Posted 5/29/2026
Erie Zoo
Kori and Bonnie from East Gait had a glowing good time at Erie Zoo during Glow Wild Nights. The lights, animals, and nighttime fun made for a memorable evening together.
Yasar
Yasar began his career at Merakey Allegheny Valley School as a Direct Support Professional. He worked at Main Campus for one year and then worked at two different group homes over the next ten years. During this time, he developed a love for the guys that he cared for. Then in 2017, Yasar accepted a Motor Development Specialist position in the Physical Therapy department. As an MDS, his positive attitude and willingness to help proved invaluable to the Residential Department at Main Campus as well as our 11 group homes. For the last three years, Yasar has utilized his vast expertise in the position of Adaptive Equipment Specialist. “Yasar takes time to talk to the individuals and also makes sure to take their concerns about their wheelchairs into consideration,” states his supervisor.
“He’s a wonderful asset to our team!”
Memorial Day Picnic
The Merakey AVS Waiver Program celebrated Memorial Day with a fun picnic hosted by Beth Scarsellone, Melissa Ruby, and the Sunset crew. Along with great food and activities, everyone also celebrated John from Sunset’s birthday, making the day even more special.
Two Proms
Individuals enjoyed getting dressed up and attending two wonderful proms in Western Pennsylvania — God's Choice Prom and Discovery Prom. Everyone had a fantastic time dancing, celebrating, and making special memories with friends.
Phipps Conservatory
The ladies from Coleman recently enjoyed a magical visit to Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens for the enchanting Alice in Wonderland themed exhibit. Everyone marveled at the beautiful displays and whimsical atmosphere.
Sensory Garden
Some clients took advantage of the beautiful weather and spent the day outdoors in the sensory garden at Patricia Hillman Miller Campus.
Join us June 7–13 for IDD Miles for Wellness! This fun fitness event is a great opportunity to participate in your favorite physical activities and track your movement as we work together to see how far we can go as a group.
May Days in Dubois
The individuals in Merakey’s Home and Community Services Program in Dubois, Pa had a busy month of May.
On May 5, individuals participated in the Special Olympics Track and Field Day held at Dubois Area High School. The athletes did a phenomenal job representing Merakey by participating in events that showcased their skills in running, jumping, and throwing.
On May 20, members of the Merakey Consumer Advisory Group attended an Altoona Curve minor league baseball game. The group had a great time sitting in the sun, eating ballpark food, and enjoying a baseball game. Special thanks to the Merakey Foundation for making the Curve game possible through a foundation grant that was awarded to this group.
Merakey AVS was recently featured in a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article announcing The Henry L. Hillman Foundation's $4.5 million "Powered & Prepared Initiative," which seeks proposals from other non-profits and organizations for back-up power solutions. As a reminder, AVS has received funding to cover 5 generators for the Pittsburgh Campus which should be installed in about a year. We appreciate The Hillman Foundation for asking us to be a part of the story as they announced their initiative. Way to go team!
