Highmark Walk – Week 10 Update

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We are just a little over 1 month away from the Highmark Walk event on Saturday, May 18th! Currently we are just under $3,000! Will you help us make it to our goal of $5,000?

Currently, we have:

  • 7 teams
  • 41 walkers (82% towards our goal!)
  • $2,782 raised (55% towards our goal!)

We are really looking forward to all the fun that this year brings, but we can’t do it without you!
Would you consider walking with us?

  1. Register as a walker, virtually or in person
  2. Join us, on Saturday, May 18th at the Altoona Curve Stadium
  3. Find sponsors, raise money, and donate!

Click here to register and/or donate today!

Don’t forget, our AUCP Painting Party – Chalk Couture is coming up on Friday, May 3rd. We’d love for you to join us!

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Highmark Walk – Week 9 Update

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Only 40 days left until the Highmark Walk 2019 on May 19th, 2019 at the Altoona Curve Stadium. Our goal is to raise $5,000 and have 50 walkers to walk with us, both virtually and in person. Currently, we have:

  • 7 teams
  • 34 walkers (68% towards our goal!)
  • $2342 raised (46% towards our goal!)

We are really looking forward to all the fun that this year brings, but we can’t do it without you!
Would you consider walking with us on the path to independence?

  1. Register as a walker, virtually or in person
  2. Join us, on Saturday, May 18th at the Altoona Curve Stadium
  3. Find sponsors, raise money, and donate!

Click here to register and/or donate today!

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Highmark Walk – Week 8 Update

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We just finished out the 7th week campaigning for the Highmark Walk 2019! Our goal is to raise $5,000 and have 50 walkers to walk with us, both virtually and in person. With 47 days left to go, we have:

  • 7 teams
  • 32 walkers
  • $1,192 raised

We are really looking forward to all the fun that this year brings, but we can’t do it without you!
Would you consider walking with us on the path to independence?

  1. Register as a walker, virtually or in person
  2. Join us, on Saturday, May 18th at the Altoona Curve Stadium
  3. Find sponsors, raise money and donate!

Click here to register and/or donate today!

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World Autism Day – April 2

The twelfth annual World Autism Awareness Day is April 2, 2019. Joined by the international community, hundreds of thousands of landmarks, buildings, homes, and communities around the world, display blue lights in recognition of people living with autism. Autism-friendly events and educational activities take place all month to increase understanding and acceptance and foster worldwide support. Go to www.autismspeaks.org to see how you can get involved!

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April Staff Highlight – Jennifer Hauser

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For our April Staff Highlight, we would like to introduce you to Jennifer Hauser, a Service Coordinator covering our UMPC Community HealthChoices (CHC) participants in the Somerset County area. Jen is from Hollsopple, PA and attended Clarion University for Rehabilitative Services with a concentration in Gerontology.

Each day, Jen goes home to her three children; Savannah (8 years old) her “emotional perfectionist,” Nevada (6 years old) her “ornery instigator,” and Harrison (3 years old) her “little curious adventurer,” and her loving husband, Josh. During her free time, Jen enjoys playing sports, sitting down with a good book, and playing the piano. Her most important goal in life is to raise good, loving, and successful children who love God.

Jen has been a Service Coordinator at AUCP for a little over three years. She says if she did not work here she would like to be a nurse. Jen enjoys working with her team of coworkers stating that each of them has the other’s best interest at heart. The most challenging part of her position is prioritizing the participants’ needs when they are in vulnerable positions.

Jen is a blessing to AUCP; she is known for her compassion and diligence by her participants. Her colleagues boast of her impressive memory and helpfulness. Jen, we are thankful to have you as part of our AUCP team!

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SSI BENEFITS BILL PROPOSAL

U.S. Rep. John Katko announced a bill proposal that would protect Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
Currently, if two people who receive SSI benefits marry, they would receive 25 percent less than they would if they lived together but didn’t marry according to a 2003 issue paper published by the Social Security Administration.

“People with intellectual and developmental disabilities should not have to choose between marriage and their disability benefits,” Katko said.

Katko’s bill, which is co-sponsored by Democratic U.S. Rep. Bill Keating, would ensure SSI benefits aren’t affected by marital status. To calculate SSI benefits for an individual with developmental or intellectual disabilities, only their income and other financial information will be reviewed. Their spouse’s earnings won’t be a factor.

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TAX TIPS FOR THE LEGALLY DISABLED

With Tax Day (April 15th) right around the corner, TurboTax shares a few tips on what to expect if you are considered to be legally disabled.

The federal tax code includes a number of provisions that can ease the tax burden on people living with a disability. Some disability payments and benefits are free of income tax, while deductions and credits can reduce the taxes you do owe. These tax breaks aren’t always obvious, though.

Here are some common situations:

  • Employer-paid disability benefits: If you receive disability income from an employer, that money is usually taxable.
  • Disability insurance payments: If you receive benefits from a disability insurance policy, your tax liability depends on who paid the premiums for the policy. If your employer paid the premiums, then the benefits are taxable. If you paid the premiums using after-tax money, your benefits are not taxable.
  • Social Security disability: Social Security disability (SSD) benefits may or may not be taxable depending on how much other income you may have. In general, if SSD is your only source of income, your benefits aren’t taxable.

For more information, tips and resources, go to https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/disability/

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Highmark Walk – Week 7 Update

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We just finished out the 7th week campaigning for the Highmark Walk 2019! Our goal is to raise $5,000 and have 50 walkers to walk with us, both virtually and in person. With 7 weeks left to go, we have:

  • 7 teams
  • 32 walkers
  • $1,182 raised

We are really looking forward to all the fun that this year brings, but we can’t do it without you!
Would you consider walking with us on the path to independence?

  1. Register as a walker, virtually or in person
  2. Join us, on Saturday, May 18th at the Altoona Curve Stadium
  3. Find sponsors, raise money and donate!

Click here to register and/or donate today!

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Highmark Walk – Week 6 Update

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We just finished out the 6th week campaigning for the Highmark Walk 2019! Our goal is to raise $5,000 and have 50 walkers to walk with us, both virtually and in person. With 8 weeks left to go, we have:

  • 7 teams
  • 30 walkers
  • $657 raised

We are really looking forward to all the fun that this year brings, but we can’t do it without you!
Would you consider walking with us on the path to independence?

  1. Register as a walker, virtually or in person
  2. Join us, on Saturday, May 18th at the Altoona Curve Stadium
  3. Find sponsors, raise money and donate!

Click here to register and/or donate today!

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Highmark Walk – Week 5 Update

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We just finished out the 5th week campaigning for the Highmark Walk 2019! Our goal is to raise $5,000 and have 50 walkers to walk with us, both virtually and in person. With 9 weeks left to go, we have:

  • 7 teams
  • 27 walkers
  • $192 raised

We are really looking forward to all the fun that this year brings, but we can’t do it without you!
Would you consider walking with us on the path to independence?

  1. Register as a walker, virtually or in person
  2. Join us, on Saturday, May 18th at the Altoona Curve Stadium
  3. Find sponsors, raise money and donate!

Click here to register and/or donate today!

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