IN THIS ISSUE...
  • Back2School Tip #3: Social Distancing
  • COVID-19 Preparedness Free Webinar Training For People Of All Abilities
  • Making Info & Technology Accessible With ERDS. Are You Eligible For This Free Tool?
  • FreeWebcast: Combating Discriminatory Crisis Care Standards
  • It's Cool To Vote!


This Week's Back2School Tip #3: Social Distancing

One of the more challenging aspects of your child’s new school day will be Social Distancing. Knowing “personal space” boundaries can sometimes be confusing for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Having to increase our physical distance at school can make it even more challenging and confusing. Here are some tips to help your child, with or without I/DD, understand Social Distancing:

  • Talk to children about keeping space between themselves and their classmates and teachers. Explain that they may have to wait in a line to get inside the school building and there will be more space between all the people.

  • Explain why it’s important to have space between people. (i.e., germs make people sick, but germs can’t travel very far).

  • Help your child understand what “6 feet apart” looks like by making a game of finding items that are 6 feet, such as the length of a sofa or a foam pool noodle. Your child’s classroom will be set up so that student desks are at least 6 feet away from each other. With masks, teachers will be allowed to be closer to your child. 

  • Many school buildings will have arrows for one-way directions, tape to indicate where to stand in line for proper distancing, and “wait here” spots. Help your child identify these by noticing them in the community (e.g., grocery stores, shopping malls, doctor offices). Use tape on the floor at home to practice.
 
  • Role play with your child how he/she will greet friends and teachers without touching. For now, we cannot give a regular hug, high five or fist bump. But we can wave, do an “up in the air high five,” or an air hug, but NO TOUCH!   

Jeffco offers two social stories that are excellent resources for this topic. CLICK HERE, then scroll way down under SPED Resources for Families, click on Social Stories, and then click on Social Distancing and Social Distancing Greetings. 
COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness Webinar: What You Need to Remember

We have all experienced the effects of COVID-19 first hand. What did we learn? What do we need to remember to be better prepared for this fall?

This important webinar training will be presented twice by Julia Beems, Assistive Technology Program Outreach & Emergency Preparedness Program Coordinator. The webinar will review the steps we need to take to be prepared to stay at home for a long time. The role of the Public Health Department will be discussed along with what we need to think about to make sure we are taking care of ourselves and our families, and particular things we need to think about in a public health emergency. This training is open to everyone. Registration is required.

Wednesday, September 9 at 10 AM CLICK HERE to register.
Tuesday, September 22 at 2 PM CLICK HERE to register.

Questions? Please contact Julia at julia.beems@ucdenver.edu
Making Information and Technology Accessible AT NO COST

For six months, and at no cost, JFK Partners is sharing a tool designed to make information and technology more accessible. The tool, an Emergency Response Desktop Suite (ERDS) is available to 500 Colorado adults with developmental disabilities.

The ERDS:
  • Provides accessible information about the coronavirus and how to stay well
  • Empowers people with new ways to stay in touch with others
  • Encourages people to connect with the community

The ERDS makes information more accessible and computers easier to use by:
  • Simplifying navigation of a computer
  • Providing pictures or videos to inform, teach tasks, and support independence
  • Making email accessible with a text reader and audio recording feature
  • Including video conferencing through Skype
  • Sharing ways to relax and to have fun from home

The ERDS is available to Colorado adults with developmental disabilities who:
  • Participate in advocacy with Speaking For Ourselves - Colorado, or who
  • Do not live with family, or who
  • Are living with family temporarily because of the coronavirus, and
  • Have an email address and an internet connection, and also
  • Have a desktop, laptop, or tablet computer with Windows 10, or an Apple computer with a Windows compatibility layer

CLICK HERE to get the Emergency Response Desktop Suite and complete the engagement form. If you have questions please contact Joelle Brouner at joelle.brouner@state.co.us or Shea Tanis at Shea.Tanis@cu.edu.

This project is made possible by grant 1901COSCDD-02 from the US Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Community Living and an investment from the Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities. 
FREE Webcast: Combating Discriminatory Crisis Care Standards

Wednesday, September 16 10:00 a.m. PT/1:00 p.m. ET

Justice In Aging brings you this webcast that is intended for aging and disability rights advocates, elder justice advocates, legal services attorneys, elder law attorneys, community-based organizations, and health care providers. CLICK HERE to register.

The COVID-19 crisis has created numerous challenges for older adults and people with disabilities. As cases surge across the country​, hospitals and health systems have difficult choices to make if they do not have enough ICU beds, ventilators, medications, or other resources to treat patients. Crisis standards of ​care are developed to help providers establish standard​s when rationing life-saving resources. However, these policies sometimes make it harder for people with disabilities and older adults to receive treatment. Older adults of color and people of color with disabilities also face additional prejudice ​​because these policies may add to inequality in the health system.

This webcast, Combating Discriminatory Crisis Care Standards, in partnership with Center for Public Representation, will provide an overview of crisis standards of care, legal protections against discriminatory policies, and best practices for advocates to combat problematic crisis standards.

Closed captioning will be available during this webcast. A link with access to the captions will be shared through GoToWebinar’s chat box shortly before the webcast start time. 
This training will be presented in a WEBCAST format to accommodate more participants. Due to the high volume of participants, computer audio will be the only option to listen to the presentation. No telephone call-in number will be provided.
It's Cool To Vote!

We’re only 68 days away from election day. In the last national election, only 56% of people with disabilities voted--let’s improve those numbers! Here is some information that makes voting easier.

  • Are you registered? Colorado voters can register through election day, but why wait? Register to vote now by CLICKING HERE.

  • If you would like to vote by mail, but haven't yet registered for that, you have to register by October 26th. Register online HERE.

  • You can make a big difference in your community by voting! Your vote can help build better services, programs, and inclusion for people with disabilities. What are you waiting for? Learn more HERE.

  • Lots of valuable voting information and more can be found through the SABE (Self Advocates Becoming Empowered) GoVoter Project! Check it out by CLICKING HERE.

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.