Rep. Jason Silvis hosts Disability Awareness Day at Keystone State Park
Share this post:
State Rep. Jason Silvis wanted to do something different to support Westmoreland County through his role on the human services committee.
The result was a Disability Awareness Day event presented Thursday at Keystone State Park.
In addition to providing food, a raffle and free fishing at the lake, the event also featured a variety of organizations that assist individuals and families with disabilities.
Silvis, who represents the House’s 55th District, said the goal was to connect the community with disability resources they might not have otherwise known about.
“We got rave reviews (from the vendors),” Silvis said. “People were excited that something like this was going to happen, so we went forward with it.”
Bobby Tayner, of Westmoreland County Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, said the organization hopes to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health and promote community awareness.
“I think we all need to be more aware if you have something going on,” he said.
Tayner, a behavioral health adult program specialist, added people facing a mental disability might not know where to turn for help early on. He hopes the organization provided direction to those who attended the awareness day.
Echoing this sentiment, Catherine Hughes, of Achieving True Self, said her organization sought to reach those in need of its services and identify gaps within the disabled community.
“It’s about connection and learning what people need and then how we can support that,” said Hughes, director of family support and community engagement.
Achieving True Self is an applied behavioral analysis and behavioral therapy organization.
Family Support and Community Engagement Specialist Christina Abernathy said she is excited to offer in-person guidance to the disabled community as pandemic restrictions ease.
“I think that’s something that’s been missing so much over the past year and a half — that human connection between each other and families, sharing our stories, coming together and helping each other again,” Abernathy said.
Members of the Derry Area High School and middle school choirs attended the event.
Choir Director Teri Smith said she was grateful to support the cause and provide her students an opportunity to perform after more than a year of covid interruptions.
“The kids were excited to help out with such a great cause,” Smith said. “It was nice to be able to do some type of service for the community.”
Legislative assistant Jillian Olszewski said Silvis spearheaded the event, which she termed his “passion project,” from the beginning.
“He wanted to do something different,” Olszewski said. “He got the ball rolling and got us all involved.”
Olszewski added she couldn’t be happier with the end result, which included about 15 vendors.
Silvis said about 100 people RSVP’d for Disability Awareness Day and estimated 70 arrived at the beginning of the event.
Carol Defalco attended Disability Awareness Day to support her daughter, Margaret, who has Down Syndrome.
Defalco of Apollo said Margaret enjoyed being able to connect with people she has met at disability workshops through the years.
“She just really likes being around people,” Defalco said. “She’s been able to see some of her friends and one of the teachers she had, and it was nice to see them today.”
Silvis hopes to expand Disability Awareness Day in future years and establish it as an annual event.
“If we continue to grow this Disability Awareness Day, I think it’ll be something that people will be able to look forward to every year,” Silvis said. “I get nothing but ‘thank you so much’ because we’ve never had something like this before.”