IN THIS ISSUE...
- 60 Voices That Shine - #18
- Tomorrow (Thursday): Guardianship At Age 18 Event
- Survey: Impact Of The Pandemic On Behavioral Health Of People With I/DD
- Use Your Tax Refund To Re-Fund The Arc
- Best Friends For All
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Raejean Stotler - Voice #18
Like most new moms of babies with intellectual or developmental disabilities, Raejean Stotler was caught a little off-guard. Around 40 years ago, this mom of three had her fourth child (Roberta) who was born with a developmental disability. Living abroad until Roberta was 13 years old, she attended “regular” class with additional assistance from her teachers.
However, Raejean was in for a bit of a shock when her family returned to the U.S. and enrolled Roberta in school. She wasn’t sure how to help the school form goals that were tailored for Roberta and didn’t know if Roberta would have the appropriate support to reach those goals. “The school didn’t seem to know either because it was all so new. I was feeling overwhelmed,” Raejean recalled.
That’s when Raejean found The Arc. After connecting with an advocate from our chapter, Raejean felt that everything changed. Compelled by the mission and advocacy of The Arc, Raejean became a Board member, actually serving twice, contributing to the future of the organization and helping create real change for people with I/DD.
Roberta receives ongoing support from The Arc and has had a job at a local grocery store for more than 30 years, living semi-independently.
“We have walked a long road, made easier by the agencies that have supported these accomplishments, and we owe our deepest gratitude to those that have helped us along the way,” said Raejean.
We are thrilled to have Raejean’s wise, caring, and experienced voice as one of our 60 Voices That Shine.
To see all of the “60 Voices That Shine” featured thus far or for more information about our 60th Anniversary, CLICK HERE. We've updated our slideshow with all new photos!
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Tomorrow (Thursday): Guardianship At Age 18 Event
If you have questions about guardianship after your child turns 18, join a rich conversation around guardianship, supportive decision-making, self-advocacy, as well as debunking some of the myths about guardianship that seem to persist.
Jeffco Schools is partnering with The Arc to host a virtual event where you will hear from experts in the I/DD field share resources and participate in a question and answer session on the subject of guardianship at age 18.
Virtual Event – TOMORROW (Thursday)
Guardianship at Age 18: What Is It and How to Decide If It’s the Path for My Child?
Thursday, April 29, 2021
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Note: This training will be recorded and posted for future reference
The target audience for this event is families of students 15 and older who want to learn more about guardianship and less restrictive decision-making alternatives. It also includes middle and high school SSN teachers and JTS professionals. For more information contact [email protected]
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Survey: Impact of The Pandemic On Behavioral Health Of People With I/DD
So much has changed during the pandemic. Movie theaters and gyms have been closed. You often have to wait in your car instead of a waiting room for a doctor’s appointment.
These changes seem trivial compared to the many needed programs and services for the Intellectual and Developmental Disability community (I/DD) that had to be suspended or canceled. A group from University of Colorado, School of Medicine now wants to understand how it has affected the I/DD community.
This short 15-minute survey with a long name will provide valuable information that will allow researchers to verify the need for these programs and services. It will also make it easier to advocate for increased services and funding from the state legislature.
This survey, titled: Impact of the Pandemic on Behavioral Health of People with I/DD, can be completed by caregivers or self-advocates. There is no age requirement. CLICK HERE to access the survey. You will be helping with this effort to learn more about needed support after the impacts of COVID.
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Use Your Tax Refund To Re-Fund The Arc
Have you filed your Colorado state taxes for 2020 yet? The deadline was extended to May 17 this year. If you haven’t filed yet, you have a unique and easy opportunity to donate a portion of your tax refund to The Arc using your Colorado tax form. It is super simple to do.
Using the “Voluntary Contributions Schedule” tax form (CLICK HERE to access the form) along with your Colorado Individual Tax Form you can make a donation to The Arc using some or all of your tax refund.
Navigate to line 18 and enter in the amount of your donation. Then immediately below line 18 fill in the blank line with the 11-digit Secretary of State Registration Number for The Arc (20023003706) and the name “The Arc – Jefferson, Clear Creek & Gilpin Counties.” If you have a tax preparer complete your tax forms for you, simply give them these instructions along with the amount of your desired donation.
Donating is the perfect way to show your commitment to our community by “re-funding” The Arc so we can continue our work supporting people and families with I/DD. The State of Colorado has made it easy to do.
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Best Friends For All
Some say that a dog is man’s best friend. However, cats are pretty cool too. So are bunnies, and pigs, and horses, and, you get the idea. Pets often make our lives happier, less stressful, and more interesting. Not everyone can have pets due to housing restrictions, their ability to care for a pet, financial resources, allergies to pet dander, and other reasons.
Best Friends Animal Society started a sanctuary in the high desert of Utah to help rescue unwanted animals. What started as a little project between friends has turned into a national animal rescue superstar. If you would like to explore the sanctuary or learn more about the mission, including their care of special needs animals, CLICK HERE to visit the website.
Even if you can’t enjoy the company of an animal “best friend” you can visit some of the sanctuary’s resident animals by viewing their YouTube videos.
Here are a couple of videos you might be interested in:
If you do have a beloved pet at home, be sure to give them a little extra love today. Many animals don’t have a wonderful companion like you!
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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.
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