Sen. Tartaglione’s Annual ‘Disabilities Day’ Tomorrow in State Capitol

HARRISBURG, Oct. 19, 2015 – To help decision makers better understand the needs of Pennsylvanians with disabilities, state Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione will once again hold her “Disabilities Day at the Capitol.”

“I hold Disabilities Day to help people with disabilities find gainful employment, and to help employers without those same disabilities better understand what it’s like to have them,” Sen. Tartaglione said. “It also serves a good purpose by educating employers about the things they can do to help workers with disabilities be as productive as they expect.”

Joining the senator during her annual awareness event will be L&I Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services, Magee Rehabilitation Hospital in Philadelphia, PA Statewide Independent Living Council, Penn State University Extension, PA Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Susquehanna Service Dogs, Self Determination Housing Project of Pennsylvania, UniqueSource, and United Cerebral Palsy of Central Pennsylvania.

Media coverage is encouraged.

WHAT: Sen. Christine Tartaglione’s annual “Disabilities Day at the Capitol”

WHEN: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 20

WHERE: Capitol Rotunda, Harrisburg

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Follow Sen. Christine Tartaglione on Facebook, Twitter and via her website.

Lawmakers Experience Life with a ‘Disability’ During Sen. Tartaglione’s Event

HARRISBURG, Oct. 7, 2014 – State lawmakers and Capitol visitors had the opportunity today to experience how people live with disabilities during Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione’s annual Disability Awareness Day.

People without disabilities were able to experience “blindness” or what it is like to move around in a wheelchair during the three-hour event.

“I present this important day because personal experiences can have a bigger impact on our decision makers,” Tartaglione said. “People with disabilities face real challenges many times a day, all of the time. Experiencing what they experience helps us as a commonwealth improve services and be more thoughtful when budgeting decisions need to be made.”

Wheelchairs, walkers, vision-distorting goggles, magnifiers, arm restraints and noise-canceling headphones helped volunteers simulate life with a disability.

Informational hand-outs and service dog demonstrations emphasized the available services that make a difference in the lives of Pennsylvanians who do live with disabilities every day.

The following organizations participated today in the senator’s Disability Awareness Day at the Capitol:

  • PA Initiative on Assistive Technology at the Institute on Disabilities at Temple University
  • Magee Rehabilitation Hospital
  • PA Statewide Independent Living Council
  • PA Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services
  • Susquehanna Service Dogs
  • UniqueSource
  • United Cerebral Palsy of Central PA

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Follow Sen. Christine Tartaglione on Facebook and her website.