NEPA Inclusive rebrands as PA Inclusive
Jan. 29—PITTSTON — Frank Bartoli, president and CEO of NEPA Inclusive, the Pittston-based nonprofit organization that provides support services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and Autism, on Monday announced the organization's rebranding with the new name — PA Inclusive.
The organization is celebrating its 10th anniversary of providing services to individuals with IDD and their families.
"Our mission is to create and support sustainable lives for people with disabilities and to provide them with opportunities for independence," Bartoli said. "We have grown steadily over the last 10 years from our first office serving people in Luzerne County to now covering 14 counties in the eastern portion of the state. Our rebranding to PA Inclusive represents the presence we have outside of NEPA, with a vision to expand our brand in the future."
Founded in 2013, PA Inclusive is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that operates a series of services through the PA Office of Developmental Programs IDD waiver system and the PA Office of Vocational Rehabilitation employment services, in addition to rental assistance and SMART technology initiatives.
Bartoli said its unique person-centered approach to inclusion provides people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and Autism the most inclusive life, including working in local businesses, living in their own apartments, and being active and engaged in their communities.
In addition to expanding its geographic footprint over the last decade, PA Inclusive has added three nonprofit organizations to its umbrella of services.
—In 2022, PA Inclusive merged with Turn To Us Autism Resource Center and Sensory Gym in Carbon County. Turn To Us is a sensory gym for children with Autism. It provides advocacy for children and their families who are living with Autism by offering personalized assistance and connection to available resources in a compassionate and hopeful environment.
—In March 2023, the nonprofit organization opened Coffee Inclusive. This full-service coffee shop in Pittston employs people with diverse abilities working side by side with experienced baristas and servers to provide a warm and welcoming community coffee shop experience.
—Coffee Inclusive has been so successful that the organization recently announced the opening of Bake Inclusive, scheduled to open in March. Bake Inclusive will be a full-service bakery operating under the same model inclusive business model as Coffee Inclusive. Both businesses are located in the Waterfront Warehouse, 350 Kennedy Blvd., Pittston.
Coffee Inclusive executive director Joseph Stuppino said Bake Inclusive will feature a transitional employment program for high school students, training students with disabilities in a real-world food service environment.
"Bake Inclusive will contract with local schools for transitional employment services and a school-to-work program," Stuppino said.
Bartoli said the capital campaign — $150,000 in 150 Days — is currently underway to raise funds to support the purchase of equipment and construction to open Bake Inclusive in March. Donations can be made through the organization's website — painclusive.org.
PA Inclusive operates in Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Columbia, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Northumberland, Pike, Schuylkill and Wyoming counties.
Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
