Milestone HCQU West Blog - News, Resources, and Innovative Ideas & Supports

February 25, 2026

ITAs – One Service from Milestone Health Care Quality Unit West

You know Milestone Health Care Quality Unit (HCQU) West is passionate about education. We are an important part of the long-term initiative from the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, Office of Developmental Programs (ODP). Our mission is to support people with intellectual disabilities and autism (ID/A). HCQUs were created in Pennsylvania almost 30 years ago and ITAs remain one of the...

General

February 18, 2026

Time to reflect… It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood

I was saddened by Mr. Roger’s passing in February 2003. Indeed it hit home for me. It got me thinking about all the good he did in his life time. That is to say when you think of Mr. Rogers, you think of all the joy and comfort he brought to many lives. About Mr. Rogers Mr. Rogers grew up in...

Community/General

February 11, 2026

Breaking Free from Loneliness: How Can We Help Our Self-Advocates Navigate and Foster Healthy Relationships and Connection

February is the month of love. It makes you think about the relationships in your life and what they mean to you. Relationships are something that all humans hope for in some capacity. According to author and researcher, Brene Brown, “we are hardwired to connect with others, it’s what gives us purpose and meaning to our lives, and without it,...

General

February 4, 2026

Beware of High Blood Pressure: It’s the Silent Killer

February is American Heart Month and I want to discuss High Blood Pressure (HBP) also known as The Silent Killer. According to the American Heart Association nearly 50% of Americans have high blood pressure and many don’t know. (1) Through out my nursing career I have seen many people surprised by their diagnosis of high blood pressure because they “felt...

General

January 28, 2026

Wheel the World. Accessibility Gets Real.

Want to explore the great big, wide world? Wheel the World might be your booking companion and tour guide. Maybe you faced accessibility issues in the past and have stayed house bound since. Maybe you support someone and are afraid that leaving the sanctuary of the familiar is just too risky and unknown. Wheel the World might take some of...

Resources

January 21, 2026

Variety Helps Kids, Be Kids

The Thrilling Cycle Do you remember receiving your first bike? Remember how it felt when you got it? I do. It was the summer I was 10 years old, and I was playing in the back yard. I turned around and saw my dad walking through the grass pushing a BRAND-NEW bike. Moreover, he was headed right for me! To...

Community/General/Resources

January 14, 2026

Are You Considering a GLP-1 for Weight Loss?

What are GLPs? First it is important to understand what GLP medications are and what they do. This will help to decide if you are a candidate for this medication and if you and your medical provider believe they are appropriate for you. It is essential that people who consider using GLP-1 medications for weight loss consult with a healthcare...

General

January 7, 2026

Journaling: Expressing Your Way to Wellness

Journaling…we’ve all heard the word, but up until the coronavirus pandemic I hadn’t really thought much about it. Lately, though, it’s been on my mind. What is a journal? I’ve always heard that writing can be therapeutic. Put your thoughts on paper, see them, read them, meditate on them. I’ve never been much of a writer so writing my prayers,...

General

December 31, 2025

Beyond Words: Communication Tools that Empower

Communication is not just about talking; it’s about making connections, expressing needs, sharing emotions, and asserting control over your life. Imagine how it would feel to live a life without being able to communicate. A life that doesn’t allow you to let the people you care about know how you feel. Being able to communicate is essential to human dignity...

General/Technology

December 23, 2025

Listening to the Unspoken: A Little Girl Couldn’t Speak

I took part in a webinar hosted by Developmental Disabilities Nursing Association (DDNA). The title, Unspoken Symphony, intrigued me. I am a musician and as a HCQU nurse working for many years with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, I’m all ears. Meeting Riley Using a recorded video, the speaker introduced a family. Specifically, the daughter, Riley. Riley is...

General/Resources