About Us

Our Mission

Through education, advocacy and empowerment we seek total integration of all youth with disabilities into all aspects of life and their community.

Our Vision

Mission Empower envisions a community where all youth with disabilities use their gifts and talents as they are groomed for success to follow their dreams while changing their community for the better.

Background of Mission Empower

Mission Empower (formerly EAIY) was formed to address the dire need to integrate all youth with disabilities into their communities and society as a whole. Prior to the inception of EAIY, there were no other groups or agencies exclusively empowering, educating or advocating for families and youth with disabilities in Erie County; thus, advocates with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities rallied around this common vision to birth this organization. In December of 2007, EAIY was incorporated as a non-profit in Pennsylvania and received 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in June of 2008.  EAIY changed its name to Mission Empower in August of 2009.

Mission Empower strives through education, advocacy and empowerment to integrate the current generation of all youth with disabilities to be fully included, productive, participatory citizens of their community. EAIY has developed a three pronged approach for promoting inclusion through education advocacy, youth leadership/mentoring, and community education programs.

Jill Hrinda-PattenAbout Our President and Founder

Jill Hrinda-Patten, the President of Mission Empower, is an individual with significant disabilities. In 1991, Jill received her BA degree in psychology from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. Jill has had more than ten years of experience in the Independent Living Movement and in educational advocacy. Her passion is to integrate future generations of youth with disabilities into all aspects of society.

Jill is a member of the Gaskin Settlement Advisory Panel for Least Restrictive Environment. This panel advises the Pennsylvania Department of Education to provide the inclusion of students with disabilities in the public school system.