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In This Issue:
- Join The Arc and Self-Advocates at Longer Tables Littleton
- The Arc in the Community: 2025 CAN Conference
- Tell Congress: Protect Disability Services and Fund Our Future
- Support Others as a Consulting Advocate at The Arc
- It's Not Too Late to Register for Our Parent Empowerment Series
- Discover New Solutions at the Colorado Assistive Technology Expo
- Socialize with Friends at Coffee House Tomorrow!
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Join The Arc and Self-Advocates at Longer Tables Littleton
We’re going to be at Longer Tables Littleton—and we want you to be there with us!
Hosted by Longer Tables and Lift Up Littleton, Longer Tables Littleton will invite up to 5,000 community members to eat dinner together at a 5,000-foot table on Main Street Littleton. This event is an opportunity for individuals to be seen, heard, and known by those that live in their community, making it so important that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have a seat at the table, too.
That’s why The Arc-JCC&GC and The Arc Arapahoe, Douglas & Elbert Counties are sponsors of the event—and we’re inviting self-advocates from our communities to join us at the table!
When: Wednesday, Sept. 24 @ 6:00pm
Where: Main Street, Littleton, CO 80120
If you would like to join our group at Longer Tables Littleton, or have any questions, please email Helen at helen@arcjc.org. Please note that we have a limited number of tickets available, which will be distributed on a first come, first served basis. Tickets will be provided at no cost to you.
We hope you can join us! Learn more about Longer Tables Littleton here.
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The Arc in the Community: 2025 CAN Conference
We had an excellent time at last week’s Colorado Arc Network (CAN) Conference! This two-day conference brings together advocates, self-advocates, and other staff from The Arc’s Colorado network for a time of connection and learning.
The CAN Conference “is a space to exchange ideas, learn from one another, and strengthen our sense of community,” said Jilda Falco, Senior Director of Advocacy Programs at The Arc-JCC&GC. “The conference was not only full of valuable information, but also a powerful reminder that we’re all in this work together.”
This year, sessions covered federal budget cuts and their impact, strategies for supporting immigrant families, how AI tools can be used in advocacy, and more. Advocates from The Arc-JCC&GC had the opportunity to share their knowledge with others, as well:
- Falco co-presented on key points from The Arc of the US’s 2025 National Conference of Executives Summer Leadership Institute, particularly focusing on the importance of building and strengthening a supportive team culture.
- Director of Teen & Young Adult Advocacy Jessica Shouse and Board Member Molly Kirkham led a session called “Supporting Self-Advocacy Across the State: A Brainstorming Session.”
“We wanted to come up with ways to get more people involved, get more people to run for officer positions in (the self-advocacy groups) People First or Speaking for Ourselves, and to see more energy when it comes to the self-advocacy movement across the state,” said Kirkham, who is also a self-advocate. “The self-advocacy movement is very important to me, especially now because of how quickly things are changing in the disability field. It is about giving everyone a voice.”
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Tell Congress: Protect Disability Services and Fund Our Future
US legislators are back in Washington after the August Congressional Recess, and they’re making important decisions about next year’s budget. As Congress weighs its priorities, crucial disability services are at risk of being cut, including programs that:
- Defend rights and prevent abuse
- Support kids with disabilities in school
- Provide early intervention services for young children
- Train teachers, counselors, and other providers to deliver quality services and support
You can join Arc advocates from across the nation in asking Congress to protect the services that people with disabilities and their families rely on!
Your voice matters to your representatives. Click here to send a message to your US legislators today.
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Support Others as a Consulting Advocate at The Arc
*Application deadline is Sept. 30, 2025
Do you want to use your experience making social connections, navigating the benefits system, building self-advocacy skills, and more to support your peers with disabilities?
Join us at The Arc, where you’ll work side by side with advocates who believe as you do that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) should live self-directed lives and be valued for who they are.
This is a unique opportunity to engage with the IDD community by sharing about your own lived experience.
- Engage with peers through planned community events
- Support people with IDD in developing self-advocacy skills through People First and Speaking for Ourselves
- Discover new opportunities to share your own experiences
At The Arc, your person-centered values and skills can be shared with the community. Our collaborative team is focused on growing self-advocacy skills that can change the everyday challenges of life into success and opportunities.
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It's Not Too Late to Register for Our Parent Empowerment Series!
Don’t miss your chance to sign up for our Parent Empowerment Series: Special Education—a free, 5-session series to support parents in becoming more confident advocates for their children with IDD!
Participants will learn through our study of Pam and Pete Wright’s “From Emotions to Advocacy: The Special Education Survival Guide” and the expertise of The Arc’s Child & Family Advocates.
This series is for you if:
- You are a parent with a child aged 5-12 years on an IEP
- You have attended at least one IEP meeting
- You want to become more involved in your child’s educational success
All materials will be provided, including your choice of a hard-copy book or an electronic version.
Registration closes soon! Sign up before Friday, September 19 to secure your spot.
| | Please note: Registration priority will be given to participants in Jefferson, Clear Creek & Gilpin Counties, as well as those who can commit to attending all 5 in-person and virtual sessions. Participants MUST attend our mandatory in-person session on September 25 to participate in the remainder of the series. You can learn more about our Parent Empowerment Series here. | |
Discover New Solutions at the Colorado Assistive Technology Expo
The Colorado Assistive Technology Expo returns this month! Hosted by CU Denver’s Center for Innovative Design and Engineering (CIDE), this free event invites one and all to connect with and explore solutions from more than 30 assistive technology vendors.
Vendors specializing in home modifications, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) solutions, mobility devices, and more will be present to give more information about their solutions. Additionally, CIDE will hold a Make & Take Workshop in which participants will create their own assistive technology tools to take home. Visitors can sign up for the workshop when they arrive at the expo, but please note spots are limited and will be offered on a first come, first served basis.
When: Friday, September 26, 10:00am-3:00pm
Where: The PACE Center - 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., Parker, CO 80138
Learn more about the Colorado Assistive Technology Expo here.
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Socialize with Friends at Coffee House Tomorrow!
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Where: Panera Bread - 650 S. Wadsworth Blvd, Lakewood, CO 80226 (Southeast corner of Wadsworth & Center Ave)
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When: Thursday, September 18 from 5:30pm-7:00pm
We hope you can join us! Click here to learn more about Coffee House.
For any questions, please reach out to us at info@arcjc.org.
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