Include Me

09/02/2026

Please welcome Beyona MacDonald to The Arc of Pennsylvania!

“Hello all! I am Beyona MacDonald, a new Include Me Program Specialist here at the Arc of Pennsylvania, and I am thrilled to be part of a mission that impacts people’s lives. I have a background in Art Education: 2 years teaching middle school in South Carolina, 5 years teaching at an elementary school in Perry County, and then I spent the last 2 years at an elementary school in Cumberland County. My focus was always connecting with my students and cultivating student agency by creating lessons and environments around expression, choice, and resiliency. I believe that all students and people deserve ownership of how they show up and succeed. I’m excited to bring my passions and past experiences to this new role.

My background is heavily influenced by art and expression, which I do through painting, ceramics, photography, and drawing. When not creating, I enjoy things like camping in the fall and hiking local spots. I also enjoy playing video games on my PC and board game nights with my friends.

My favorite food-related items are: coffee, popcorn, raspberries, anything gummy candy, and a heavy-on-the-sauerkraut Reuben sandwich.

An interesting fact about me: I was on the Price is Right game show in 2018. I got to meet Drew Carey and play Plinko!”

09/01/2026

Registration is open for the first Parent Info Session in our fall Transition Made Easier series on Tuesday, September 8 at noon! This virtual webinar will explore the must-have items to support real life independence for graduates. Don’t miss this opportunity to discover the essentials to help your student succeed! Register: https://bit.ly/3Ug7Iuz

08/26/2026

Looking for a virtual, inclusive club opportunity for 3rd-6th graders this fall? Include Me Connection Club signups are open! Starting in September, IMCC is embarking again on some pretty cool intercontinental exploration (from the comfort of our homes in PA.) Join via Zoom, meet 2x a month on Tuesdays, enjoy the inclusive space facilitated by Include Me staff. To register, visit bit.ly/imccinfo

08/25/2026

Join us for our first Parent Info Session in our fall Transition Made Easier series on Tuesday, September 8 at noon! This virtual webinar will explore the must-have items to support real life independence for graduates. Don’t miss this opportunity to discover the essentials to help your student succeed! Register: https://bit.ly/3Ug7Iuz

08/24/2026

The dates are set for our fall Making Employment Work trainings. These virtual trainings will teach you to provide Supported Employment and Community Participation Services, and you’ll earn a basic ACRE certification upon successful completion. Learn more and register here: https://thearcpa.org/training/acre-training/

08/21/2026

Hurry – don’t miss out! Register now for "Disability Acceptance through Literature" virtual inclusive book studies! This fall, join us for a story tour for 5-8 year olds! New age groups include one for high school aged youths and one for adults, both reading Alice Wong's essay collection Disability Visibility. We're so excited! bit.ly/includemebookstudy

08/19/2026

With the return of school, you may have questions about your child’s education and The Arc’s AI Advisor has answers! Check it out here: https://bit.ly/45vFxKN

Navigating special education shouldn't mean hours of searching for answers you're not even sure you can trust. The Arc@School just launched a free AI Advisor to help you find expert-vetted answers to your special education questions.

Got questions about IEPs, accommodations, or disability rights in schools? This tool is for you (see link in comments).

08/18/2026

Meet Include Me – The Arc of Pennsylvania’s educational initiative helping school districts across Pennsylvania to inclusively and meaningfully educate students with significant disabilities in general education classrooms and the school community. More information: https://thearcpa.org/includeme/

08/18/2026

Do you want to learn how to create and support fully customized jobs for people with disabilities? Sign up for our next Customized Employment training and earn your certification for Customized Employment and Advanced Supported Employment. From Discovery to employment supports, this course will teach you to find meaningful jobs that match a worker’s skills, interests, and needs. For more information and to register, click here: https://bit.ly/CustEmployment