Advocacy & Public Policy

UCP/CLASS has consistently taken an active role in shaping public policy related to people with disabilities, nonprofit organizations, direct care workers, and vulnerable populations. Our organization, with others, was in the forefront of successful efforts to create the Pennsylvania Attendant Care Program, the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County visitability ordinances, and the Governor's Cabinet and Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities.

UCP/CLASS stakeholders participate actively on Federal, State, and Local efforts to maintain and create public policies which support our mission to work toward "A Community Where Each Belongs." Among these efforts are the Disability Policy Collaboration, Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council, Governor's Advisory Committee on Disability, Community Living Advisory Committee, the Port Authority Transit Committee for Accessible Transportation, the Southwest Pennsylvania Partnership on Aging, the City of Pittsburgh-Allegheny County Task Force on Disabilities, the Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania,  the Pennsylvania Provider Coalition, and numerous advisory committees for nonprofit and government efforts.

We encourage all our stakeholders-Board members, staff and volunteers, participants and their families, and our friends and colleagues in the wider community-to use these Advocacy and Public Policy pages to assist you in your efforts to:

• Actively and effectively participate in the electoral process;
• Attend and provide testimony at public hearings and forums;
• Contact your legislators;
• Keep informed about Federal, State, and local issues of particular interest to the community of people with disabilities;
• Identify opportunities to shape public policy and advocate for funding, activities, programs, and services that will improve our communities.

Additional Links:

• Obama Administration Disability Agenda
• Participating in a Public Hearing or Other Forum for Citizen Input
• 10 Tips for Local Advocacy
• "Talk Radio" and Advocacy
• Other Advocacy and Public Policy Resources
• UCP/CLASS Publications for Advocates
• UCP/CLASS Public Policy Committee

For more information about Advocacy and Public Policy or to make a referral, please contact the Director of Public Policy at (412) 683-7100, 1-888-954-2424, and info@ucpclass.org.