FISA Foundation

03/18/2026

National Organization on Disability is hosting a Virtual Career Fair on Tuesday, March 24th from 10:30 AM-1:30 PM EST

This event is a great opportunity to network with disability-inclusive employers & candidates and is particularly geared toward anyone who had a 504 plan, IEP, and/or school accommodations during their education.

Learn more and register at:

Networking for disability-inclusive employers & candidates. Designed to close the gap between talent and opportunity, the Virtual Career Fair provides direct access to diverse, job-ready candidates while equipping both students and employers with the tools and confidence to succeed in inclusive recr...

03/16/2026

Are you familiar with Pennsylvania’s Enhanced Member Supports Units (EMSU)? EMSUs offer support for you or your child with a disability who uses Medicaid/Managed Care and need assistance finding doctors, arranging transportation, or coordinating appropriate care. Learn more at the post below:

Thank you for your interest in applying. Achieva offers two opportunities for supplemental support. Before proceeding to the application page please answer these questions to determine eligibility for the Charitable Residual Program and the Cecil and David Rosenthal Memorial Fund. 

03/12/2026

36 years ago, ADAPT (formerly American Disabled for Accessible Public Transit and American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today) led the Capitol Crawl, a powerful act of protest that helped pave the way for the Americans with Disabilities Act—a landmark civil rights law securing essential access and protections for people with disabilities.

There was a time when many people with developmental disabilities were hidden, segregated, or excluded from community life.

History matters.

Not for nostalgia — for understanding.

03/11/2026

Join Just Films on March 23, 2026, at 6 pm for a screening of the Emmy award-winning film, Patrice: The Movie!

This documentary shares an intimate and compelling look at marriage equality for people with disabilities. Patrice and Garry are both disabled and desperately want to live together and get married, but if they do, they will lose the essential government benefits they rely on to survive.

Watch the trailer and register at https://justfilmspgh.org/2025/06/16/march-film-tba/ and if you haven’t already, check out Patrice’s Emmy acceptance speech!
https://www.instagram.com/reels/DOth1wrjhUK/

03/09/2026

FISA is honored to support, our grantee and partner, HAVIN, Inc in strengthening trauma informed domestic violence response among first responders in Armstrong County. This new training will help law enforcement, first responders, and hospital staff better recognize signs of domestic violence, improve interagency collaboration, and support survivors.

Leader Times - HAVIN, Inc. is pleased to announce receipt of grant funding from the FISA Foundation and Staunton Farm Foundation to train first responders. HAVIN, Inc., recently announced that it has received funding from the FISA Foundation and Staunton Farm Foundation to partner with the Gabby Pet...

03/08/2026

March 8 is International Women’s Day. On this day, we honor the leadership, strength, and achievements of women and girls—especially those who continue to face significant barriers that limit their opportunities.
At FISA Foundation, we remain committed to advancing safety, opportunity, and meaningful support for all women, girls, and people with disabilities. We recognize and value their diverse identities, including trans women, disabled women, and women of color.
[image description: GIF with different images of women pop on the screen, ends with the text "Celebrating International Women's Day" with the FISA logo]

03/04/2026

Duquesne University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine is hosting an Assistive Technology for Persons with Intellectual & Physical Disabilities Conference on Thursday, March 26!

Join healthcare professionals, educators, engineers, disability advocates, policymakers, and technologists for a one-day, in-person conference exploring the future of assistive technology and its potential for enhancing the independence and quality of life of people with disabilities.

Join healthcare professionals and advocates at the 2026 Assistive Technology Conference to enhance independence for individuals with disabilities. Register now!

03/02/2026

This February, FISA Foundation awarded nearly $300,000 to nine organizations that are expanding access, safety, and opportunity for women, girls, and people with disabilities in southwestern PA.

This cycle’s grantee partners are doing powerful, community-driven work—from supporting former foster youth with disabilities as they transition to adulthood, to assisting immigrant women rebuilding their lives after domestic violence, to increasing civic engagement for people with disabilities.

