Disability Options Network

Disability Options Network Disability Options Network is a Center for Independent Living that empowers people with disabilities to live as independently as they choose!

Disability Options Network is a consumer controlled, Center for Independent Living that serves Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Lawrence, Mercer and Westmoreland counties. We have office in New Castle, Greensburg and Penn Hills. DON provides the following services for people with disabilities:
Advocacy – People joining together to promote individual and system changes to provide equal access to opportunities such as education, employment, housing, transportation and recreation. This empowers the individual with a disability to become a full participant within his or her own community. Peer Support – Peer Support involves a person or a group of people with disabilities sharing experiences which can ultimately empower the individual to live as independently as possible. Independent Living Skills Training –IL Skills Training involves assisting the individual to develop necessary daily living skills essential to increase independence. Using public transit, learning budgeting, living well and using assistive technology woudlb e just a few examples of skills which are emphasized. Information & Referral – DON provides Information and Referral services to individuals with disabilities allowing them to make suitable choices for their lives. Transition – Transition is a priority at DON, provided to individuals residing in institutions who choose to live independently. Transition also works with any youth with a disability to inform and assist in the transition into adulthood with a focus on employment, finding accessible housing, transportation, personal assistance services and other community resources necessary for inclusion into society.

February Disability Spotlight: Intellectual & Developmental DisabilitiesIntellectual and developmental disabilities affe...
02/09/2026

February Disability Spotlight: Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities

Intellectual and developmental disabilities affect how individuals learn, communicate, and navigate the world, but they do not define potential or worth.

With the right support, people with I/DD lead meaningful, connected, and self-directed lives.

At Disability Options Network, we work to ensure people have the tools, voice, and opportunities they deserve.

Join the PA Partners for a Good Life Network Meeting 🗣️📅 March 6, 2026⏰ 9:30–11:00 AM ET💻 VirtualThis meeting brings tog...
01/30/2026

Join the PA Partners for a Good Life Network Meeting 🗣️
📅 March 6, 2026
⏰ 9:30–11:00 AM ET
💻 Virtual

This meeting brings together individuals, families, professionals, advocates, and community partners as equal partners to strengthen person- and family-centered practices across Pennsylvania.

Together they will discuss important issues, share ideas, learn from one another, and build trust.

🔗 Register using the link or QR code: bit.ly/45x8fLL

Today we honor Ed Roberts, the father of the Independent Living Movement, whose courage and advocacy transformed disabil...
01/23/2026

Today we honor Ed Roberts, the father of the Independent Living Movement, whose courage and advocacy transformed disability rights and reshaped what independence and inclusion look like in our communities.

Ed’s legacy reminds us that accessibility, dignity, and choice are civil rights, and that change begins when we challenge outdated attitudes and remove barriers for all.

01/22/2026

Did you know this?

The disability rights movement grew stronger in the 1960s and 1970s, bringing attention to the need for accessible public spaces for people with disabilities. In 1973, the Rehabilitation Act, especially Section 504, was an important milestone for disability rights in the U.S. Accessible parking did not become a requirement until the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. The ADA required accessible parking spaces in both public and private lots and introduced the international symbol of accessibility, the blue and white wheelchair symbol.



[ID: A graphic with a bright yellow background features abstract shapes and a prominent blue parking sign displaying the International Symbol of Access—a white icon of a person using a wheelchair. Beneath the icon, the sign reads “PARKING ONLY.” At the top of the graphic, a logo includes the words “INDEPENDENCE” and “DISABILITY RIGHTS.” Large bold text reads “DISABILITY RIGHTS FUN FACT.” Below, a caption states: “Accessible parking spaces were introduced in the U.S. in the 1960s and 1970s and became mandatory with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, ensuring equal access for millions.”]

🍀❄️ Get ready to go green… and brave the cold! ❄️🍀Special Olympics Lawrence County is hosting their first-ever St. Patri...
01/22/2026

🍀❄️ Get ready to go green… and brave the cold! ❄️🍀

Special Olympics Lawrence County is hosting their first-ever St. Patrick’s Day Polar Plunge! We’re on the hunt for plungers, sponsors, and donations to make this event a splashin’ success.

🎉 What to expect:

Prizes for the best costumes

Music, games, and fun, even if you’re just cheering from the sidelines!

Ducky Derby with green ducks—looking for a derby sponsor!

💚 All proceeds help provide uniforms, transportation, and competition costs for our athletes, who participate at no cost.

Come join for the fun, support our athletes, and maybe take the plunge if you dare!

