On November 17, 1997, a group of 70 parents and professionals met at Overbrook School for the Blind in order to create Pennsylvania's Approach to the National Agenda (PANA) which was designed to build upon the National Agenda for Children and Youths with Visual Impairments, Including those with Multiple Disabilities.

The Co-Chairs and founders of PANA were Cynthia Jackson-Glenn and Dr. Diane Wormsley. The all day workshop opened a dialogue about the issues and concerns related to education of children and youths in Pennsylvania and established a direction for the committee. Since then, PANA has been chaired by Sandy Finkel, Lynn Murphy, and now Rebecca Renshaw. Today there are 20 PANA committee members representing various backgrounds and expertise. Recently PANA was asked to serve as an advisory committee to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, specifically to John J. Tommasini, Director of the Bureau of Special Education.