Healthbridges

10/03/2025

HKNC Connection: Newsletter & Your Regional Roundup

Welcome to the East Central edition of HKNC Connection – Helen Keller National Center’s Regional Newsletter! In this issue, you’ll find updates from HKNC, highlights from across our region, and resources to support your professional growth and community connections.

09/29/2025

PAHrtners is hosting a hiring fair for individuals that know ASL.

09/23/2025

Amazon Starts Offering Customer Service in Sign Language

CX Today covers Contact Center news including Ecommerce, Omni-channel, Retail and more.

09/19/2025

SNAP Benefits Changes Are In Effect
Federal changes to SNAP benefits (food stamps) are in effect as of September 1, 2025. These changes are significant and could result in many people in our community losing food security as soon as December if they don't understand the steps they need to take! We all need to ensure our community knows about the federal changes and what paperwork needs to be submitted to the state to ensure everyone eligible receives their benefits.

Due to these changes most adults on SNAP are required to either work at least 20 hours/week or qualify for an exemption. People who do not appropriately document that they meed these conditions can only receive 3 months of benefits over a 3-year period - meaning, they will run out in December 2025.

SNAP recipients will need to take the following actions.
1. Complete the PA DHS Screening Form Checklist
2. If health limits their work, have a doctor or therapist sign the Medical Exemption Form
3. Return the Screening Form + proof to the County Assistance Office

Details about who needs to take action, and when, can be found on the PA DHS website.
Just Harvest is providing a short virtual training for providers about navigating these changes. We encourage you to register for a meeting. If you are unable to attend the trainings live, a recording will be made available.

• Friday, September 19 from 1-1:30pm (register here to receive the meeting link)
• Thursday, September 25 from 1-1:30pm (register here to receive the meeting link)

Information about the basic actions steps for SNAP recipients are available on Allegheny Connect.

Please share this information with your networks!

09/18/2025

Registration NOW OPEN 📢 Join us at the PaTTAN Technology Adventure for Students with and Hearing Needs!

This unique opportunity connects students, families, and educators with community partners in their own region and provides a hands-on experience to discover, acquire, & maintain access to 💻

🗓️ Mon. 10/ 13 @ The Western Pennsylvania School For The Deaf
🗓️ Tues. 11/18 @ PaTTAN East
🗓️ Thurs. 11/20 @ PaTTAN Central

Why Join?
✔️ Explore new tools & trends
✔️ Network with vendors & local agencies
✔️ Empower students through

Register for a day & location that works for you!
📌 http://bit.ly/3IkEMfm

09/15/2025

Sharing an upcoming webinar from the organization, Helen Keller Services, that might interest you or your network.

We're hosting our 5th Annual National Disability Employment Awareness Month webinar on October 22nd from 2:00-3:30 pm ET. As we commemorate 80 years of this Department of Labor initiative, this year's program, "Strategies to Success: Celebrating Value and Talent of Employees who are DeafBlind, Blind, or have Low Vision," will feature insights from a diverse group panelists who bring varied experiences from their career journeys and professional backgrounds.

Whether you're a vocational rehabilitation counselor, an employer or an individual navigating your career journey, you'll discover how employees who are DeafBlind, blind, or have low vision bring unique problem-solving, advocacy, and innovative thinking that drive business success.

Registration is free and ASL interpretation will be provided:
Register here: https://www.helenkeller.org/events/ndeam-national-disability-employment-awareness-month-webinar/

Thank you for helping us reach new audiences, include partners and demonstrate the value HKS brings to the broader community!

Join our free NDEAM webinar on October 22, 2025! Learn proven strategies to celebrate and leverage the value and talent of employees who are DeafBlind, blind, or have low vision.

08/27/2025

Hear the Hope is back again!

Saturday, September 27
at (inside the Hilton)

🎧Music by the talented Wyatt Wilson🎧
🎤Acoustic Set by the gifted Sarah Fair🎤 Sarah Fair Music

Join us for this exciting evening while we support the patients and families of the Hearing Center.


UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh .pittpeds

08/20/2025

Coming Again this Fall:

The PaTTAN Technology Adventure for Students with Hearing and Vision Needs is an opportunity for students, families, and educators of children with vision and/or hearing needs to explore assistive technology (AT) and to network with supporting community partners in their own region. This event is unique in that it allows participants to have hands-on experiences with AT devices and to meet face-to-face with vendors and agencies who can help teams discover, acquire, and maintain access to AT during key transition points throughout their educational journey.

PaTTAN Technology Adventure For Students with Hearing and Vision Needs

08/14/2025

BrailleGPT: How Dunya Hassan Is Teaching AI to Speak the Language of Touch

Here, Aaron Di Blasi, PR Director for AT-Newswire and Publisher of Top Tech Tidbits, introduces BrailleGPT. A groundbreaking, portable, AI-native speech-to-Braille device designed specifically for DeafBlind users. Developed by 20-year-old innovator Dunya Hassan, BrailleGPT captures live speech, proc...

08/07/2025

The funding will fuel development of a statewide Deaf Education Apprenticeship Program designed to grow the pipeline of certified teachers of the deaf across the commonwealth

07/22/2025

How are you planning to celebrate Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 35th Anniversary? This July 26th the ADA National Network and individuals, communities, and organizations across the country will be participating. Learn how you can be involved by visiting adaanniversary.org

07/18/2025