Speaking for Ourselves

21/11/2025

Turkey Give-away
Saturday, November 22nd.

18/11/2025

November’s Monthly meeting is tomorrow at 1:00pm.

If you want to attend, please email Suzanne Erb.

sfo.suzanne@visionforequality.org

Thank you! Hope to see you at the meeting.

17/11/2025

Speaking for Ourselves- Monthly Meeting
Wednesday, November 19th
1:00pm

We would like to invite you to our November meeting for a lively and information packed discussion about waivers.
Our discussion will be led by Jamie C. Ray-Lionetti, Deputy Director of Policy Institute on Disability Temple University.
If you have questions about your waiver, this is the meeting for you.

Email Suzanne Erb to attend
sfo.suzanne@visionforequality.org

07/11/2025

Philadelphia Resources for Food Assistance, General Resources and Neighborhood Community Action Centers.

04/11/2025

Communication Champions Meeting

Friday, November 7th from 1 to 2 p.m.

The City of Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS) invites you to join our next meeting presented by Suzanne Erb. Suzanne will talk with us about communication from the perspective of someone who is blind. Suzanne has been an advocate for the needs of people with disabilities from childhood. From her entry as the first totally blind student in her public school, through her education and employment journey, she has proven time and time again that problems can be solved with determination, a positive attitude, and just plain common sense. Suzanne currently works with Vision for Equality as a member of Speaking for Ourselves, with a master’s degree in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, Suzanne has over forty years of experience in the disabilities field and enjoys spreading knowledge about disability issues wherever she goes.

In this session, you will learn practical, common-sense tips and tricks for interacting with people who are blind or have low vision. We’ll explore what kinds of information are most important to share with someone who is blind-especially details that may not be as obvious to a person who is fully sighted. You’ll also gain an understanding of how assistive technologies can help people who are blind navigate the world more independently and effectively.


Click below to register:


https://networksfortraining.zoom.us/meeting/register/R_jpIfTIRQyu65tWklizuA

29/10/2025

Information regarding SNAP benefits for November. Food Resources.

As a result of the government shutdown, the Pa. Department of Human Services has announced that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will not be paid until the shutdown ends and funds are released to Pennsylvania.

Nearly 2 million Pennsylvanians receive SNAP benefits monthly. In Philadelphia, 473,000 households obtain SNAP … that’s 30 percent of the city’s population. With the delay in SNAP benefits, thousands of Philadelphians -- including children, the elderly, and our most vulnerable community members -- will be without food.

The disruption in SNAP benefits will begin Nov. 1. Furthermore, it is not known whether recipients will be reimbursed for SNAP dollars not released due to the shutdown.

At DBHIDS, we are committed to addressing all social drivers of health that impact the people and communities we serve. Therefore, we can refer people to resources already in place. Some of those resources include pantries listed in The Philly Food Finder, a City resource that helps people locate free food, meals, nutrition services, and public benefit support hubs. Food services are categorized as Food Sites, General Meal Sites, Older Adult Meal Sites, Student Meal Sites, Food Assistance, and Benefits Sites, and any resident is eligible.

Additionally, the City of Philadelphia cross-departmental leadership has created a landing page, What you need to know about significant changes to SNAP benefits, that provides an overview of changes to SNAP as result of the H.R.1 Bill implementing work requirements for SNAP recipients.

Food Resources are listed below. Some are County Specific and some are State-wide.

PA Resources:
https://www.pa.gov/agencies/pda/food/food-assistance/food-security-in-pennsylvania/food-resources-for-pennsylvanians #:~:text=If%20you%20are%20in%20immediate,1%2D1%20for%20live%20help.

Chester County:
https://chestercountyfoodbank.org/

Delaware County:
https://www.delcopa.gov/cosa/food-resources

Montgomery and Bucks County:
https://www.alongthewaypa.org/food-and-clothing?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=13973968251&gbraid=0AAAAABvbgSkz3lUNxBstExRctw7zTjcUZ&gclid=Cj0KCQjw9obIBhCAARIsAGHm1mQuuyN5Ne_FHckgtQzGbBQmhfwQrOmkv877BhowgT8FUQQE_Nz3PyoaAuIBEALw_wcB

Philadelphia Food Finder
https://www.phila.gov/food/

24/10/2025

Today the Social Security Administration announced a 2.8 percent benefit increase for 2026. Please read below.

Baltimore, MD – The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced today that Social Security benefits, including Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance …

15/10/2025

Please read the letter below for important information about Social Security during the Federal Shutdown.

The only way people can get a benefit letter or replacement Medicare card is by going through their online my Social Security account.

Do not go to the office to try and request these items.

Thank you!

13/10/2025

Do you or your loved one have a Medicaid Waiver? Did you recently receive a notice that you (or your loved one) are denied or that the Waiver has ended? If so, please contact Dee Coccia at acoccia@visionforequality.org

Thank you!

07/10/2025

Will you help us share? We are seeking nominations for Council membership of people with developmental disabilities! In particular, for people who live or have lived in a state institution or an intermediate care facility. Please share with individuals you may know who may be interested and go to our website to learn more and find the nomination forms here. People can self nominate or someone else can nominate them: https://www.paddc.org/nominate/

01/10/2025

Speaking for Ourselves attended a Resource Fair at Career Link. Thank you to all who attended.

25/09/2025

Join us for the Disability Summit today. It will be Live-streamed beginning at 9:30am.

We advocate with & for all children & adults with intellectual &/or developmental disabilities, & their families to promote active citizenship, self-determination & full inclusion, since 1948.