In This Issue:

• 7 Ways to Stay Healthy This Flu Season
• Prepare for Travel with Wings for All
• Reminder: Voting Event Oct. 1
• Thank You to Our Sponsors
• Understanding the Special Education Process
• What's Happening Next Month?

7 Ways to Stay Healthy This Flu Season

Fall has begun, which means Flu Season has begun, too. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we often start to see more cases of the flu when October begins.

Luckily, there are several actions you can take to decrease your chances of getting sick. You may choose to get the flu vaccine, which can reduce your risk of getting the flu or having serious symptoms if you get sick. The CDC also lists seven day-to-day choices you can make to help you and others stay healthy:

• Avoid close contact with people who are feeling sick.
• Stay home when you are sick from work, school, and errands. To ensure you do not give the flu to others, stay home until your symptoms are improving and you have not had a fever for 24 hours or more.
• Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
• Wash your hands often. This list from the CDC gives helpful advice of when to wash your hands and best practices.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you have germs on your hands, this can cause you to get sick.
• Seek out clean air by going outside, opening a window, or using an air purifier.
• Practice healthy habits like regularly cleaning surfaces, getting ample sleep, drinking enough water, and eating healthy foods.

You can learn more about how to stay healthy during flu season on the CDC’s website.

Prepare for Travel with

Wings for All

Wings for All is returning to Denver International Airport! The Arc’s Wings for All is an airport rehearsal program that prepares those with autism or intellectual disability to navigate the airport. That way, when individuals need or wish to travel, they are already familiar with the process, which can sometimes be overwhelming.

Participants will practice the steps of going through the airport in a safe, realistic environment. The rehearsal includes:

• Checking in at the ticket counter to receive a boarding pass
• Going through TSA security
• Boarding a plane (that will not take off)
• A reception with light snacks and refreshments after deboarding the plane

Up to three family members or support people can attend with the individual.

Wings for All will take place on Saturday, October 12 at 10:00 AM. It is offered at no cost, but families will need to pay their own expenses to get to and from the airport.

To participate, you must register online. You can register or learn more by clicking here.

For questions about registering, please email Kerry Mauger at mauger@thearc.org.

Reminder: Voting Event Oct. 1

Don’t forget to hop on to our virtual voting event October 1! This free, 1-hour Zoom meeting will answer questions you may have about voting in 2024. You will learn how to vote, how to find resources to help you vote, why voting is important, and more. Anyone who would like to learn more about voting is welcome to attend.

“We hope people learn voting matters—so get out and vote!” said Brent Belisle, consulting advocate for The Arc-JCC&GC.

• October 1
• 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
• Zoom meeting: When the meeting starts, use this link to join the meeting

Along with The Arc-JCC&GC, the event will be coordinated by The Arc Arapahoe, Douglas & Elbert Counties; The Arc of Aurora; The Arc Pikes Peak Region; Atlantis Community; Center for People with Disabilities; and the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition.

We hope you can join us!

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Thank you so much to our year-round sponsors! These organizations are aligned with us in our mission to promote and protect the rights of those we serve. We are so grateful for their support and dedication to The Arc-JCC&GC and the work we do all year. 

Understanding the Special Education Process

As a parent of a child in special education, you are your child's best advocate. After all, you are the only person who will be at every IEP meeting and Parent-Teacher Conference for your child.

But oftentimes, parents may have questions about the special education process. Are you feeling confused about how to best advocate for your child? Do you know your rights under the law? Would you like to know how to better communicate with your child's teachers?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are in the right place. The first step to advocating for your child is knowing your child’s educational rights.

To get you started, the Child & Family Advocacy Team has developed a series of self-guided trainings to help parents understand the 6 Principles of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the primary federal law for special education. You may find these videos on our website.

What's Happening Next Month?