IN THIS ISSUE...
  • 60 Voices That Shine - #56 – Sharon Yee
  • Don’t Forget Colorado Gives Day Next Week
  • Have You Booked Your Time Slot For Holi-DAY At The Arc?
  • Keep Current On New Mask Requirements
  • Insurance Benefits Available To Donors
  • 46th Anniversary Of Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
  • Webinar: Enhancing Healthcare For People With IDD
  • FREE Holiday Happenings This Weekend
Sharon Yee - #56

It is hard to find someone as enthusiastic about The Arc as Sharon Yee. She developed an interest in board service from her employer, FirstBank, which is community-focused and encourages its employees to get involved in non-profit boards. FirstBank also happens to support our chapter as a Transformative Partner for a second year in a row.
 
Sharon’s journey with The Arc started with a West Chamber women’s event where some networking connected Sharon with Executive Director, Lori Ropa. She instantly felt a connection to Lori’s well-known warmth, as well as to the life-changing mission of The Arc, and she decided to get involved.
 
Having served on The Arc JCCGC’s board for three years now, Sharon says that she feels like she understands how best to use her voice to support our mission. She is currently Board Secretary and Co-chair of the Resource Development Committee. Immersing herself in the stories of The Arc's impact on individuals and families with IDD is one way that she has been able to identify how best to contribute.
 
Sharon is interested in being the conduit between FirstBank and The Arc so that goals and values can be shared and put into action. The stories from the 2021 Summit of Hope resonated so strongly with her that she is hosting a watch party for FirstBank's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee at her office at the end of this week. She is excited to share The Arc with her colleagues, and this watch party is just one way that she uses her voice toward that end.
 
Being passionate about changing community perceptions, Sharon uses her voice to help others understand that we all have our own talents and motivations. She wants everyone to know that people with IDD can do everything and anything they want to do if they put their minds to it. 
 
Sharon is especially compassionate to those who might not have a platform to make change. Being an Asian female, she has often felt left out and feels that bringing this perspective to The Arc makes her a strong advocate for the IDD community. She is actively using her experienced voice to break down barriers, and she asks all of us to challenge our biases by asking ourselves, “Why do I think that?” 
 
She feels that every action, such as a simple hello, can break down barriers.
 
Not only does Sharon devote her enthusiasm and her knack for connecting people to The Arc, she also dedicates it to her employer, where she works as Software Delivery Manager. She has also been instrumental in establishing the Employee Resource Group at FirstBank, which is working to integrate employees' board memberships in order for non-profits to support each other.
 
In her spare timeif she happens to have anythis optimistic, balanced mom of four rejuvenates with yoga and meditation. At The Arc, we're grateful that she gives so much of her time, talent and positive voice to our mission!

To see all of the “60 Voices That Shine” featured thus far or for more information about our 60th Anniversary, CLICK HERE.
Don't Forget Colorado Gives Day Next Week

Colorado Gives Day is so much more than a day; it’s a movement that brings thousands of donors and non-profit organizations together to support their local communities.
 
When you give to The Arc on Colorado Gives Day, you are helping to make our community a place where people with autism, Down syndrome and other intellectual and developmental disabilities feel included, valued and respected.

Colorado Gives Day
Tuesday, December 7

As an added bonus, donations made on CO Gives Day go further: The Arc will receive an extra portion of the overall donations from the day, meaning that your gift makes even more of an impact in supporting the journeys of people with IDD.
 
Schedule your donation now, CLICK HERE
Have You Booked Your Time Slot For Holi-DAY At The Arc?
December 13, 2021

We are so happy to be able to celebrate the Holiday Season in-person this year! However, to keep everyone safe and healthy during this time, we have reimagined our annual Holiday Party and things will look a little different than past years.

This year, we will be hosting ONE-HOUR HOLIDAY TIME SLOTS throughout the day on December 13th. You MUST sign up for the time slot you wish to attend. There will be 20 people allowed per time slot so if you would like to attend with your friends, make sure you sign up for the same time. Time slots will close once they are full so don't delay. Masks will be required at this event.

