Author: Jillesa Cress

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...

Categories 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...

Categories Resources

November 5, 2025

Like to Shop? Check Out the Holiday Shopping Guide

Many people like to give gifts this time of year as part of their holiday traditions. Perhaps you pride yourself on finding unique surprises for birthdays or anniversaries. Maybe you’re the type of person that springs an unexpected gift on a loved-one just because it is wonderful Wednesday. Whatever it is that gets you shopping, did you consider our Holiday...

Categories Community/Resources

September 10, 2025

Got to Love That Libby

Ok fellow readers, I’ve been a major fan of Libby for about five years now. I have to make a fuss. If you’re asking “Who or what is Libby?,” get ready to jump on the fan bandwagon. What is Libby? Libby is basically your local library made virtual. Yes! The library can come to our living rooms, nay closer, the...

Categories General/Resources

September 3, 2025

You Heard that Right: Project ECHO

Project ECHO is an educational program offered by Penn State College of Medicine. ECHO stands for Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes and is an internationally-recognized, evidence-based approach to continuing education and telementoring. It focuses on sharing knowledge across milesand disciplines. Project ECHO actually started back in 2018 and has been influencing positive health outcomes around Pennsylvania and beyond. We want...

Categories General/Resources

June 18, 2025

Intentionally Accessible: The Movie Experience Levels Up

As a story lover, I have a passion for cinema. Like so many in today’s culture, I bond with others over a film. But what if the movie experience is not the same across the board? We can talk about accessibility and inclusion all day every day, but it is the inventors, movers, and shakers that change the world and...

Categories Community/Technology

May 21, 2025

Color Me Impressed! How Paint Colors Impact People with Disabilities.

Are you renovating a meeting or office space? Do you plan on helping someone refresh their room with a new coat of paint? Maybe you are assisting someone with a disability move into their new home. Something as simple as wall color can greatly impact the mood and feeling of a room. We all understand how daunting it can be...

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May 14, 2025

Able News: For, By, and About People with Disabilities

You’ve heard it said ‘information is power.’ Able News at The Viscardi Center stands as a vital information resource for the disability community. It launched with the foundational mission to provide news for, by, and about people with disabilities. Able News has become a trusted source of information and advocacy. A Digital Hub for Disability News Able News at The...

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April 30, 2025

Shake it Up! Spices from Max Mix

The topic of inclusion, employment for all, and spices reminds me of this adage. “Variety is the very spice of life, That gives it all its flavor.”  – William Cowper, The Task (1785) Aren’t you glad this world, people, and life itself isn’t boring!?! Food can be so flavorful, especially when complimented with seasonings and spices. With our Holiday Shopping...

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April 2, 2025

A Penny Saved is a Penny Learned

Finances in Everyday Life Do you ever find yourself singing along to ABBA’s “Money, Money, Money”? While we don’t want to forget that the most meaningful and beautiful things in life are not things at all, we all know that finances are an important topic. We ask financial questions every day. To buy the latte or not? Buy lunch out...

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