East Suburban Citizen Advocacy

Update from the PA Waiting List Campaign

posted February 14, 2018
The PA Waiting List Campaign is excited to announce the governor is proposing a new High School waiting list initiative to provide services for the both the June 2018 and June 2019 graduates with intellectual disabilities and autism. This is an exciting change in policy that will have a huge impact on students and families. The decision to fund students this year, and plan ahead for next year's graduating class will be a tremendous help to families across Pennsylvania.

High school graduates with intellectual disabilities and autism and their families are at the mercy of the PA budget process every year. When the budget passes on June 30th, even with a high school initiative included, the graduate experiences a gap before services can begin, typically four to six months. This gap causes hardships on the family wage earners, can lead to regression of skills for the ID or ASD individual, and those with jobs supported by school services will lose them during the service gap. Some budget years the services don't begin until spring of the following year. That wasn't working for people and families, so the PA Waiting List Campaign has been fighting for years to change this process -- we have been heard!

This new approach will allow for students to enroll, plan and choose their services before they leave school so that they will begin receiving services immediately upon graduation. There will be no loss of continuity for the graduate. The services provided by OVR and the school system continue until graduation day, and then the adult waiver services seamlessly begin. There's no regression of developed skills, the caregivers can plan their family member's future in advance, just like what any typical high school graduates enjoy.

We applaud and thank Governor Wolf and his administration for listening to the families from the Waiting List Campaign and bringing this new initiative to life. Pennsylvania will now be planning ahead for graduates, rather than chasing behind the problem year after year.
Please call the governor and say thank you. Also, make sure you call your state representative and senator to ask them to support funding for the waiting list and high school graduates! We need to make sure our voices are heard and this new and better way is enacted.

ESCA Trailblazers - Murrysville March for Parks

posted February 07, 2018
Team Up with the EAST SUBURBAN TRAILBLAZERS for the MURRYSVILLE March for Parks, held at the Murrysville Community Center (3091 Carson Avenue, Murrysville, PA 15668). You may walk, jog, run, bike or walk your dog.

Saturday, March 24, 2018
Registration starts: 8:30 a.m.
March starts 10:30 a.m.

Trailblazer participants will receive a FREE t-shirt to wear to the event. Attached is the design that was voted on last week by the run captains. If you are planning on participating, please call the ESCA office 724-325-3344 or email at ESCA15632@aol.com your confirmation ASAP and who will be participating with you with t-shirt sizes. We would like to try to have as many Trailblazers participate as possible, and if your walk, run, or bike partners are not Trailblazers, we would like to try to get them shirts as well.

You can register online, by mail or at the event. Please include the team name:EAST SUBURBAN TRAILBLAZERS, and MEGAN NELSON as the team captain.

If you cannot participate, but would like a t-shirt anyway, I am collecting $10 for each shirt to benefit the March for Parks Westmoreland Heritage Trail Extension from Murrysville to Export.

Amazon Supports East Suburban Citizen Advocacy for Valentines Day

posted February 05, 2018
Many of ESCA supporters are shopping for Valentine's Day gifts. This is a great opportunity to increase East Suburban Citizen Advocacy Inc.'s AmazonSmile donations by reminding your supporters to shop at smile.amazon.com.

Support us when you shop for your Valentine. Go to smile.amazon.com/ch/25-1569734 and Amazon donates to East Suburban Citizen Advocacy Inc..

ESCA Christmas Party December 9th, Noon - 2pm

posted November 10, 2017
ESCA will once again conduct their Christmas Party at the First Presbyterian Church in Murrysville. After the Christmas Party ends, the Polar Express play will begin at 2 pm in the adjacent church santuary . A small donation of $5 to benefit ActingUp will be requested. The address of the church is:

First Presbyterian Church
Laird Hall
3202 N Hills Rd.
Murrysville, PA 15668

Please note this is a change where the Christmas Party is being held.
Happy Holidays

Polar Express Dates have been Set

posted November 10, 2017
The Polar Express dates have now been set for December 9th and 16th. A small Donation of $5 will benefit the Mario Lemieux Foundation.


Saturday, December the 9th at 11am and 2pm.

10 AM (SPECIAL EVENT) SHOW STARTS AT 11- $5 donation proceeds go to the Mario Lemieux Foundation
*Prior to the 11 am show , there will be hot chocolate and cookies and a story time with Santa's elves beginning at 10 am- only special event this day

2 pm show- suggested $5 donation for adults and $3 for children



Saturday, December 16 at 5pm and 7:30pm

SHOW STARTS AT 5- $5 suggested donation * BRING A TOY FOR TOYS FOR TOTS TOY DRIVE *
*Prior to the 5 PM show on Sat there will be hot chocolate and cookies and a story time with Santa's elves beginning at 4 pm- only special event this day