FISA Foundation

05/21/2026

This article from PublicSource is a powerful reminder of why accommodations and supports are so important for people with disabilities — and what happens when they’re out of reach.
The story highlights Gus Psaros and the encouragement and resources that helped him reach the incredible milestone of graduating from college.
But his story also points to a persistent issue: people with disabilities are far less likely to earn bachelor’s degrees, and cost can be a major barrier to accessing the supports needed to thrive.

Gus Psaros, an autistic student, graduated from Kent State. Family support, therapies and accommodations helped, but many families can’t afford them.

05/19/2026

Do you want to connect with a network of leaders with disabilities in Southwestern Pennsylvania? The application is OPEN for the 2027 Disability Lead Institute! The Institute is a year-long fellowship that is the only leadership program in the nation specifically for leaders with disabilities, and that makes connections to opportunities for civic engagement and leadership. Go to www.disabilitylead.org/apply to submit an application today!

Applications are now open for the 2027 Institute!

The Institute is the only leadership program in the nation specifically for leaders with disabilities, and that makes connections to opportunities for civic engagement and leadership. The Institute is a year-long fellowship that centers disability identity to explore leadership skills, civic engagement, and understanding of self and others.

What you need to apply.
1️⃣ Live in Chicagoland or Southwestern Pennsylvania
2️⃣Part one and two of the application
3️⃣Answer the (3) essay questions in part two of the application
4️⃣A completed nomination form

Application deadlines
☀️ Early Bird – Wednesday, July 1, 2026*
🗓️ Final – Wednesday, September 9, 2026

*Applicants who submit their application by the early bird deadline are guaranteed an interview.

Are you ready for a transformative leadership development experience? Apply today. www.disabilitylead.org/apply

05/18/2026

Disability remains one of the strongest social predictors of poverty, with disabled people experiencing poverty at significantly higher rates than their non-disabled peers.
Join FISA's grantee partner, Pittsburgh Center for Disability Justice, for How to Save Money When There's No Money to Save on May 27th at 6:30 PM
In this session, learn foundational financial literacy strategies, explore tools to support financial stability, and connect with the Financial Empowerment Center.
This event is free to attend and will include ASL interpretation and automatic captions. For additional access needs, please contact [email protected].
Register: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/X7IQrnrnRqig2KdJ5BQwtg

Join us for a virtual Skill Share! Managing Money When There Is No Money! Register here : https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/X7IQrnrnRqig2KdJ5BQwtg #/registration

[IMAGE : On a beige background with brown and dark grey writing, the text reads:

How to Save Money When There's No Money to Save

Join PCDJ and the Financial Empowerment Center for a free virtual workshop, 5/27 at 6:30 p.m. EST. Amber will introduce financial tools for managing money while living in poverty. This event will include captions & ASL.

Amber Book has over 20 years of experience working with people from all walks of life from a wide variety of non-profit organizations.

The flyer includes the Pittsburgh Center for Disability Justice logo, as well as a photo of Amber. She has short hair and wears a wrap sweater and an array of jewelry, while smiling confidently.]

05/14/2026

The City of Pittsburgh’s Office of Equal Protection is hiring an ADA & Disability Resources Coordinator!
This role is a great opportunity for someone committed to disability justice and equitable access to public services. The coordinator will:
• Support community members through accommodation requests and grievances
• Serve as liaison between City departments and residents
• Coordinate the implementation of the City’s ADA compliance efforts
• Serve as a resource on disability inclusion and policy
If you’re passionate about making Pittsburgh more accessible, learn more and apply below:

The Office of Equal Protection (OEP) is an enforcement and compliance office that seeks accountability in workers’ rights, civil rights, and public safety. The ADA & Disability Resources Coordinator works as part of the OEP team to advance its mission, including by: managing disability accommodati...

05/11/2026

ICYMI! Join us tomorrow, May 12, at noon for Access at Risk: Navigating Care After Medicaid Cuts, a discussion with the Pennsylvania Health Law Project (PHLP).
PHLP experts will break down changes to Medicaid, what to expect, and your rights if care is reduced or denied.

