The Arc truly cares about you—a valued member of our community. During this health crisis, our goal is to be an up-to-date, reliable resource for you. By providing carefully vetted information, we strive to ease some of the stress and uncertainty you may be feeling right now.

Through our Arc in Motion emails, on our website, and on social media, we’re including lots of resources and information related to COVID-19, but also some content that will provide an mental break from coronavirus overload. Additionally, the COVID-19 Resources Page on our website is being constantly updated with important information.   Click here to go to our COVID-19 Resources Page.

The Arc is, as always, here to serve. We wish you good health and look forward to seeing you online until we can see you in person.
Lori Ropa, Executive Director
Addressing Potential Healthcare Discrimination

We know that lots of people are afraid right now. There is fear of contracting coronavirus, fear that a loved one may contract it, and fear about others not complying with social distancing or stay-at-home orders. Among the community we serve, there is another fear—that people with disabilities may not receive life-saving care simply because of their disability.

Arc chapters, along with other organizations who serve people with disabilities, are gravely concerned, as well. After reading healthcare treatment guidelines related to COVID-19, and hearing about discussions of “rationing” medical care, we’re concerned that this paves the way for increased discrimination toward people with I/DD and older individuals.  Rest assured that The Arc (both Colorado and US) and others like Disability Law Colorado, are watching closely and acting swiftly to help ensure that Colorado will protect the rights and access to care of people with disabilities of all ages.

Fortunately, the US Department of Health & Human Services’ Office of Civil Rights (OCR) is on the case, as well. We’ve received an encouraging statement from Roger Severino, OCR Director, that “Persons with disabilities, with limited English skills, or needing religious accommodations should not be put at the end of the line for health services during emergencies. Our civil rights laws protect the equal dignity of every human life from ruthless utilitarianism,” Severino added.

The Arc is committed to protecting the rights of people with I/DD to have the same medical treatment as others during this crisis. Steps that our chapter have already taken are listed below. Know that we are doing everything we can and we will provide updates on this matter when we have them.

Resources During the Stay-at-Home Order

Access-a-Ride Grocery Delivery

Effective March 30: Access-a-Ride is still offering trips for essential purposes, including to purchase groceries. You must call one day in advance to schedule these trips. They are also offering grocery pickup and delivery to your home from the following locations:

  • King Soopers
  • Safeway
  • Community Ministry Southwest Food Bank
  • Senior Hub Senior Solutions
  • Adams County Food Bank
 
Food banks and grocers will be added as they become available. If you are a vendor interested participating with RTD, you may contact 303-299-6000.
 
Customers interested in using this service must either call the grocer or food bank directly, or visit their website, to set up the order and schedule the pickup time. Once the order has been placed, and you have a scheduled pickup time from your grocer or food bank, call Access-a-Ride reservations at 303-292-6560 and book a trip to pick up the groceries at that time. Click here for more information.


Webinar: Transition from Pre-K to Kindergarten
Hosted by THRIVE Center
Tues., April 7, 2020 | 10:00 a.m. OR Thurs. April 8, 2020 | 8:00 a.m.

Parents of children 3 to 5 years old are invited attend this webinar series hosted by THRIVE Center. The webinar w ill cover three main topics: choice, decision considerations and parent transition. Other topics to be covered are school readiness, communications between old school and new school, open enrollment, types of schools, talking to your child about their new school and special education and kindergarten.

This webinar series is offer once a month for the next 6 months. Each session will be 2 hours and offered twice at different times. To learn more, click here . To register, click here .

Upcoming sessions include:
May 5 & 6 | IDEA, IEP... Oh My!
June 2 & 3 | Become an IEP Parent
July 7 & 8 | Behavior is Communication
Aug. 4 & 5 | Making Friends
Sept. 8 & 9 | Write an Effective IEP


Revised Schedule for JeffCo Schools Grab and Go Lunches
As of Monday, March 30

Sites will be open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 10:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Grab and Go Meals for anyone 18 and younger will be available for collection. Sites will be open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 10:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Each of these days, two breakfasts and two lunches per person will be provided. Meals will be provided at curbside locations through car trunk, car window, or by walk up. Parents or other caregivers may pick up meals for children; children do not have to be present.


