In This Issue:

• Welcoming New Staff Member Valerie Smith
• Tell Us What You Think! Survey for Teens & Young Adults
• Join Research Opportunity for Adults with IDD
• Get Ready to Vote! Key Dates & Plain Language Ballot Guide
• Resources for Domestic Violence Awareness Month
• Join Us for Coffee House Tomorrow

Welcoming New Staff Member Valerie Smith

We are thrilled to announce that The Arc-JCCGC has expanded its team, with Valerie Smith joining us as our new Innovation Projects Manager!

Excitingly, we are welcoming Smith back to our team as she returns to The Arc-JCCGC after several years. Smith first joined our team in 2010 and served in several roles over the course of more than a decade, including overseeing memberships, helping set up our database, and serving as Director of Communications & Outreach. In her new role as Innovation Projects Manager, she will be helping to lead the work on an exciting new project designed to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in building their independence.

Tell Us What You Think!

Help us create new self-advocacy programs and activities for teens and young adults with IDD! We're looking for self-advocates ages 14-30 to take a quick online survey sharing what matters to them and what activities interest them.

If you are a teen or young adult with IDD, we want to hear from you! Your responses will help us develop new opportunities for younger self-advocates that are fun, accessible, and meaningful.

The virtual survey should take about five minutes to complete.

Thank you for helping us shape something new—with you, not for you. 

Join Research Opportunity for Adults with IDD

We’re excited to share an opportunity for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) that will help make sure people with IDD can make informed decisions about being in medical research!

Project ENGAGE is seeking to create tools that help researchers ensure people with IDD understand all the facts before they say yes or no to being in research.

Right now, the Project ENGAGE team is developing a new tool for people with IDD. They are seeking adults with IDD to participate in an interview to help shape the new tool. In the interview, participants will try out the new tool and answer questions.

The interview will:

• Happen online using Zoom
• Take 1-2 hours
• Help Project ENGAGE make sure the new tool works well for people with IDD

Participants may receive up to a $75 Amazon gift card for being in the interview.

Would you like to participate? You can contact the research team to sign up for an interview or ask questions. Call 1-800-295-2187 or email the researchers at engageinpmr@syr.edu.

Get Ready to Vote! Key Dates & Plain Language Ballot Guide

Election Day is almost here! Voting helps shape the future of our community. If you are planning to vote in this election, it is important to make sure you have the information you need. Below, you’ll find details and resources to help you get prepared to participate in this year’s election.

Key Dates

• Your ballot must be received by 7:00pm on Tuesday, November 3rd (Election Day).
• Per the Colorado County Clerks Association, if you would like to vote by mailing in your ballot, you must mail your ballot by Monday, October 26th. Learn more about voting by mail here.
• After October 26th, you may still cast your vote in person at a voter service and polling center (VSPC) or return your ballot at a drop-box. Click here to find VSPCs and drop-boxes in Colorado.

Looking for more information? Visit the Colorado County Clerks Association website to help you prepare for Election Day.

Plain Language Ballot Guide

Read about what’s on the ballot this year in language that’s accessible! THINK+change, a social enterprise of The Arc of Aurora, has created a plain language ballot guide covering the amendments and propositions, also known as issues, that Coloradans will vote on this year. The guide explains what the issues are and what a “yes” vote and “no” vote means for each issue. Click here to view the plain language ballot guide in English or Spanish.

Resources for Domestic Violence Awareness Month

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This observance brings attention to the needs and experiences of survivors of domestic violence to raise awareness, end domestic violence, and ensure survivors have the support and resources they need.

According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, more than 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men in the US will experience intimate partner violence in their lifetimes. The US Government Accountability Office has found that people with disabilities experience domestic violence at five times the rate of people without disabilities, with people with intellectual disabilities particularly affected. Domestic Violence Awareness Month is a time to work together to end this widespread epidemic and to support survivors, including survivors with disabilities. Learn how you can join the movement against domestic violence by visiting the Domestic Violence Awareness Project.

If you are currently experiencing domestic violence, the National Domestic Violence Hotline can help. This hotline provides support, crisis intervention, and connection to community resources for domestic violence survivors. Call 800.799.7233 or visit the hotline online.

• A video phone hotline is available for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Call 855.812.1001.

Other Resources

Local resources are available to support people who are currently experiencing domestic violence or have previously experienced domestic violence.

• PorchLight: A Family Justice Center provides comprehensive legal, emotional, and critical supportive services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, abuse of at-risk individuals, elder abuse, and human trafficking. The center is centrally located in Jefferson County. It is a safe, caring environment that provides one-stop services and support. Advocates from The Arc-JCCGC are on-site to support people with IDD who visit the center.
• The Initiative is a Colorado-based non-profit organization specializing in providing services, support, and resources to people with disabilities who are experiencing domestic violence, abuse, neglect, sexual assault, or other violent crime. While The Initiative specializes in serving people with disabilities, they will work with all survivors, regardless of disability status, documentation, immigration status, sexual orientation, or identity.
• Jefferson Center for Mental Health is a nonprofit, community-focused mental health care and substance use services provider. They offer hope and support to individuals and families who are struggling with mental health issues and substance use disorders.

Additionally, our website has resources and tools that can help people with IDD learn more about the difference between safe and unsafe relationships. Click here to visit our Healthy Relationships page.

Join Us for Coffee House Tomorrow

• Where: Panera Bread - 650 S. Wadsworth Blvd, Lakewood, CO 80226 (Southeast corner of Wadsworth & Center Ave)
• When: Thursday, October 15th from 5:30pm-7:00pm

We hope you can join us! Click here to learn more about Coffee House.

In the spirit of Halloween, come to this month's Coffee House in costume! Costumes are optional and not required.

For any questions, please reach out to us at info@arcjc.org.