We’re proud to uplift organizations that are removing barriers and creating pathways to safety, stability, and dignity. Read the full February 2026 grants announcement here: https://fisafoundation.org/fisa-awards-february-2026-grants-to-improve-the-lives-of-women-girls-and-people-with-disabilities/

Evolve Coaching, KidsVoice, Keystone Progress Education Fund, Abolitionist Law Center, Pennsylvania Women Work, Christian Immigration Advocacy Center, HEARTH, Bhutanese Community Association of Pittsburgh, PublicSource

[Image Description: First image of two women laughing, and FISA logo with the text “FISA Foundation Announces February 2026 Grantees.” Remaining images have a light blue background, dark blue shapes, and the logos of grantees.]

02/27/2026

Pittsburgh Center for Disability Justice is hosting a virtual vigil for Disability Day of Mourning on March 1st to remember and honor people with disabilities who were killed by family members or caregivers.

The vigil begins at 7 PM EST, with live captioning and ASL interpretation provided.
Learn more about this event at https://autisticpgh.org/ddom-2026

Meet our Emcee!

Disability Day of Mourning is March 1st. Every year we come together in vigil, to mourn for our community who have been murdered because of their disabilities. Join us as we hold space together, for the 13th year in Pittsburgh. Our vigil is virtual.

Opal M. (they/them) serves as the Executive Director of PCDJ. They live at many marginalized intersections. Opal works faithfully for a world that is just, equitable, and joyful.

[IMAGE : Black text on a white background reads "Disability Day of Mourning. Meet our emcee: Opal M.” A photo shows Opal, a white person with short hair, smiling at the camera. They are wearing a blue blazer, light blue shirt, and blue flower shaped lapel pin.]

https://autisticpgh.org/ddom-2026/

https://facebook.com/events/s/ddom-2026/1420154426560238/

02/25/2026

Last Thursday was a major moment for our grantee partners, North Side Christian Health Center and Pittsburgh Action Against R**e (PAAR) —both were featured on the latest episode of The Pitt!

The episode highlighted the essential role health care providers play as trusted resources for their patients, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that women, girls, and people with disabilities receive care rooted in safety, dignity, and autonomy.

Check out this article from North Side Christian Health Center on the importance of community health centers for individuals who find traditional coverage—through an employer, the marketplace, or Medicaid—out of reach, especially people with disabilities and chronic illnesses who need consistent, accessible, and affordable care:
https://www.nschc.org/news/the-pitt-shines-a-light-on-gaps-in-american-health-care-and-the-lifeline-of-nschc

Also, take a look at the post below from Pittsburgh Action Against R**e on the importance of SANE nurse representation and what trauma‑informed, survivor‑centered care should look like.

02/20/2026

The Center for Racial and Disability Justice shares an important reminder: Black history is disability history. These experiences are deeply connected, and understanding that intersection matters.
Take a moment to read their post below and learn more about the powerful legacy and the ongoing ways our systems impact Black disabled people today.

02/19/2026

Beyond the Exam Room: A Dialogue with Dr. Amy Houtrow
Tuesday, March 31st 12 PM to 1 PM EST

Healthcare outcomes are shaped by far more than what happens during a medical visit. For many patients—particularly people with disabilities—housing instability, food insecurity, transportation barriers, and unmet social needs directly impact health, safety, and quality of life. 

In this Breaking Barriers webinar, Dr. Amy Houtrow will explore how physicians, advocates, and community-based organizations can work beyond traditional clinical care to support the health and wellness of people with disabilities and other marginalized populations.

Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/beyond-the-exam-room-a-dialogue-with-dr-amy-houtrow-tickets-1982709097283?aff=oddtdtcreator


[image description: blue graphic on a white background with FISA and Access to Healthcare Initiative logos at the top. Includes a photo of Dr. Amy Houtrow, a white woman with shoulder-length brown hair and glasses, smiling at the camera in a blue circle. The image includes the text: Webinar. Beyond the Exam Room: A Dialogue with Dr. Amy Houtrow. Tuesday, March 31, 12 PM to 1 PM EST. A webinar in the series, Breaking Barriers: Dialogues on Healthcare Access for People with Disabilities. Dr. Amy Houtrow MD, PhD, MPH. Vice-Chair for Pediatric Rehabilitation, Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Pediatrics, and Vice-Chair for Quality in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Pittsburgh.]