IN THIS ISSUE...
- Back2School Tip #2: Washing vs. Sanitizing Hands
- Tell Your Senators to Go Back to Washington & Pass a COVID-19 Relief Bill!
-
Day Programs Reopen--To Return or Not To Return?
-
Join the September CANDO Meeting: Accessing Technology Solutions to Access Community Living
- Firefly Autism Seeking Adults on the Autism Spectrum for Social Skills Group
|
|
This Week's Back2School Tip: Washing vs. Sanitizing Hands
Hand washing is the easiest, cheapest and most effective way to prevent germs from spreading. Now more than ever, it plays an integral role in your child’s health. These tips can help your child develop this essential, lifelong skill. Hand washing can be taught in five simple steps: wet, lather, scrub, rinse & dry.
-
Wet hands with clean, warm, running water, turn the water off, and apply soap.
-
Lather up by rubbing hands together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
-
Scrub for at least 20 seconds. Make it fun and have your child sing or hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end (If your child is a fast singer, have them sing it twice!). Or you can choose any song and time it for 20 seconds.
-
Rinse hands thoroughly under clean, running water.
-
Dry hands using a clean towel or air dry them.
Key times to wash hands: before eating, after using the bathroom, after touching pets, after playing outside, and always after coughing, sneezing, or nose blowing.
Your child will be required to follow a hand washing schedule throughout the school day. The goal is for hand washing to become an independent habit and a regular part of the day. Lead by example by regularly washing your hands, too.
HAND SANITIZER. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer. These do not kill all germs, but they can significantly reduce the number of germs. Use one that contains at least 60% alcohol. Supervise your child’s use of hand sanitizer and teach her/him that it is poison and should never be eaten. If your child ingests hand sanitizer, call the Poison Control Center. You may be tempted to use baby wipes as a way of cleansing your hands. While they may “clean” hands, they do not “disinfect” or destroy germs.
When applying hand sanitizer, think squirt & rub:
-
Squirt the recommended amount (on label) in the palm of your hand.
-
Rub your hands together for about 20 seconds, making sure you get gel on all surfaces of hands and fingers, and until hands are dry.
To read Jeffco’s Social Story about hand washing CLICK HERE. Scroll way down under SPED Resources for Families, click on Social Stories, then click on WASHING HANDS.
|
|
Tell Your Senators to Go Back to Washington & Pass a COVID-19 Relief Bill!
The coronavirus pandemic still poses a threat to millions of people — and it’s disproportionately affecting people with disabilities, their families, and the workforce that supports them. Instead of passing the next coronavirus relief legislative package, the U.S. Senate has gone home for the month.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation (HEROES Act) in May that addressed many key issues. In response, Senate Republicans introduced the HEALS Act, which would gut the civil rights protections of the ADA in the face of the pandemic. CLICK HERE to read an article from The Arc of the US comparing these two Acts.
In the meantime, we have been waiting months for the Senate to act! Your Senators must hear from you, so they come back to the table and pass a relief bill that takes into account the critical needs of people with disabilities, their families, and the workforce that supports them, including:
- Dedicated funding for Medicaid home and community-based services
- Personal protective equipment for direct support professionals
- Paid leave for all caregivers
- Economic impact payments for all people with disabilities
Even if you have sent a message before:
|
|
Day Programs Reopen--To Return or Not To Return?
As Day Programs for adults with disabilities reopen during the pandemic, participants and their families may have lots of questions about whether to return or not. Colorado chapters of The Arc have come together and created resources to help you ask the right questions and think through important considerations to make the best decision for your family.
The Arc chapters cannot recommend that an individual return or not return to their day programming. These decisions need to be made in a person-centered way, and we’ve created tools to aid you in the decision-making process. None of this information should be construed as advice.
On our website, we've posted multiple documents:
-
Re-entry document with considerations and questions to ask your day program
-
Person-centered Plan document (English & Spanish) with additional considerations to help identify the pros and cons of returning
-
Checklist (English & Spanish) to be completed last, and is another tool to help your family make the best possible decision
|
|
Join the September CANDO Meeting
The Collaborative for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Options (CANDO) is an ad-hoc committee of the Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council. This group was created to support the Ten-Year Strategic Plan for individuals with autism and neurodevelopmental disabilities.Their monthly meetings are open to anyone interested in attending.
Accessing Technology Solutions to Access Community Living
Friday, September 11, 2020
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Held online only.
Dr. Emily Shea Tanis, Co-Director of the Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities at the University of Colorado will present on the advancement of technology solutions in policy and practice that ensure meaningful access to community living for people with cognitive disabilities and their families. The right to technology and information access is imperative particularly now during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Innovative and emerging technologies will be introduced as well as the utilization of technology solutions in current and future services and supports. Dr. Tanis has lead the nation in research and implementation of the Technology First movement and will also share with the audience promising practices and steps for Colorado to be a Technology First state.
Learning objectives of the meeting:
- Understand the role of technology solutions in ensuring meaningful access to community living across various domains
- Learn about the disruptive technologies of the future and how the disability community can leverage and drive innovation and build public and private partnerships
- Learn about Technology First and steps to advance Technology First in Colorado
CLICK HERE to register for the meeting. CLICK HERE and scroll down to view archived videos and handouts from past CANDO Meetings. Questions? Email [email protected] or call 303-724-0429.
|
|
Firefly Autism Seeking Adults on the Autism Spectrum for Social Skills Group
Firefly Autism in Lakewood is initiating a social emotional skill group for high functioning adults on the autism spectrum. It is reaching out to gather information about potential individuals who may benefit from this type of service.
Sessions would focus on adaptive therapeutic strategies to address rigidity or over-focus on irrelevant stimuli that may be getting in the way of meaningful progress towards life goals. Sessions would also teach and encourage values-driven behavior and include practical skills training, job readiness, and passion-area content and activities.
The ultimate goal is to bring together like-minded individuals to socialize and spend time sharing and gaining life skills. The sessions would be held on Tuesday evenings from 6:30-8pm at the Firefly Autism facility on 20th and Hoyt in Lakewood. There would be a fee charged.
For more information, or if you are interested in participating in a future social skills group, please contact Paula at [email protected]. A confirmation will be sent to interested individuals after an initial contact is made with Firefly.
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