Sites for Grab and Go pickup
  • Arvada K-8
  • Alameda, Wheat Ridge, and Columbine High Schools
  • Edgewater, Foothills, Lasley, Parr, Welchester and West Jefferson Elementary Schools
  • Wayne Carle Middle School
  • Note: Colorow is not currently a pickup site

Public Policy Update from The Arc of US

Senior Director of Public Policy for The Arc of the US, Nicole Jorwic, has published an 11-minute video covering the government’s response to COVID-19 with recent laws passed and how those affect people with I/DD and their families. She highlights how these “packages” include important help, and she also highlights essential aspects that were not included yet in legislation, and which The Arc will continue pushing for. Click here for the video.


Hygiene for Wheelchair Users to Minimize Exposure to COVID-19

If you push a manual wheelchair or use other types of assistive technology (AT), there are unique precautions you should take related to hand washing. COVID-19 can survive on the surfaces of your wheelchair or AT which you come in frequent contact with, such as the handrims. Any virus that might be on your hands is transferred to your handrims as you push your wheelchair. To view the guide created by Beneficial Designs, click here .


Recovery Checks—Information from The Arc of US

Coronavirus Stimulus Payments were recently approved by the federal government. Within this stimulus package, those who meet specific income and eligibility criteria will receive a recovery rebate in the next 3-8 weeks. To learn more about eligibility, rebate amounts and payment types, click here .


Virtual Caregivers Community 

Please join Lori Lemasters, of CarePartnersResource, and other caregivers as they navigate the new feelings and emotions during this COVID-19 outbreak and the recent “Stay at Home” order. Recognizing that this temporary situation may be causing added stress, anxiety and other challenges for caregivers, CarePartnersResource and Colorado Respite Coalition are joining together to bring you this virtual support group. Their goal is to provide a safe space to identify and express how you’re feeling, as well as provide information and tips to help manage during this unique time. For more information about this online community, click here.
Helpful Resource for Adults with I/DD: How to Talk to Your Caregivers
 
The organization called SARTAC has developed yet another helpful resource for people with I/DD. We’ve mentioned SARTAC in other communications--they are a group of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities whom we call self-advocates, and they support the self-advocacy movement across the nation. Self-advocates are people with I/DD who drive their own lives and who not only speak up for themselves, but also for others.
 
SARTAC stands for Self-Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center, and here’s their message and important resource for adults with I/DD on how to effectively talk to your caregivers...
 
“SARTAC has self-released a new plain language booklet written by and for self-advocates. The Coronavirus or COVID-19 is changing our lives in many ways for a while. Self-advocates wrote these tips to help people with developmental disabilities deal with changes in how they are getting services. The suggestions are about working with support staff during COVID-19.” Click here to access the booklet .
 
For more information about SARTAC, go to https://selfadvocacyinfo.org/
Take Some Time to Unwind

Feeling stressed? Stir crazy? Anxious? We encourage you to take a break!

Virtual tours are a great way to relax during this time. You can tour an Air Bnb tree house, visit national parks, watch bison roam the prairie, or tour the Dali Museum in Florida. Click here to access 100 different virtual options to give your mind a break.
THE ARC IS OPEN- OUR OFFICE IS CLOSED (UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE)

In an effort to protect our clients, staff, board, volunteers and community members, The Arc – Jefferson, Clear Creek & Gilpin Counties physical offices will be closed effective immediately (Friday, March 13) until further notice due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns. Please note that services will continue to be provided, as staff will be working remotely and communicating via phone, text and email. All in-person meetings, events and scheduled trainings will be canceled or postponed. When our physical offices reopen, our website and social media platforms will provide such information. Click here   for more information.