One of the problems in trying to obtain services for disabled adults is, as with a lot of things, there just doesn't appear to be enough money to go around.

"It keeps getting better, but what's also happening is costs are going up faster than budgets," according to Steven Eidelman, co-director of the National Leadership Collaboration on Developmental Delays. He noted that the Pennsylvania budget makes allowance for increases in such services.

"There are enormous resources to do good things, and Pennsylvania in general is a state that does good things, or tries to.

"That being said, the system for kids who need special education is an entitlement, the system for adults is not."

Pennsylvania remains one of six states without an adult protective services system, according to a document from the Pennsylvania organization of ARC of the United States, the country's "largest community-based organization of and for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities."

Studies show that special needs students who progress through school and special programs until the age of 22 -- when funding generally dwindles -- can, after ensuing years of relative inactivity, suffer a regression of skills, both cognitive and social.

A national waiting list exists for those in need of services. In Pennsylvania alone, 21,225 disabled adults are on the list.

"The waiting list has been for the last 10 years and continues to be the No. 1 issue facing families of children and adults with disabilities," said Nancy Murray, president of ARC of Greater Pittsburgh.

Western Pennsylvania doesn't lack for programs -- some are funded federally through Medicaid and others are funded through local government or private donations. Achieva, formerly ARC Allegheny County, has provided more than 7,000 adults and children and their families with comprehensive services and supports this year.

Other smaller groups, such as Mt. Lebanon's Lauren's Work and Best Buddies International, which lists a number of local high schools and colleges as having branches, focus on activities for disabled adults.

Sue Shingle formed Lauren's Work a couple of years ago because as her daughter Lauren, now 20, began to approach the end of services and education, Ms. Shingle saw the need for disabled adults to stay actively involved.

"The waiting list is beginning to play its part in legislators recognizing the need for services," Ms. Shingle said.

National figures indicate that more than 4.5 million people living in the United States have intellectual or developmental delays.

The nonprofit group called The Celebration of Life has the ambitious dream of providing social events as well as work opportunities for disabled adults.

"This is a very difficult environment to get started in right now, and in the next year, there are going to be huge changes facing providers of these types of services in Pennsylvania," Mrs. Murray said.

Tina Rusiski, who co-founded The Celebration of Life, said faith is behind its mission: "I believe it's being led by a higher power. God's hand is in it."