Washington, DC - TASH, the leader in advancing inclusion and human rights for people with significant disabilities, announces the availability of scholarships to help self-advocates, parents, and families from the Pittsburgh area attend disability rights conferences that are being held in Pittsburgh this November.

Attendance at disability rights conferences opens the door to learning opportunities about rights and resources and connects parents and families to youth and adults with disabilities who are leading full and productive lives. These conferences facilitate a positive outlook on disability and encourage higher hopes and expectations for the capabilities of people with disabilities. But, with an economy that has tightened the pockets of many, participation at disability rights conferences across the US has declined significantly. Many self-advocates and families simply do not have the means to cover the costs of conference attendance.

TASH has launched several initiatives and scholarship opportunities to ensure that all Pittsburgh self-advocates and families have access to disability rights conferences taking place right in their backyard.

TASH's People of Color Initiative, which has already supported over 250 individuals and families of color at four other disability rights conferences, is proud to offer forty scholarships to local self-advocates and/or their families of color to attend The Arc of the United States Conference, taking place November 11-14, 2009, and the TASH conference, which takes place November 18-21, 2009. The People of Color Initiative, sponsored by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, is one of the first nationwide efforts to focus on increasing the representation and leadership of people of color in national disability rights organizations.

In partnership with the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), TASH has scholarships available for Pennsylvania parents with children age birth - 5 who receive early intervention services. These scholarships cover full conference registration at the 2009 TASH Conference and a one-year membership with TASH.

The FISA Foundation of Pittsburgh has generously donated funds to provide scholarships to the 2009 TASH Conference and a one-year membership with TASH for families and self-advocates within a 100-mile radius of Pittsburgh.