Founded: 1951

ACHIEVA – An outstanding organization that Stands Out

ACHIEVA, formerly Arc Allegheny, was founded in 1951 by parents who wanted their children with intellectual disabilities to have access to the programs and educational opportunities available to other children. Since that time, ACHIEVA has grown to become the leading agency in Western Pennsylvania providing a lifetime of supports and services to children and adults with disabilities and their families.

ACHIEVA has historically been a leader in creating innovative supports and services for people with disabilities. This includes being the lead agency in fighting for the creation of Special Education in the United States, as well as driving the creation of community living options. These accomplishments helped provide families with options for the care and education of their loved ones --options which had previously not been available to them.

In 2005 ACHIEVA was awarded a three-year Accreditation with Distinction by The Council on Quality and Leadership for People with Disabilities (The Council). The Council has awarded accreditation to only 200 agencies worldwide, and only 15% of those receive a three-year accreditation with distinction, the highest honor The Council bestows. The accreditation process is based on outcomes measurements, and evaluates services, supports, and overall organizational management.

ACHIEVA’s programs have been replicated nationally and internationally.

Our current programs include:

• Early Intervention – ages 0 to 3
• Preschool Readiness
• Educational Advocacy
• Youth Transition Program
• Vocational Training and Placement
• Camp Programs and Leisure Activities
• Residential Homes
• In-Home and Out-of-Home Care (Respite)
• Senior Citizens Support and Services
• Special Needs Trusts
• Advocacy and Public Awareness
• Lifetime Family Support


ACHIEVA has been ahead of the nonprofit “entrepreneurial curve” by creating programs that provide people with disabilities with vocational training while also meeting the needs of area businesses. ACHIEVA offers mailing services, light assembly and pallet-building, cleaning and janitorial services, and landscaping services. ACHIEVA also works with many different companies in the region to provide employment to individuals with disabilities. All of these programs work to build the job skills of people with developmental disabilities while partnering with businesses both large and small.

ACHIEVA has an average staff retention rate of seven years in the Residential program, which is five times the average for the field. The organization’s overhead ratio is half the industry average. ACHIEVA prides itself in quality and efficiency.

ACHIEVA has also worked diligently to partner with other organizations, having recently merged with the Arc of Beaver, Pennsylvania Guardianship Services, and Community Endeavors. These consolidations have provided much needed support to smaller agencies serving a similar population. It has also allowed ACHIEVA to offer its variety of programs to a larger constituency.

ACHIEVA has been honored for its work. ACHIEVA executives and volunteers were asked to be present at the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the agency has received proclamations from the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. ACHIEVA was named a finalist for the Wishart Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management, awarded by the Forbes Fund, and was recently held up by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette as an example of a well-run nonprofit organization that should be modeled by others. ACHIEVA has also been featured in a variety of other regional newspaper stories, television and radio segments.

This year ACHIEVA will serve approximately 7,000 individuals with disabilities and their families. The organization has grown by 56% in the past five years due to its consistency of high quality, innovative programs, sound fiscal management and strong volunteer and community support. ACHIEVA continues to strive to reach its vision of full inclusion for people with disabilities.

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