Reminder, DON will and will not accept the following donations listed below!
01/22/2026

Reminder, DON will and will not accept the following donations listed below!

Beauty Beyond Limits 2026 ✨📅 April 25, 2026Accessible beauty. Inclusive innovation. Community impact.Join CLASS as they ...
01/22/2026

Beauty Beyond Limits 2026 ✨

📅 April 25, 2026

Accessible beauty. Inclusive innovation. Community impact.
Join CLASS as they celebrate accessibility, advocacy, and the belief that beauty should be experienced by everyone.

Our office will be closed on January 19th for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
01/16/2026

Our office will be closed on January 19th for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Disability Options Network is excited to share a new research study from the University of Pittsburgh Department of Reha...
01/14/2026

Disability Options Network is excited to share a new research study from the University of Pittsburgh Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology.

They are seeking participants for a 12-month study evaluating an innovative under-the-bed weight scale system for wheelchair users called the Fast In-Bed Tracking System (FIT). This system allows individuals to monitor their weight through an app—no transfers needed.

Participants will also take part in the GLB-AI nutrition and exercise program to support weight management and overall health. Compensation is provided.

Interested or know someone who might be?

Check out the details below and see the attached flyer to learn more!

Thank you to Dr. Jonathan Pearlman and his team for continuing to support the health and wellness of individuals with disabilities.

Help honor the legacy of Paul O’Hanlon.Do you have a story about working with Paul? Disability Options Network is helpin...
01/09/2026

Help honor the legacy of Paul O’Hanlon.

Do you have a story about working with Paul? Disability Options Network is helping share information about the collection of short video testimonials highlighting Paul’s impact as a civil rights lawyer, activist, and movement leader, especially in disability rights, transit justice, voting access, affordable housing, and related advocacy.

How to share:
• Record your story on your phone
• Include your name, year, and related organizations or campaigns
• Scan the QR code to upload and share your story

Please help spread the word so Paul’s lasting impact can be remembered and honored.

Disability Options Network

Did you know Pennsylvania residents with disabilities may qualify for a FREE landline phone, smartphone, or tablet throu...
01/06/2026

Did you know Pennsylvania residents with disabilities may qualify for a FREE landline phone, smartphone, or tablet through TechOWL, Pennsylvania’s Assistive Technology Act Program?

This program helps individuals with disabilities stay connected using devices designed for:
✔️ Hearing loss
✔️ Vision loss
✔️ Cognitive challenges
✔️ Physical disabilities
✔️ Advanced communication needs

Wireless devices are available for those who need them for communication purposes (such as video interpreting services for Deaf individuals or speech-to-text apps for auditory processing disorders).

💡 Bekah Nesbitt, the current program contact at CLASS, helps participants:

Explore available equipment

Receive device demonstrations

Choose the right technology

Navigate the application process

📄 The flyer includes contact information, income guidelines and available equipment.

👉 https://techowlpa.org/tddp/

If you or someone you know could benefit, this program may be a great resource to stay connected and supported. 💙

Reflecting on an Incredible Year at Disability Options Network As 2025 comes to a close, we celebrate the achievements o...
12/30/2025

Reflecting on an Incredible Year at Disability Options Network

As 2025 comes to a close, we celebrate the achievements of Disability Options Network (DON) and the amazing individuals we serve. This year, we saw people gain confidence, find their voices, and take steps toward independence.

As a Center for Independent Living, our mission remains clear: advocating, empowering, and creating opportunities for people with disabilities.

Thank you to our staff, partners, families, and self-advocates for helping us make a real difference. Together, we look forward to another year of inclusion, empowerment, and possibility!

Address

New Castle, PA

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+17246525144

Website

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Our Story

Disability Options Network (DON) is the federally supported Center for Independent Living (CIL) for Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Lawrence, Mercer and Westmoreland counties. We are a consumer controlled, non-profit organization serving western PA. We offer services at no cost to those with disabilities. We currently have offices in three locations; New Castle, Penn Hills, Greensburg.

As a CIL, the organization must be consumer-controlled, meaning 51% of the board and staff must be an individual with disabilities, also under State and Federal Law the five core services that define the CIL must be provided. Those services include: Peer Support, Advocacy, Skills Training, Transition Services (both from nursing home back to community and from school to adult life) and Information and Referral

Therefore, DON’s mission is: “To empower people with disabilities to live as independently as they choose.” This is done through the provision of the five core services. In addition, fair housing training and consultation, emergency preparedness training, educational advocacy supports, durable medical equipment re-use and other services are offered throughout the seven-county region.