In This Issue:

• Save the Date for Our Brand-New Event: Peace, Love & Neon!
• Showing Abilities in Disabilities: Brent Belisle, 2025 Advocate of the Year
• Recognizing Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month
• The Arc's Highlights from IDD Awareness Day!
• Your Action Matters
• What's Happening Next Month?

Save the Date for Our

Brand-New Event:

Peace, Love & Neon!

It’s time to bring out the tie-dye and dust off your leg warmers because we’re hosting an event unlike any that we’ve thrown before—Peace, Love & Neon: A 60’s vs 80’s Bash!

This free, all-ages celebration will be a fun-filled chance for our community to connect, as well as support The Arc and those we serve.

Peace, Love & Neon will include:

• A decade vs decade costume contest! Come dressed in your grooviest ’60s costume or gnarliest ’80s attire to represent the decade you choose.
• A chance to bid on 15+ raffle prizes including theater, music, and exciting local experiences.
• Carnival games, music, and dancing—complete with a decades-themed dance lesson.

SAVE THE DATE

When: Thursday, May 22, 6:00pm-9:00pm

Where: Jefferson County Fairgrounds - 15200 W 6th Ave, Golden, CO 80401

This event is open to anyone and everyone, so be sure to spread the word! Stay tuned for more details in future issues of our eNewsletter and on social media.

Showing Abilities in Disabilities: Brent Belisle, 2025 Advocate of the Year

When it came time to choose a career path, Brent Belisle, who has cerebral palsy, knew he wanted his work to center around supporting people with disabilities.

“I want to show people abilities in disabilities and I want to be a role model for people with disabilities,” Brent described. “They can do whatever they want when they put their mind to it.” 

This passion has led to nearly 27 years of work in the disability advocacy space, including seven years here at The Arc-JCC&GC—and this Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, that work was recognized with a huge honor! Brent was awarded the 2025 Advocate of the Year award, an award given to one individual each year at the IDD Awareness Day event hosted by Alliance Colorado, JFK Partners, and The Arc of Colorado.

Brent was particularly recognized for codeveloping programs that assist individuals in developing self-advocacy skills, and for his work to protect the rights of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Recognizing Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month

Not only is March Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, it’s also Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month! Cerebral palsy is a developmental disability that can affect a person’s mobility, balance, and posture. More than 1 million people in the US have CP.

As we close out March, Cerebral Palsy Guide has listed three ways that anyone can show their support for the cerebral palsy community this month! The list includes:

• Wear green and use the hashtag “#GoGreen4CP.” The color green was chosen as the official color for Cerebral Palsy Awareness because it symbolizes hope. It also represents growth or progress in research that can benefit those with CP.
• Spread Awareness of CP. Cerebral Palsy Guide has come up with several suggestions that can help community leaders, school administrators, and managers or business owners raise awareness.
• Advocate for Research and Policy Change. Reaching out to legislators to request more funding for research on CP makes a difference! Recent bills have awarded funding to research efforts, expanded research, and launched projects to track the prevalence of CP in different communities.

To learn more about Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month, click here.

The Arc's Highlights from IDD Awareness Day!

March 19 was IDD Awareness Day at the Colorado State Capitol! Self-advocates and advocates from The Arc-JCC&GC attended this important day of advocacy to learn about current legislation, meet lawmakers, and connect with others in the disability community.

Check out our video recap to learn more about our staff’s highlights from this exciting experience! Click here or on the image to the right.

Your Action Matters

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, but awareness isn’t enough. Help us ensure that decision-makers understand the real experiences of people with disabilities, and that we’re able to assist people with IDD and their families who contact us because they’re concerned about their rights, health care, education, services and more.

You are crucial to forward movement. Please consider what level of support your budget allows and make a donation today.

What's Happening Next Month?