In This Issue:

  • Don't Miss The Summit of Hope on October 13!
  • National Preparedness Month
  • Suicide Prevention: Help in a Mental Crisis
  • ABLE Accounts - What Are They and What's New? - Webinar Tomorrow!
  • Tell Congress to Stop the Shock!
  • Fall is Around the Corner: Are You Boosted and Ready?
  • What Are You Going to be for Halloween?
Don't Miss The Summit of Hope on October 13!

The Arc - Jefferson, Clear Creek & Gilpin Counties invites you to our largest annual gathering - Summit of Hope on Thursday, October 13 in Golden.
 
Top Five Reasons Why You Should Attend The Summit of Hope:
 
1.   Hear inspirational stories, speakers and discussions
2.   Learn about life-changing ways The Arc helps people
3.   Find out about the achievements of people in our community
4.   Enjoy food, drink and conversation with people who live their values
5.   All proceeds from this event will help fund our chapter’s programs
 
RSVPs are required. There is no cost to attend the event. Donations are appreciated.
 
You have a choice of two identical Summit of Hope events:
When? Thursday, October 13 at noon or 6:30 p.m. whichever fits your schedule best! Where? Calvary Church, 1320 Arapahoe St., Golden.
 
Gifts of all sizes support our ongoing work that empowers people with disabilities to build skills and confidence, educating people how to navigate complicated systems, expanding access to systems that provide critical supports for people with IDD, and erasing misperceptions about people with IDD.
 
For more information about Summit of Hope and to RSVP, click here. We look forward to seeing you there!

If you are unable to attend and would like to make a donation, please click here.
National Preparedness Month

National Preparedness Month is observed every September to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that might happen at any time. 
 
We urge our community to pay special attention to the need for emergency plans, especially for individuals who have disabilities. Evacuating is rarely as simple as loading the children and pets in the car and leaving.
 
Do you have an emergency preparedness plan in place that tells you what to do in case of an emergency like a wildfire, a chemical spill, a flood, or other natural disasters? Your family may not be together if a disaster strikes, so it is important to know which types of disasters could affect your area, according to information from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
 
Put an emergency plan together by discussing these questions with your family, friends or household:
 
  • Where would you go if you needed to leave your home? And how would you get there?
  • Know how you will contact one another and reconnect if separated. Establish a family meeting place that is familiar and easy to find.
  • What would you need to take with you? Medication? Oxygen? Medical supplies? Wheelchair?
  • Do you have a list of emergency contacts, doctors, care providers, pharmacies, etc.?
 
Once you have created your emergency plan, practice it.
 
This year’s emergency preparedness theme, according to FEMA is A Lasting Legacy signifying that the life you’ve built is worth protecting, so prepare for disasters to enable creating a lasting legacy for you and your family.
 
A calendar from The U.S. Department of Homeland Security to help organize emergency preparedness plans is available by clicking here.
 
For more information from FEMA about emergency preparedness, click here.
 
Other helpful local resources:
 
Jefferson County Emergency Management: click here.
 
Clear Creek County Emergency Management: click here.
 
Gilpin County Emergency Management: click here
 
Don’t leave emergency preparedness to chance – make a plan!
Suicide Prevention:
Help in a Mental Crisis
 
 
The 988 Hotline is the national suicide prevention and crisis helpline.
 
The three-digit number 988 not only offers support to people at risk of suicide, but also helps individuals with mental health crises and emotional distress of any kind. Callers are connected to trained crisis counselors. The number is intended to be available 24-hours a day for those who are struggling as well as anyone worried about a loved one who may need help in a crisis.
 
To read more about the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, click here.
 
According to the National Center for the Dually Diagnosed, 30 to 40 percent of people with IDD are likely to have co-occurring mental health disabilities (almost 70 percent for people with Autism). In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says adults with disabilities are almost four times more likely to report suicidal ideation compared to persons without disabilities (31 percent versus 8 percent in the general U.S. population).
 
National Suicide Prevention Month is every September. It is a time to raise awareness and acknowledge that everyone may help play a role in helping to prevent suicide.
 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has prepared a toolkit with content and messages about the importance of connecting with others and learning how to cope with stress in order to increase resilience.
 
For helpful tips from the CDC about tips for coping with stress, including numerous mental health resources click here.
 
ABLE Accounts - What Are They and What's New? - Webinar Tomorrow!

Information – including upcoming changes to ABLE Accounts in Colorado - will be presented in a free webinar tomorrow. 
 
ABLE Accounts can help people with disabilities to stay under the Medicaid resource limit.
 
APSE: Association for People Supporting Employment First is presenting this webinar. Mike Keglovits from CollegeInvest, which administers the Colorado ABLE program, will lead the presentation. There will be time for questions and answers and an interactive, networking-style conversation on setting up and using ABLE Accounts. For more information, email: ColoradoAPSE@gmail.com.
 
ABLE Accounts: What are They and What’s New?
Date: Thursday, September 29
Time: 3:30 – 5 p.m.
 
To register for this webinar, click here.
Tell Congress to Stop the Shock!

Legislation is moving through Congress right now that could stop the abuse and torture of people with disabilities through electro-shock devices.
 
For decades, people with disabilities have been tortured by shock devices at the Judge Rotenberg Center (JRC), an institution in Massachusetts for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
 
JRC forces residents to wear a shock device, and staff members use remote controls to administer a shock for perceived misbehavior. JRC is the only place in the country that still uses this barbaric and inhumane practice, despite substantial evidence that the shocks are painful and traumatizing to residents.
 
The Arc has been fighting for years to stop this practice, because people with disabilities deserve to live free from torture and fear.
 
This bill must pass by September 30 and your message to Congress can help end this barbaric and inhuman practice.
 
Help stop the shock: send a message to Congress now by clicking here.
Fall is Around the Corner:
Are You Boosted and Ready?

One way you can prepare for the cooler months ahead—and help keep those around you safe—is by bolstering your immune defenses before a potential surge in COVID cases this fall and winter. COVID-19 vaccines and eligible boosters can prevent serious illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19, including from Omicron variants and subvariants.
 
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is safe to get your flu shot and updated COVID-19 booster at the same time.
 
Learn more and review options for scheduling your updated COVID-19 booster by clicking here or here.
What Are You Going to be for Halloween?
 
Time is flying fast, so avoid last minute hassles. Now is the perfect time to start planning your Halloween costume. You will find the best inventory selection when you shop early.
 
Of course, arc Thrift Stores are always the go-to locations for Halloween. They have a special Halloween section, and they are stocked full of items to create your perfect Halloween costume. Click here for arc Thrift’s website with location and store hours so you can plan your shopping trip to the thrift stores with Colorado’s largest Halloween selection!
 
If you need a little creative help, there are certainly a lot of websites with do-it-yourself costume ideas. One of those sites is Women’s Day. Click here for all kinds of costume inspirations, including ideas for your pets!
 
In addition, if you want to buy a ready-made costume, there plenty of choices including adaptive costumes. With a quick internet search, you can find shops that sell options like a princess carriage, a rocket ship, a sports car, a witch, and more designed for both children and adults
 
Don’t be tricked by the need for a last-minute costume! Start planning today. If you don’t, it could get scary!
Thank You to Our Transformative Partner