Register now: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/access-at-risk-navigating-care-after-medicaid-cuts-a-discussion-with-phlp-tickets-1985174562556?aff=oddtdtcreator

[Image Description: Blue-and-white background with text "Access at Risk: Navigating Care After Medicaid Cuts, a Discussion with Pennsylvania Health Law Project. Tuesday, May 12, from 12–1 PM EST." Two speakers are pictured: Amy E. Lowenstein, Director of Policy and Supervisor Attorney, and Erin Guay, Co Executive Director. Logos for Access to Health Care for People with Disabilities and FISA Foundation appear at the bottom, noting this is part of the “Breaking Barriers” webinar series.]

05/10/2026

This Mother’s Day, we’re grateful for our grantee partners who uplift, support, and help all mothers thrive with dignity and safety.

FISA remains committed to advancing opportunity for all women, girls, and people with disabilities. We center and affirm the experiences of women with intersecting identities—including women of color, disabled women, and immigrant and refugee women.

[image description: Three pictures of mothers with their children. Text "Happy Mother's Day" with the FISA logo]

05/05/2026

Join our grantee partner, Healthy Start, Inc. Pittsburgh/Allegheny County, on May 28th for its free, in-person education symposium: Maternal and Child Health Across the Life Course: How Stories Become Care, Practice, and Policy.

This event is perfect for healthcare providers, public health professionals, researchers, advocates, and community leaders interested in understanding how lived experiences influence maternal, infant, and child health. Sessions cover topics such as Black women's reproductive health, infrastructure for teen mothers, and postpartum trauma.

Learn more about this event and register below:

Registration is open for our 20th Annual Education Symposium.
Join healthcare providers, public health professionals, researchers, advocates, and community leaders for a day of learning and connection exploring how lived experience shapes maternal, infant, and child health across generations.

We’ll look at how stories of families, communities, and care can inform practice, influence policy, and push toward systems where every family can thrive.

We’re also honored to welcome Dr. Russell J. Ledet, MD, PhD, MBA, physician-scientist and co-founder of The 15 White Coats. From service in the U.S. Navy to advancing medicine, mental health, and equity, he brings a perspective grounded in both lived experience and science.
If your work touches maternal and child health, we invite you to join us.
Register:
bit.ly/hsisymposium2026

04/30/2026

Health care goes beyond the exam room.

In FISA’s recent Breaking Barriers webinar, Dr. Josie Badger spoke with Dr. Amy Houtrow about how health care providers can better support people with disabilities by taking a more holistic approach to care—addressing needs like food insecurity and housing instability alongside clinical interventions.

Catch the highlights from Beyond the Exam Room webinar here: https://fisafoundation.org/beyond-the-exam-room-a-dialogue-with-dr-amy-houtrow-webinar-recap/

On March 31, 2026, FISA hosted the Breaking Barriers webinar, Beyond the Exam Room, featuring Dr. Amy Houtrow in conversation with Dr. Josie Badger. Dr. Houtrow, a pediatric rehabilitation physician with lived experience as a person with disabilities, reflected on how health is shaped by far more th...

04/28/2026

Join FISA's grantee partner, Gwen's Girls, for the She Matters webinar on Reimagining Juvenile Justice in Pennsylvania: Policy, Advocacy, and Action!

April 30, 2026 at 2:00 PM

This conversation will highlight efforts to create a more just and equitable juvenile justice system in Pennsylvania. Learn more about Gwen's Girls and the Black Girls Equity Alliance (BGEA) and their efforts to create real change in policies affecting Black girls at https://gwensgirls.org/bgea/ and register for the webinar below:

Join us for Reimagining Juvenile Justice in Pennsylvania: Policy, Advocacy, and Action, a timely conversation of efforts to transform our state's juvenile justice system.

Hear directly from advocates working on the front lines of reform as they share insights on current legislation, the challenges facing youth, and the strategies driving change.

This webinar will also highlight concrete ways you can get involved and support a more just and equitable system for young people both in Allegheny County and across Pennsylvania.

Register here: https://gwensgirls-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/hkAiW_NTRHqRqQ5VlKTddg #/registration