Pennsylvania Advocacy and Resources for Autism and Intellectual Disability

What Pennsylvania Advocacy and Resources for Autism and Intellectual Disability does

PAR is a 501(c)(6) statewide trade association representing intellectual disability and autism (ID/A) service providers in Pennsylvania. It is the largest and most active association of ID/A providers in the Commonwealth and the only one with this exclusive focus; its members operate nearly 9,000 service locations, employ over 50,000 Pennsylvanians, and deliver roughly $2 billion in community services and supports to individuals with autism or intellectual disability.

PAR operates as a membership-based association with three dues-paying tiers (Provider, Associate, and Public Entity/Ancillary Service Partner). Core products include the membership program itself, the PARedu training and education platform (delivering Frontline Supervisor Training, Ongoing Training Techniques, and clinical office hours with partners such as NextGen Synergy), the Institute for Leadership Excellence, two annual conferences (Solutions and Policy), specialty committees (Autism, Employment First, Housing, Residential Continuum, ICF/ID), and advocacy infrastructure including a Political Action Committee and grassroots communications committee. Distribution runs through the par.net member portal built on the MemberClicks platform, supplemented by Provider, Associate, and Job Board directories.

PAR generates revenue via recurring membership dues and professional services revenue from training and events; specific pricing is not publicly disclosed. The organization was originally incorporated in 1970 as a 501(c)(3); the current 501(c)(6) trade association was incorporated in 2019, and in 2024 the original 501(c)(3) rebranded to PAR ID/A Foundation, structurally separating charitable activity from trade-association activity. Headquarters are at 3333 North Front Street, Harrisburg, PA.

Name

Pennsylvania Advocacy and Resources for Autism and Intellectual Disability

Legal name

Pennsylvania Advocacy and Resources for Autism and Intellectual Disability

Website

https://par.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Pennsylvania Advocacy and Resources for Autism and Intellectual Disability (PAR) is a 501(c)(6) statewide trade association representing intellectual disability and autism service providers in Pennsylvania, supporting 50,000+ workers and ~9,000 service locations through advocacy, training (PARedu), and member resources.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Services Trade Association

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Business Associations (81391), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAFAF

Disability Rights & Accessibility Advocacy

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Civil Rights, Advocacy & Public Policy Organizations

SECONDARYBPAGADAH

Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

Keywords

• Intellectual disability services
• Autism advocacy
• Trade association services
• Professional training programs
• Disability provider advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Lemoyne

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: PAR generates revenue through membership fees from Provider Members, Associate Members, and Public Entity/Ancillary Service Partners. The 501(c)(6) organization structure indicates trade association membership model.
2. Training and Education Programs: PARedu provides ongoing training programs including Frontline Supervisor Training, Ongoing Training Techniques, and professional development courses for member staff.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

PAR is a statewide nonprofit trade association that represents provider organizations serving Pennsylvanians with autism or intellectual disability. It sells tiered memberships (Provider, Associate, and Public Entity/Ancillary Service Partner), professional training through its PARedu platform, annual Solutions and Policy Conferences, and facilitation of specialized committees and workgroups. Its deliverables are collective advocacy, training/education, networking, and member resources for ID/A provider organizations.

Product overview

PAR is a statewide not-for-profit association representing intellectual disability and autism (ID/A) service providers in Pennsylvania. The organization operates as a membership-based association offering a portfolio of services including membership programs (Provider, Associate, and Public Entity tiers), professional education through PARedu, annual conferences (Solutions Conference and Policy Conference), and facilitation of specialized committees and workgroups addressing various ID/A service sector issues. PAR serves as the largest and most active association of ID/A service providers in Pennsylvania, with members providing nearly $2 billion of community services across nearly 9,000 locations and employing over 50,000 Pennsylvanians.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Provider Membership Tiered membership for organizations that directly provide ID/A services in Pennsylvania, including residential, employment, day programs, and community supports. Delivers state-level advocacy, training access, networking, and regulatory resources to the organization's executive leadership and staff.
• Associate Membership

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ANCOR (American Network of Community Options and Self-Direction)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPAR is affiliated with ANCOR, a national organization representing community providers. PAR promotes ANCOR resources and initiatives to its membership and participates in collaborative advocacy efforts at the federal level.
• ASPA (Alabama State Providers Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerASPA is a state provider association similar to PAR. PAR partners with ASPA for shared training initiatives such as NextGen Synergy Clinical Office Hours.
• TNCO (Tennessee Coalition for Odysseys)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTNCO is a state provider association. PAR partners with TNCO for shared training initiatives such as NextGen Synergy Clinical Office Hours.
• NextGen SynergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNextGen Synergy is a nonprofit focused on expanding services for individuals with IDD and co-occurring mental health conditions. They collaborate with PAR on clinical office hours and training programs through the NGS Synergy Pass initiative.
• Fractional Care SolutionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFractional Care Solutions partners with PAR to deliver training content on workforce metrics and DSP stability through PARedu programs.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• SourceAmerica: National nonprofit creating employment opportunities for people with disabilities, including through AbilityOne. Comparable 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy model touching the ID/DD workforce — adjacent to PAR's Employment First Committee and DSP workforce initiatives.
• The Arc of the United States: National advocacy and membership organization for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with a strong state-chapter network. Adjacent to PAR in mission (ID/A advocacy) but represents individuals/families rather than providers.
• AAIDD (American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities): Professional association advancing research, policy, and practice on intellectual and developmental disabilities. Comparable nonprofit membership/advocacy model, though academic/professional rather than provider-focused.
• ANCOR (American Network of Community Options and Self-Direct): National trade association for community providers serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Direct strategic partner of PAR; operates as the federal-level counterpart to state associations like PAR.

Others

• NASDDDS (National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services): Membership association of state agency directors overseeing ID/DD services. PAR interacts with NASDDDS members (PA ODP) and shares overlapping policy and systems-change interests in HCBS funding and oversight.

Emerging players

• National Association of Direct Support Professionals (NADSP): National credentialing and advocacy organization specifically for Direct Support Professionals — the same workforce population PAR's members depend on. Operates a complementary training/credentialing mission to PARedu.

Regional players

• CalABLE / California State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD) network: California's state developmental disability advocacy and policy infrastructure. Comparable state-level advocacy and systems-change function to PAR, though structured differently (state council vs. private 501(c)(6)).

Direct peers

• New York Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation: Statewide association of I/DD provider agencies in New York. Closest functional analog to PAR in a neighboring state — same member-driven trade association model serving I/DD providers.
• Ohio Provider Resource Association (OPRA): Ohio statewide association of providers serving people with developmental disabilities. Operates the same trade-association model (advocacy, training, member services) as PAR in an adjacent Mid-Atlantic/Midwest geography.
• Alabama State Providers Association (ASPA): Statewide ID/DD provider association in Alabama. Direct peer organization with the same mission, governance model, and training partnerships (NextGen Synergy) as PAR.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PARdotnet
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC8WzxLTu9mSh5Ss5crdMZ8g
• Facebookfacebook.com/PARdotnet
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/par---pennsylvania-advocacy-and-resources-for-autism-and-intellectual-disability

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pennsylvania Advocacy and Resources for Autism and Intellectual Disability