Wear your best holiday outfitsthere will be a prize for the most festive outfit during each time slot!

For more info and to book your time slot now, go to www.arcjc.org/holiday
New Mask Requirements

As COVID continues to rear its ugly head, Jefferson County has responded by once again issuing a mask mandate.

Masks are now required for all individuals ages 3 and older in all indoor public spaces in Jefferson County.
 
Public indoor spaces include all enclosed indoor areas such as event spaces, businesses, restaurants, gyms, schools and childcare settings, medical facilities, government buildings and facilities, offices and other spaces that are not an individual’s residence.
 
Some businesses can receive approval from Jefferson County Public Health for an exception to this order by becoming an “approved fully vaccinated facility.” This means that at least 95% of all employees, staff, guests, customers and all others within the facility at any time must be fully vaccinated. These approved facilities must display a sign indicating their status.
 
Additionally, federal law requires everyone, vaccinated or not, age 2 and older to wear masks on planes, airports, buses, trains and other forms of public transportation.
 
The Jefferson County mask order will remain in effect until the county’s transmission rate is at a moderate or low level for 21 consecutive days.
 
CLICK HERE to view Jefferson County’s mask guidance. CLICK HERE to view the entire order.
Insurance Benefits Available To Donors

The Arc of the United States is making your Arc membership even more valuable! Insurance benefits are available to all members of The Arc and their families.

The options available are designed to help protect members and their families at every stage of life. Mercer Health and Benefits Administration LLC has partnered with The Arc to bring you options like:

•   Group Term Life Insurance
•   Major Medical Insurance
•   Start Hearing
•   Vision Insurance
•   Pet Insurance
•   Identity Protection
 
Once you have donated to The Arc – JCCGC, you are automatically a member of The Arc of the United States and therefore eligible to apply for these benefits.
 
Because this program isn’t sponsored by The Arc – JCCGC, we cannot provide any assistance or information on these programs. Instead, simply CLICK HERE to be taken to the Mercer Health website for more information and assistance.
Individuals With Disabilities Education Act's 46th Anniversary

November 29th marked the 46th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). More than an excuse to eat cake, the Act’s anniversary is a real reason to celebrate!
 
Benefiting more than 7.5 million children, IDEA makes free appropriate public education (FAPE) available to eligible children with disabilities, including early intervention, special education and related services.
 
In the law, Congress states:
 
“Improving educational results for children with disabilities is an essential element of our national policy of ensuring equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities.”
 
CLICK HERE to visit IDEA’s official website, and CLICK HERE for information about its anniversary.
Webinar: Enhancing Healthcare For People With IDD

For many people with IDD and their caregivers, receiving care in a hospital setting has always been a challenging experience. COVID only highlighted these inequities. Education and experiential learning for health professionals are essential to addressing these challenges.
 
The Arc Massachusetts, The Arc Oregon and The Arc’s national office have partnered to develop a web-based, culturally competent training and toolkit for emergency medical personnel. The goal is to support equal access to emergency health care for people with IDD by educating healthcare providers working in hospital emergency departments.
 
Webinar: Enhancing Healthcare For People With IDD
Thursday, December 9 at Noon MST
 
This webinar will provide an overview of training materials that can be used to educate health professionals in hospital settings and ways to engage these professionals. For more information and to register, CLICK HERE.
Free Holiday Happenings This Weekend

It is December 1st (can you believe it?) and the holiday season is in full swing. We have already made it through Thanksgiving. Hanukkah started on Sunday, November 28 (and ends on Monday, December 6). Christmas will be here before we know it.
 
To help kick off the season, here are a few FREE events happening this coming weekend.
 
Olde Golden Candlelight Walk (FREE)
Friday, December 3 at 6:30 PM
CLICK HERE for more information
 
9News Parade of Lights (FREE)
Saturday, December 4 at 6:00 PM
Also televised live on KUSA-TV, Channel 9
CLICK HERE for more information
 
Pet Photos with Santa (FREE)
Participating PetSmart Stores
Saturday & Sunday, December 4 & 5 from Noon to 3:00 PM
(other dates in December as well)
CLICK HERE for more information and reservations