Disabled, mentally ill can find help during Pittsburgh convention center event

Feb. 19--People with disabilities or mental health problems can access support organizations and attend informational seminars during a summit in March at Pittsburgh'sDavid L. Lawrence Convention Center.

Admission to the Disability and Mental Health Summit on March 3 is free. It runs from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and features more than 40 informational sessions on topics of interest and a resource fair with more than 230 service providers and advocacy and support groups.

"The main point is to help people with resources in designing their future," said state Rep. Dan Miller, D-Mt. Lebanon, who is hosting the event. "We want to increase opportunities across the board and find other ways too to decrease stigma. The focus is on employment and stigma."

This is the seventh year that Miller has hosted the summit. He chose the convention center this year in recognition of the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and because of increasing attendance.

About 500 people attended the first summit and the number increased to around 1,500 last year, he said. About 2,000 people have signed up for this year's summit, he said.

More than 20 local businesses, foundations and organizations donated $125,000 to fund the event.

Bob Bauder is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Bob at 412-564-3080, [email protected] or via Twitter .

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