In This Issue:

• New Tool Lists 700 Workplace Accommodation Ideas
• Resources for Casting Your Vote in Colorado
• New Board Member Profile: Molly Kirkham
• The Arc in the Community
• Changes in Place for SSI Calculations
• In the News: Rosie Jones, Comedian with CP, Stars on Taskmaster
• Tell Congress: Support the HCBS Relief Act!

New Tool Lists

700 Workplace Accommodation Ideas

This National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), the Department of Labor wants to make employers and workers aware of a groundbreaking new accommodations resource.

The Americans with Disabilities Act generally requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations for workers with disabilities. But providing accommodations is more than just a legal requirement – it’s also an important way for businesses to retain skilled workers with disabilities!

This is where the Department's new resource, the Situations and Solutions Finder, can help. This database pulls together 700 real-life examples of accommodations that businesses have implemented. The data comes from users of the Office of Disability Employment Policy’s Job Accommodation Network.

Whether you are an employee or an employer, you can use this tool to search for examples that may work for you or spark a new idea. Users can search by disability, limitation, occupation, or keyword to find a list of solutions related to that topic.

Click here to view the free Situations and Solutions Finder. You can also read the Department of Labor's full announcement here.

If you know an employer or employee who could benefit from this tool, spread the word and help promote disability inclusion this NDEAM!

Resources for Casting Your Vote in Colorado

When it comes to voting, each state may have slightly different rules on how to vote. With Election Day less than one month away, now is a great time to make sure you know the details of voting in Colorado.

Who has the right to vote, and what voting rights does each person have? Disability Law Colorado has created a resource to answer these questions. Remember, you can vote in Colorado if you have a guardian, and you have the right to vote independently and privately.

Do you need an ID to vote in Colorado? The answer depends on whether you are voting in-person or by mail. View this resource from VoteRiders for more information.

What will be on the ballot for Colorado voters? In addition to voting for candidates to fill certain offices, Coloradans will also vote on 14 ballot measures this year. Ballot measures are issues or questions that voters decide during an election. To get you started in your research, The Arc of Aurora’s THINK+change has created a plain language ballot guide covering what each ballot measure means.

New Board Member Profile:

Molly Kirkham

This year, The Arc-JCC&GC welcomed Molly Kirkham to its Board of Directors! Molly was elected to the board in June. She has previously been involved with The Arc for years as a self-advocate, including by attending Coffee House gatherings and through People First—a group of self-advocates that The Arc supports. 

“I want to be able to give my perspective of the people of People First, and to have the input as someone who has a disability on the board,” Molly explained. “The board is very receptive. Because we’re trying to help people with disabilities, for me, it’s that lived experience (that is helpful).” 

The Arc in the Community

On September 24, supporters and members of The Arc attended the 24th Legislative Annual Barbecue to continue raising awareness of disability issues among our representatives. Each year, the Legislative Annual Barbecue is a chance for disability rights advocates to meet policymakers and help guide and educate on important issues.

From left to right: Executive Director Lori Ropa, Consulting Advocate Brent Belisle, Board Member Molly Kirkham, The Arc of Colorado's Meredith Henry, and chapter member and supporter Jack Lopez.

Changes in Place for

SSI Calculations

As of September 30, three changes have been made to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) calculations. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has estimated that the changes will lead to new or increased SSI payments for hundreds of thousands of people with disabilities.

These changes include:

• When the agency calculates SSI eligibility, food assistance from friends and family will no longer factor in.
• The agency will also not factor in if someone is receiving discounted rent (such as those who live with a family member) when the person’s required monthly rent equals or exceeds a certain amount.
• More households may now be considered a Public Assistance Household. The criteria have been expanded. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits have been added to the types of public assistance listed. The agency also changed a requirement that said all members of the household had to be receiving public assistance.

To learn more about these changes, please visit the SSA’s blog.

In the News: Rosie Jones, Comedian with CP, Stars on Taskmaster

Disability advocate Rosie Jones has been making headlines after joining the cast of comedians on this season of Taskmaster.

Taskmaster is a British game show in which comedians complete a series of unpredictable tasks. Rosie, who has cerebral palsy, has been a well-known comedian for years, and she brings plenty of fun to this season’s cast.

In regard to starring on the show, Rosie told Radio Times: “Being disabled, I never wanted it to be patronising. [Host] Alex [Horne] made sure that I was included and involved. To do a show that I've been such a fan of for years – and feel like my disability was not a factor in the slightest – was incredible.”

The current season of Taskmaster, series 18, is airing now. Episodes come out weekly on Taskmaster’s YouTube channel.

Tell Congress: Support the

HCBS Relief Act!

People with disabilities who need certain support with everyday living often choose to request this support in their home, which is called Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS). But unfortunately, states do not have the funding they need to provide this support to everyone who needs it. This has left more than 650,000 people on waiting lists for services, with underpaid direct care workers and unpaid family members often trying to fill the gap.

If passed, the HCBS Relief Act would help by providing millions of dollars in dedicated Medicaid funding to states. States would be able to use this funding to make HCBS available to more of the people who need it.

If you want Congress to pass this Act, make your voice heard! Through The Arc, you can email your representative to tell them why it is important to pass the HCBS Relief Act. Click here to contact Congress or learn more.