Vision for eQuality

About Vision for EQuality
OUR HISTORY- It started with a dream ...
Two ladies with daughters with significant disabilities and a burning desire to bring about change in the Intellectual Disabilities System.

1996	Vision For EQuality is created when the City of Philadelphia awarded a contract to fulfill a provision in the Embreeville Settlement Agreement. Vision agrees to provide monitoring services utilizing Consumer and Family Satisfaction Teams for people who had left the Embreeville State Center and moved into the community. Vision is also funded to provide Advocacy services to the people of Philadelphia. Vision is one of the first agencies in the country to develop projects that have families and self-advocates directly monitoring services. The Pew Foundation awards Vision a grant through 1999 to train and support peer counselors who would help families to address issues stemming from the changeover to the Health Choices System created under Medicaid.

1997	The Fialkowski Humanitarian Award is established as a posthumous tribute to Leona and Marion Fialkowski, for their steadfast ommitment to revolutionizing the rights of people with Intellectual Disabilities.

1998	Pennsylvania Waiting List Campaign The statewide campaign almost single handedly forges the efforts to end the infamous waiting list for services for people with Intellectual Disabilities in the state. The PA Waiting List Campaign is funded by PA Protection and Advocacy and private donations. VFE receives a grant from the Philadelphia AIDS Activities Coordinating Office to provide the only HIV/AIDS Prevention training for people with developmental disabilities in the Southeastern Region. October 16 - Philadelphia Alliance Community Service Annual Award presented by the Alliance

1999	Independent Monitoring for Quality (IM4Q) Like CFST, IM4Q looks at the quality of services from the customer's perspective throughout the State of Pennsylvania. Awarded a grant to conduct one of 13 pilot projects for independent monitoring of residential services. May 14 - Bruce Yoppi Award presented by Hall Mercer, CMH/MR SPIN Award - Exemplary Community Service Award

2000	Vision moves to a larger office opening doors to family groups and other organizations. May 21 - Community Services Award presented by COMHAR June - Family Advisory Committee and Support Group dedicates an award presented by Warren E. Smith

2001	The IM4Q program was expanded, combining the National Core Indicators, a national program with the Independent Monitoring Project. Reaching Out Award for Improved Child Health in Pennsylvania presented by Special Kids Network PA Waiting List rallies to support the Waiting List Litigation Sabree v Richmond

2003	PA Waiting List Campaign is awarded a grant to conduct training, Understanding the Intellectual Disabilities System in Pennsylvania throughout the state. October 1 - The Southeast Region honors Estelle B. Richman, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, and Kevin T. Casey, Deputy Secretary for Intellectual Disabilities

2004	A part of Vision's mission is to bring information as well as opportunity to people with disabilities and their families. May 11 - The PA Waiting List celebrates a victory with the Court of Appeals Decision on Sabree v. Richman May 19 - Current Leader Award presented at the Institute on Disabilities’ 30th Anniversary Celebration

2006	October 5 - Vision for EQuality celebrated its 10 years of service to the community.