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

October 21, 2026

The Gold Standard of Resources: ODP Releases the Fifth Edition of the Gold Book

The service system can be daunting, confusing and overwhelming for many people who need to access it. The Office of Developmental Programs, or ODP has worked diligently to ensure that people are given resources to help lessen the task of finding answers about their care. The mission of ODP “is to support Pennsylvanians with developmental disabilities and their families to...

General/Resources

October 14, 2026

Down Syndrome Awareness

October is Down Syndrome Awareness month and did you know that in our region we are lucky enough to have the Adult Down Syndrome Center (ADSC) at UPMC? It is one of only ten centers in the United States. Dr. Peter Bulova runs the clinic; he is also the Co-Director of Magee Center for Women with Disabilities. The center is...

General/Resources

October 7, 2026

Say that Again. Hear like a Pro.

Do you ever consider how much we depend upon our sense of hearing? Just think about how much is learned and experienced about the world around us by this one sense’s input. We recognize our loved one’s voices, and by their tone can often read their feelings. We know when an ambulance or fire truck is coming by its siren....

General/Technology

September 30, 2026

Saving the Spectrum: What to Know About Suicide Prevention

September is National Suicide Prevention Month. At a meeting I remember overhearing people talking about the increased rate of suicide in people on the autism spectrum. It was not a statistic I was aware of and it peaked my interest. The Stats As a system we know that those we support have a higher rate of psychiatric disorders than the...

General

September 23, 2026

Control Blood Sugar with Oral Medication and Urinary Output

Did you know there is a class of medication which can help keep blood sugar under control by increasing the amount of sugar in the urine? This class of medication is called SGLT2 inhibitor (sodium-glucose cotransporter 2). They work inside the body targeting the kidneys to prevent reabsorbing sugar back into the bloodstream. This allows excess sugar to be eliminated out...

Resources

September 16, 2026

Pennsylvania Check Out Your Library! More than a Great Read.

Blame it on being a 90s kid in Pennsylvania (PA) with full access to PBS (public broadcasting station) if you like, but a part of me still thinks libraries are magical places. Maybe it was LeVar Burton’s introductions to the world through books, sniffing mysteries with a Jack Russel Terrier named Wishbone, or this catchy song from Arthur Read. Fast...

General

September 9, 2026

America The Beautiful: National Park Adventures Made Accessible

The National Parks are offering an Access Pass that is free for US citizens, or permanent residents, with permanent disabilities. This is part of the America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Series. Many of the national parks have these passes available on site, but not all of them. Obtain an Access Pass by completing the online...

Community/Resources

September 2, 2026

Need for Speed! Speed Friending That Is.

Did you know there is an upcoming event called “speed friending”? Maybe you are like me and you’ve seen entertaining depictions of speed dating in tv shows. You know the scene. Two people sit across from each other and have only a few minutes to start asking questions and sharing a little about themselves to each other. Then when the...

General

August 26, 2026

Sockie Talkies are a Big Step into Independence One Foot at a Time

How many little choices and actions do we make everyday? Do you see them as opportunities to express oneself and declare independence? Did you know standing up for adaptive inclusion could start from your sock drawer? Perhaps many of us pull on our socks in a hurry and never think about it. However, there are a number of reasons this...

General

August 19, 2026

Have You Heard of the Cost Plus Drug Company?

Dallas Mavericks’ owner and tech entrepreneur, Mark Cuban, has received many business pitches during his lengthy career, but in 2018 a cold email from a man named Dr. Alex Oshmyansky stuck out to him. In the email Oshmyansky asked Cuban for an investment in his company, Osh’s Affordable Pharmaceuticals. Cuban had some ideas of his own regarding affordable medicine, so...

General/Resources