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OUR VISION

The Lehigh Valley is a disability-friendly community which is inclusive, accessible and welcoming.

 

OUR BACKGROUND

In 2008, Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network underwrote the expenses to conduct an intensive survey of the unmet needs of people with disabilities in Lehigh and Northampton counties as well as current research of best practices other communities employ to address similar unmet needs. Twelve cluster areas of need were identified. These were:

  • Information and referral
  • Health and healthcare
  • Employment
  • Transportation
  • Housing
  • Perceptions and attitudes
  • Opportunities and discrimination
  • Education
  • Community participation
  • Technology and assistive devices
  • Emergency preparedness
  • Needs of caregivers

Two well attended community forums, one in November 2008 to encourage input into the research process and survey instrument, and a second in December 2009 to announce the findings from the research. A 139-page report entitled “The Lehigh Valley Disability Community: A Survey of Needs and Opportunities” is available from the Lehigh Valley Research Consortium (LVRC), the group that conducted the research.

 

OUR GOALS

  • To make a measureable difference in the disability-friendliness of the Lehigh Valley.
  • To raise the level of awareness about the unmet needs of persons with disabilities in the Lehigh Valley by promoting and making the findings from the LVRC research study easily available to everyone.
  • To advocate for equal access to life activities for all people without regard to ability.
  • To influence public policy and programs through advocacy and relationships with public officials.
  • To seek, encourage and endorse funding for priority projects.
  • To continually publicize the existence and work of the Partnership both internally (with members) and externally (with the general public) via written and electronic means such as brochures, newsletters, Facebook, and a website.