Our Mission

The mission of Allegheny Valley School is to provide quality programs and facilities to help the individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities entrusted to our care to live with purpose and dignity, and to provide opportunities and choices for our clients to grow and function at their full potential as independently as possible.

Our History

Allegheny Valley School was founded in 1960 when the Pittsburgh Home for Babies was closing after decades of caring for orphans.  No one would adopt the last 10 babies because they were children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  Patricia Hillman Miller, with help from friends Bob Prince and Doug Hannah, founded Allegheny Valley School to provide care for these children.

 

The agency experienced immediate success and the stage was set for dramatic growth.  Since 1960, Allegheny Valley School has grown from a single site agency serving 10 children into a multi-faceted organization with programs and facilities serving more than 900 children, adults and senior citizens with severe/profound intellectual and developmental disabilities.  Most of our residents also have multiple physical disabilities, medical complications and some have behavioral management needs.

 

Allegheny Valley School currently operates more than 125 programs and facilities across Pennsylvania including 66 in Western Pennsylvania, 17 in Central Pennsylvania and 42 in Eastern Pennsylvania.  Allegheny Valley School provides services in Allegheny, Beaver, Bucks, Butler, Dauphin, Lebanon, Mercer , Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties.

To view the History of Development at Allegheny Valley School, click here.