A Message from our Director of Advocacy
Kim Booz
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The Arc of Chester County’s Advocacy program provides system advocacy, education advocacy, legislative advocacy, and parent training. During this ‘back to school’ time of year, I would like to highlight The Arc’s education advocacy team. Our education advocates provide services to help parents, guardians, and students develop a plan of action for obtaining a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) to ensure that students make meaningful progress on their educational goals. All children and students from ages five through 21 who are eligible can access The Arc of Chester County’s education advocacy services. It is back-to-school time when we truly recognize the importance of our education advocates. The beginning of the school year can be a fresh start for students to learn new skills and many start enthusiastically but run into complicated situations. Teachers are responsible for reading and implementing many Individual Education Plans (IEP). It is a hectic time and not everyone starts off successfully. The Arc’s experienced and qualified advocates listen to the concerns of families, review the current evaluation report, and the Individualized Education Program (IEP), making sure they contain the proper components, including extended school year, if appropriate, and they review timelines under Special Education laws. They also accompany families to team and IEP meetings to obtain support for the students. Arc advocates help families understand and navigate the education processes and system. They inform them of their rights and work together with the parent/guardian and the school district to effectively resolve issues, teaching them how to be their child’s best advocate. Arc advocates are people of integrity with educational backgrounds and/or personal experience. They are dedicated, compassionate and committed to helping families. We are grateful to have such a talented team of education advocates at The Arc of Chester County to provide this service. So, as you navigate through to a new school year, remember The Arc is just an email or a phone call away. Our team can be reached at 610.696.8090 Ext 234 or by email at [email protected]. Best of luck this academic year.
Warm regards,
Kim Booz
Director of Advocacy
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Arc Spotlight
A Lifechanging Partnership: Jake Spencer and Caron Lee
For the last six years, Caron Lee, a Direct Support Professional (DSP) at The Arc of Chester County, has been supporting Jake Spencer. Jake is not only part of a performance group, The State Street Miracles, he is also an extremely talented Pet Portrait Artist. Recently, Jake and Caron worked together to create a multi arts exhibition at the Media Theater Studio.
Click the photo below for their story.
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Celebrating Direct Support Professionals!
The Arc gratefully acknowledges all that DSPs do by celebrating Direct Support Professional Recognition Week September 10th – 16th. We take this wonderful opportunity to honor these outstanding and dedicated professionals. We recognize the important work they do and how grateful we are to have them. You will hear many stories of the wonderful things they do, the enormous lengths they go, the differences they make, and how much individuals with disabilities truly appreciate them. If you see or know a DSP, be sure to smile and throw a compliment their way, they are extraordinary people who do extraordinary work!
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The Fall Recreation Calendar |
September & October Recreation Calendar of Events
Click Here to view the schedule of activities
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Congratulations to our 2023 Preschool Graduates! |
This August, The Arc of Chester County graduated 13 students from its licensed, inclusive Preschool. The Arc has been revolutionizing early learning for over 60 years and is one of few inclusive preschool program where children with and without disabilities can learn side-by-side, excelling both academically and socially in Chester County.
Pictured: Joe, Charlotte, Paige and Suzanne O'Leary
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The Arc’s Preschool Program Is Now Enrolling! |
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🍽💻The Arc of Chester County is pleased to offer FREE Trainings.
Join us at the Fall 2023 Chat n Chew Speaker Series.
👏👏👏Direct Support Professional Recognition Week
September 10-16, 2023
THANK YOU! to Direct Support Professionals who selflessly
and tirelessly work to provide for individuals with disabilities.
We applaud YOU - this week and every week!
OCTOBER is Down Syndrome Awareness Month
Support the Annual CCDSIG Buddy Walk
Sunday, October 8, 2023
Click HERE to learn more!
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2024 BUBBLE WALK & FUN DAY
Sunday, May 19, 2024
West Goshen Park
More Details To Come
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Ways to Give
Donors have many options when it comes to making gifts. The method of giving depends on both your financial situation and your philanthropic goals. The Arc of Chester County accepts:
Outright Gifts – are gifts of cash, check, credit card, or from donor-advised funds (DAF) and/or pledges that are paid over a fixed number of years.
Appreciated Securities - in the form of stocks, bonds, securities, annuities, or other tangible property such as real estate, artwork, vehicles, etc. provide immediate support.
Bequests – in writing a will or living trust, where you specify The Arc of Chester County as the beneficiary of all or part of your estate can provide a legacy of your support.
IRAs & Qualified Retirement Plans – where you make a gift from your IRA or designate The Arc of Chester County as the beneficiary of your required minimum distribution or the remainder balance of any retirement fund.
Life Insurance – which is an economical way to give a larger and more lasting gift without drawing on your assets now or depleting your estate by designating The Arc of Chester County as the beneficiary of all or part of your life insurance.
Planned Gifts - such as Charitable Gift Annuities or Trusts which are partnership planned gifts that benefit you and The Arc of Chester County today and in the future.
Contact
Susan Vanscovich at 610-696-8090 Ext 202 or by email at [email protected] to learn more.
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Phone: 610-696-8090 Fax: 610-696-8300
900 Lawrence Drive, West Chester, PA 19380
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