In This Issue:

  • Disability Employment Awareness: An Employer's Perspective
  • Election Day Is November 5!
  • Improve the Child Support System for Children with Disabilities
  • Event for Entrepreneurs Is Taking Registrations
  • Tell Congress to End Savings Penalties!
  • No eNewsletter Next Week
  • What's Happening Next Month?

Disability Employment Awareness: An Employer's Perspective


To close out National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we spoke to Athan Miller, business owner of Jack’s Bar and Grill & Steamers Coffeehouse in Arvada! Jack’s employs about 25 people with disabilities, each of whom brings important skills to the workplace. Read on to learn about all that these employees have contributed to the business and why disability employment awareness is important, from an employer’s perspective.


This interview has been condensed and lightly edited for clarity.


Q: What are some of the important contributions that your employees with disabilities have made, and continue to make, to your business?


A: They’re great employees. They get the job done. When the restaurant gets busy, all of our employees are able to jump in. They keep the place running. They help with the community feel of our restaurant. On top of that, they just give a little bit of grace—everybody understands that everybody is welcome at our restaurant, and our employees with developmental disabilities encapsulate that.


Q: What can businesses can do to make sure their workplace is accessible and inclusive for current or future employees with disabilities, and why is this important?


A: A lot of employers have the desire to employ someone with disabilities. First, you have to have the desire. You might need the understanding of how to train someone with disabilities, and the training might take a little bit longer. But once you get past that, generally speaking, you have a model employee. We don’t have a lot of people not show up to work or show up late. They have the desire to work. They want to be productive.


Q: Why is it important for our community to observe National Disability Employment Awareness Month?


A: The unemployment rate for people with disabilities is so sky high, and it doesn’t have to be. Celebrating this month is a good way to bring that to the forefront. (It’s important) to not put limitations on people, especially in the employment realm. Without limitations, people surprise you.
 

Hear from the employees!

To celebrate NDEAM, the restaurant asked its employees to name their favorite thing about working at Jack’s!
Person wearing a green cap with red chili peppers holds a microphone smiling Text on image says Cooking Washing dishes

Watch the video to hear more about what each employee loves about their job.
 

Election Day Is November 5!


Election Day is less than a week away! This year, Colorado voters can make their voices heard on a variety of topics—from electing individuals for federal and local offices to voting on state, county, and city issues.


If you would like to vote, you must cast your ballot by 7:00PM on Election Day—Tuesday, November 5. It is too late to request a mail-in ballot or to vote by mail, but you still have two options to vote:


  • If you already received your ballot in the mail, you can fill it out and drop it off at a ballot drop-box before 7:00PM on November 5.
  • You can also vote in-person at a polling place.


You can find a polling place near you through Just Vote Colorado. Remember, each voting and service polling center is required to have an accessible voting machine and be physically accessible per the Americans with Disabilities Act’s standards. To learn more about polling place accessibility and what to do if your rights are violated, click here.


Voting gives us a chance to weigh in on the issues that affect us. This Election Day, remember: Your vote has power! 
 
Man joyfully playing with two children outdoors with University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and JFK Partners logos

Improve the Child Support System for Children with Disabilities


The Colorado Child Support Commission is working to improve the child support system for children with disabilities, and those who have experience with this system are invited to participate.


According to JFK Partners, when it comes to child support and parenting time calculations, Colorado does not have family law statutes to recognize any differences between a divorcing family that has a child with support needs and one that has a nondisabled child.


Because of this, judges and attorneys do not always recognize the full extent of the uneven responsibilities taken on by custodial parents of children with support needs. Judges may also assume that Social Security benefits are sufficient to pay for a quality life and that child support is not needed.


If you are a parent or caregiver who is or has been involved in the child support system, either as a payor or payee, you can join the Child Support Commission: Disabilities Committee in effecting change. Those interested can attend the committee’s monthly meetings, which occur on the first Thursday each month from 12:00PM-1:00PM.


Learn more about the Child Support Commission: Disabilities Committee here.
 
Three people smiling in front of a geometric blue and white background a woman with sunglasses holding a cane

Event for Entrepreneurs Is Taking Registrations


Mark your calendars! The third annual Disability Owned convening, a virtual conference for entrepreneurs with disabilities, will take place on November 20 and 21.


Organized by the Small Business Hub at National Disability Institute, Disability Owned is a chance for entrepreneurs to exchange ideas, learn from others’ successes, and make connections with potential business partners and customers. At previous conferences, entrepreneurs and small business owners with disabilities, entrepreneurial support organizations, state vocational rehabilitation counselors, policymakers and more have been in attendance.


Current entrepreneurs with disabilities, as well as those interested in becoming entrepreneurs, are invited to register for this free event. Register or learn more about Disability Owned here.
 
Three adults sitting closely examining documents in front of a laptop on a green sofa

Tell Congress to End Savings Penalties!


Millions of people, including people with disabilities, rely on monthly payments from the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. SSI payments are government-issued benefits for people with disabilities, people who are blind, and older adults who have limited income and resources.


However, to stay eligible for SSI, recipients must meet certain criteria. Single people cannot have more than $2,000 in assets (such as money in bank accounts or most retirement accounts), and married couples cannot have more than $3,000 in assets. These rules have not been updated since 1989. Because of this, people with disabilities who need SSI payments are forced to live in poverty. They cannot save for future emergencies.


The SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act aims to help by increasing the asset limit to $10,000 for single people and $20,000 for married couples. The bill is currently under consideration by Congress.


If you want to help ensure that people with disabilities can save for the things they need, take action! Through The Arc US, you can tell your representatives to co-sponsor the SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act. Click here to take action or to learn more.
 

No eNewsletter Next Week


We are so excited to be sending staff members and board members to The Arc’s National Convention in Columbus, Ohio this week! As staff members will be out during this time, we will not be publishing an eNewsletter next week. Watch your inbox for our next edition on November 13!
 
 
 
Facebook  X  Instagram  

The Arc - Jefferson, Clear Creek & Gilpin Counties | 13949 W. Colfax Ave. Ste 102 | Lakewood, CO 80401 US

Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice