In This Issue:

• Share Your Thoughts with Legislators at Tomorrow's Town Hall
• Find Your People at The Arc's Parent Gathering
• 5 Tips to Avoid Financial Scams
• Make Your Voice Heard at the Legislative BBQ
• In the News: New Rules Promote Accessibility in Healthcare Settings
• Find Accessibility Info for Locations Near You with Free App
• What's Happening Next Month?

Share Your Thoughts with Legislators at Tomorrow's Town Hall

Join a Town Hall Meeting tomorrow and engage directly with your legislators! Senator Chris Kolker and Representative Gretchen Rydin will hold a virtual town hall tomorrow, August 27th, to hear from their constituents. Both legislators represent parts of Jefferson and Arapahoe counties.

When: Thursday, August 27th, 6:00pm-7:00pm

Where: Virtual via Zoom. Click here to register for the meeting.

This is an opportunity for people with disabilities and those who support them to speak with the legislators representing them, ask questions, and share their perspectives on important issues.

Not sure which legislators represent you? You can look up who your representatives are here.

Find Your People at The Arc's Parent Gathering

Join The Arc-JCCGC for our upcoming Parent Gathering! This casual, welcoming mixer is a chance for parents and caregivers of children ages 3–14 with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to take a well-deserved break and get to know others in the community.

• Spend time with families on the Special Education journey
• Chat with our Child & Family advocates
• Learn about upcoming free learning opportunities at The Arc for parents and caregivers of school-aged children

Come as you are and leave with new connections, helpful tips, and a stronger sense of community!

When: Wednesday, September 30th, 4:30pm-6:00pm

Where: The Arc’s Office – 13949 W Colfax Ave, Suite 102, Lakewood, CO 80401

This event is free–just register in advance. Registration will close on September 14th. Save your spot today!

Light refreshments and childcare will be provided. If you’ll need childcare, simply let us know when you register. A member of our team will follow up to learn more about your family’s childcare needs.

Do you know a parent who would be interested in our Parent Gathering? Please forward this message and help us spread the word! Parents and caregivers do not have to be previously connected to The Arc-JCCGC to attend.

For any questions, please contact info@arcjc.org.

5 Tips to Avoid Financial Scams

People with disabilities and their caregivers often have a lot to keep track of, including details about healthcare, benefits, and finances.

It is important to be aware that scammers are out there, and they might try to trick you or your caregiver into giving them these details. Luckily, there are many things you can do to protect yourself from scams.

TD Bank has compiled a list of strategies to help people with disabilities and their caregivers avoid financial scams. Key strategies include:

• Be very careful and take your time before giving out personal information, even if a request seems trustworthy at first. Never give out any information if you are not sure that the person is who they say they are.
• Pause when you receive emails or texts with links, downloads, or urgent language. Always read links before clicking to check for typos or URLs that do not look right. Do not act instantly, even if messages say they are urgent. Stop, take a breath, and look at the message for suspicious red flags.
• If you receive an unexpected call from someone who says they are from a trusted organization, confirm the person is telling the truth. Call the official line of the trusted organization to ask if the unexpected call is trustworthy.
• Make sure to regularly check on your financial accounts. Be on the lookout for unexpected charges. To protect your accounts, opt in to “two-step authentication” or other extra security options.
• If you realize you may have been scammed, report it right away. You should contact the local authorities, your bank, and any other organizations related to the fraud.

Looking for more information to protect yourself from scams? Click here to read the in-depth article for people with disabilities and their caregivers.

Make Your Voice Heard at the Legislative BBQ

Registration is now open for the Annual Legislative BBQ! Cohosted by DDRC, Family Tree, Jefferson Center, Seniors Resource Center, and The Action Center, this indoor event is a chance for community members to connect with local officials and candidates. Below, find more information from the Jefferson Center:

Connect with candidates, officials, and neighbors to share about what impacts our community. At the Legislative BBQ you’ll have the unique opportunity to engage directly with Jefferson County officials and local, state, and congressional candidates. This event promises to be an enriching experience as we prepare for the upcoming November 2026 elections.

When: September 10th, 4:30pm-7:00pm

Where: Apex Park & Recreation District Community Recreation Center – 6842 Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada, CO 80003

This event is free, but registration is requested. Click here to register or learn more.

Staff members from The Arc-JCCGC will be at this event to make our voices heard—we hope to see you there!

In the News: New Rules Promote Accessibility in Healthcare Settings

Good news! Disability rights advocates saw a big victory this summer when two new rules—one from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and one from the Department of Justice (DOJ)—went into effect. These two new rules require healthcare providers that receive public funds, like public hospitals and health clinics, to have a certain number of accessible exam tables, weight scales, and other medical diagnostic equipment (MDE). The providers must also make sure their staff is trained to safely operate the accessible equipment and assist with transfers and positioning of patients with disabilities.

The HHS rule went into effect in July, and the DOJ rule went into effect earlier this month. Importantly, one part of the HHS rule requiring accessibility of websites and apps has had its deadline extended by one year and has not taken effect yet.

These rules are a big step in the right direction, helping to make sure that people with disabilities do not face medical discrimination simply because providers do not have the equipment to serve them.

Learn more! Click here to read more about the new rules.

Find Accessibility Info for Locations Near You with Free App

Did you know? The Roll Mobility app is making it easier for wheelchair users and others with mobility needs to know if a location will be accessible for them.

Founded here in Colorado, Roll Mobility allows users to rate the accessibility of various locations they visit, such as restaurants, businesses, trails, and hotels. Once a location has received a review, its ratings are available for others to see.

Roll Mobility can be downloaded for free on the Apple App Store or Google Play.

Click here to learn more about Roll Mobility.

What's Happening Next Month?