Pennsylvania Loves Family Caregivers

HARRISBURG, Pa. - November is National Family Caregivers Month. More than 2.5 million Pennsylvanians care for aging or ill parents or spouses at home…

PHOTO: Basketball is part of the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, the largest such event in the world. This year's games are under way in Philadelphia. Photo credit: U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs

From the Battle Field to the Sports Field in Pennsylvania

PHILADELPHIA – They showed courage and heart while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces and now, that same grit and determination is on display at …

A Pennsylvania psychologist questions whether the dialogue emerging on depression will last far beyond the headlines over comedian and actor Robin Williams's suicide. Photo courtesy of George Hodan.

Williams’ Death Stirs Dialogue on Depression, Addiction

PHILADELPHIA – We are learning more about the demons comedian and actor Robin Williams faced in the forms of depression and addiction prior to h…

IMAGE: A report from AARP concludes Pennsylvania would better serve seniors by focusing more resources on at-home long-term health care. CREDIT: studentry.sg

Report: Opportunities in PA’s Changing Senior-Care Landscape

HARRISBURG Pa. - Ask Pennsylvania seniors about long-term care, and most will likely tell you they'd prefer an 'at home' setup, with help from unpaid …

New numbers show one in 68 children tested has autism, a 29 percent increase since 2008. Image by J. Durham

CDC: Numbers of Kids With Autism Surge in Latest Study

HARRISBURG, Pa. – The numbers of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders have surged, according to the latest figures from the …

PHOTO: A Pennsylvania Senate hearing included testimony from people urging lawmakers to legalize medical marijuana. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons.

The Push for Pot: Hearing Held on PA Medical Marijuana Bill

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Parents of children who suffer from epileptic seizures were among those testifying before a Pennsylvania Senate committee in …

PHOTO: An estimated 1.2 million World War II veterans remain of the 16 million who served, and some are making a long overdue trip. Courtesy: Honor Flight Network.

"The Trip of a Lifetime" for PA Vets

HARRISBURG, Pa. - It's just a one-day journey, but for many Pennsylvania World War II veterans, it's the trip of a lifetime. Honor Flight began in 200…

IMAGE: Time is vital when it comes to treating stroke, as brain damage mounts with each passing minutes and there is just a small window of time where clot busting drugs can be administered. CREDIT: AHA

Think it Might Be a Stroke? FAST is best

HARRISBURG, Pa. – May is National Stroke Awareness Month, and one of the key points in the event of a stroke is fast action. Cardiologist Dr…

Deadline Approaches for Social Security's "Paperless" System

HARRISBURG, Pa. - The March 1 deadline is approaching for anyone who receives Social Security, SSI payments, or veterans' benefits by mail. To save …

With Clock Ticking, State Workers Rally for New Contract

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Time is running out for thousands of state employees whose contracts expire June 30, and many of those workers rallied statewide …

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PNS Daily Newscast - September 20, 2024

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PA: Disabilities