Western Pennsylvania Disability History and Action Consortium

Honoring the historic struggle of Western Pennsylvanians with disabilities to attain human and civil rights.

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Using Disability History to Ensure Disability Rights

ADA30 Red and blue ADA30 logo featuring symbols representing people with disabilities. ChazKellem Chaz Kellem, a black man using a wheelchair, wears a blue button down and black dress pants. He is behind a podium holding a microphone to his mouth and pointing out at the audience. PPS A black and white photo of children playing on a basketball court at Bedford School in nineteen fifty seven. Two children are seated in wheelchairs. Several are using crutches. Men-chairs Old black and white photo of men who are blind caning chairs at a long table.

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Featured Project: Voices of Change

The Life of Joe Benedum Trees (1931-2011)

Voices of Change, Uncovering Stories of the Western Pennsylvania Disability Movement
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Joe Benedum Trees, born in Pittsburgh in 1931, was diagnosed with intellectual disability and autism. His childhood took place in a day and age when very few disability services were available. Joe’s parents – Edith Lahm and Joseph Clifton Trees – had the financial means to provide their son’s support needs throughout his lifetime. After their passing, Joe lived with caregivers at Treesdale Manor, until his death in 2011 at the age of 79.

This interview tells the story of Joe’s life through the eyes of three dedicated caregivers at Treesdale Manor, the family’s estate in the North Hills of Allegheny County — Jesse Meckler, custodian; Dick O’Rourke, superintendent; and Barbara Soltis, nurse. Today, the trust fund set up for Joe’s life-long care provides financial support to numerous Western Pennsylvania organizations that serve people with disabilities.

Download the transcript of The Life of Joe Benedum Trees video.

View other Voices of Change videos.

Preserve and Share

The Western Pennsylvania Disability History and Action Consortium preserves and shares the historic struggle of Western Pennsylvanians with disabilities to attain human and civil rights.

Educate

We educate the public about disability history in order to improve community access, participation and equal opportunity, and to ensure disability rights through existing and new policies and laws.

Advocate

We join stakeholders across Pennsylvania to advocate on policies that ensure the civil rights of people with disabilities.

Western Pennsylvania has played a significant role in the history of disability rights. From Arc Allegheny’s efforts in the 1970s to expose abusive conditions in state institutions to Allegheny County’s development of the first paratransit system in the nation in the 1980s, Western Pennsylvania has taken a stand.

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Western Pennsylvania Disability History and Action Consortium
412-204-7199 / [email protected]

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The Consortium is an affiliate of Senator John Heinz History Center that works in coordination with multiple disability organizations and advocates in Western PA. In cooperation with ACHIEVA and the Institute on Disabilities at Temple University.

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Using Disability History to Ensure Disability Rights