The PEAL Center Awarded Funding by UWSWPA to Expand 21 and Able Project
Contact: Anya Fredrickson
Communications, The PEAL Center
412- 281- 4404 ex. 213
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release November 19, 2021
The PEAL Center Awarded Funding by United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania to Expand Its 21 and Able Project to Map a Better Future for Young Adults with Disabilities
[Pittsburgh, November 19, 2021] Today, PEAL Center announces funding awarded by United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania to continue and grow the work of 21 and Able, a community solutions project United Way began in 2011 to ensure young adults with disabilities can achieve greater independence through their transition to adulthood.
The goal of 21 and Able has been to ensure young adults and their families are getting support to manage a complicated maze of systems to achieve independence, and to learn about options after high school for further education, employment, housing and community resources. Core activities of 21 and Able include providing transition training and information, and providing resources—as well as individual support for families. PEAL will also continue to include families of students with the most complex medical and behavioral health needs in all planning.
At PEAL, 21 and Able will continue to help young adults with disabilities transition smoothly from the last day of high school to the first day of adult life and beyond, including supporting parents and family caregivers to support their young adult’s independence. “The PEAL Center is the ideal organization to grow the work we started at United Way. PEAL reaches well over 50,000 families annually and provides training and one to one information to families who are looking for more support for transition,” said Bobbi Watt Geer, President and CEO of United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, “PEAL is also committed to ensuring reaching families that are marginalized and that are having issues of accessing supports and services, as well as experiencing disability.”
PEAL is engaged in multiple projects supporting transition with partnerships across Pennsylvania. To learn more about this project visit our website at: https://www.pealcenter.org/21-and-able/
About the Parent Education & Advocacy Leadership (PEAL) Center
Since 2005, the PEAL Center has been committed to empowering families, children and young adults with disabilities, and the professionals who serve them. Today, PEAL is a Pennsylvania statewide organization that continues to promote inclusion and access to education and healthcare. The Peal Center offers free of charge support to those served through individual assistance, trainings, and leadership development.
The PEAL Center operates various programs and projects that align with its mission to educate and empower families to ensure that children, youth and young adults with disabilities and special health care needs lead rich, active lives as full members of their schools and communities. PEAL is Pennsylvania’s Parent Center (PTI) and Family-to-Family Health Information Center (F2F) and collaborates with other partners for Families to the MAX and Transition Discoveries. To learn more visit: pealcenter.org
The PEAL Center serves all of Pennsylvania with headquarters in Pittsburgh, an office in Philadelphia, and staff that work remotely throughout the Commonwealth.
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