IN THIS ISSUE...
  • 60 Voices That Shine - #4
  • Our Online 60th Anniversary Celebration - How Did It Go?
  • Last Call For Nominees - Apply For Our Chapter's Board
  • New CDC Disability Stats Show Disparities - An Article From Disability Scoop
  • CommunicationFIRST Issues Call To Action
  • Youth Advisory Council Seeking Ambassadors
  • Webinar: The Status Of Inclusive Higher Education In Colorado
Tim R. - Voice #4

Achieving independence is a dream for almost everyone. For Tim, this dream sometimes felt out of reach due to his autism. After years of challenging times, Tim has overcome huge obstacles and blossomed. We are so pleased to celebrate him as one of our 60 Voices That Shine!

It took a desire to succeed, as well as help from friends, family, and The Arc, that led Tim to accomplish so much:
 
  • Being elected Treasurer of self-advocacy group, People First of Jeffco
  • Becoming a member of our chapter’s Outreach Advisory Council that provides opinions and feedback to the Outreach Team
  • Traveling across Colorado with our statewide self-advocacy organization, Speaking For Ourselves - Colorado, to participate in the self-advocacy movement
  • Getting his first job!
 
“I’ve achieved so much more than I ever thought was possible,” said Tim.
 
He's now a guy with friends he sees regularly, who value him for exactly who he is and appreciate his jokes. Tim is the embodiment of The Arc’s tagline, "Achieve With Us." 
 
For more information about our 60th Anniversary, CLICK HERE.
Our Online 60th Anniversary Celebration--How Did It Go?

Last Thursday, our chapter of The Arc kicked off our diamond anniversary with an online celebration.

We are eternally grateful to have been able to share such a meaningful evening with old friends, new friends, and friends of all abilities – all from the convenience of our own homes. A special thank you to everyone that joined and contributed to the celebration.
 
If you wanted to join us live but couldn’t make it, don’t despair! The recording is available on YouTube--simply CLICK HERE.
 
There will be a lot more celebrating throughout our anniversary year, so stay tuned! To visit our 60th Anniversary website, CLICK HERE.
Translate Your Passion Into Action
Last Call For Nominees: Deadline Jan 31

If you believe that:
  • People of all abilities should be valued & respected
  • Our community belongs to everyone
  • Individuals have the right to make decisions that impact their own lives…
 
…then you may be a perfect fit for The Arc’s Board of Directors! Consider making a real difference in our three-county area, by applying for Board service for the upcoming term (July 1, 2021-June 30, 2023).
 
The experience is both rewarding and enjoyable. Service on The Arc’s Board of Directors requires a deep commitment to The Arc’s mission, as well as time and energy necessary for full participation.
 
In order to qualify to be a member of the Board, a candidate must:
  • Be or become a member* of The Arc in good standing and;
  • Be a resident of Jefferson, Clear Creek, or Gilpin County or have a family member who is eligible to receive services in these counties (up to 20% of the Board may be exempt from the residency requirement).
 
We are particularly interested in adding to our Board individuals with the knowledge in, connections to, or experience with the following:
  • Health care (medical professionals particularly encouraged to apply)
  • Public relations, especially local media organizations or communications/public relations
  • Fundraising with either organizations or individuals
  • Nonprofit governance
  • Individuals who can bring the perspectives of minority groups are especially encouraged to apply.
 
While we have identified these as priorities, all interested individuals who have a passion for The Arc’s mission are encouraged to submit a nomination form.
 
Previous non-profit or corporate board experience is desirable, but not required. The time commitment for a member of the Board of Directors is approximately 7-10 hours per month depending on committee work. Terms are two years.
 
CLICK HERE to learn more, access the nomination form, and to apply. Applications are due by January 31, 2021.
 
*Membership requires an annual donation to The Arc. For questions regarding membership, including your current status, please contact Jennifer Holan at (303) 232-1338 or [email protected]. 
New CDC Disability Stats Show Disparities
An Article from Disability Scoop

The information comes from the CDC’s (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network. The group regularly monitors the 8-year-old age group across several communities to determine autism prevalence estimates.
 
A new study shows that 1.2% of all 8-year-olds in our country qualify for an intellectual disability (ID) diagnosis.
 
The majority (78%) of the 215,000 children studied had mild ID, 12% were considered moderate, with around 1% qualifying for severe or profound ID. 39% of all ID were reported as autism. Note that some children could not be evaluated.
 
Sex, race, and geographic location all were contributing factors. These findings were largely consistent with previous findings.
  • Likelihood for ID is twice as high in boys versus girls
  • Black children are twice as likely to have ID compared to white children
  • Arkansas reported twice as many cases as Minnesota and Tennessee.
 
The study authors feel that these substantial disparities between racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups could be used to help inform strategies to enhance early access to intervention services to improve quality of life for children with ID.”
 
For more information, CLICK HERE to go to the Disability Scoop website.
CommunicationFIRST Issues Call To Action

Working with 47 other national disability organizations, CommunicationFIRST has issued a Call to Action for the new Biden administration. The Arc is one of those organizations supporting this effort to protect the rights of people with disabilities. The administration is being asked to take immediate and specific steps on behalf of people with disabilities, especially those with little to no understandable speech. 
 
These determined groups are working to protect and improve the rights and interests of people with expressive communication disabilities and/or rely on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). A couple of the 9 key steps important to this effort are:
 
  • Investigate and prevent health care discrimination against people with communication disabilities 
  • Guarantee equal educational access for students with significant expressive disabilities 
  • Remove bureaucratic barriers under Medicare and Medicaid that deny people with disabilities access to the AAC they need to communicate 
 
If you would like to read more about this effort and get more details on all of the 9 key steps, CLICK HERE.
Youth Advisory Council Seeking Ambassadors

The Colorado Office of Employment First (COEF) has established a Youth Advisory Council that is seeking ambassadors. The mission of COEF is to lead Colorado toward equitable employment for all people with disabilities through collaboration, systems innovation, and training excellence.
 
Goals for the COEF Youth Advisory Council:
  • Build a network of young adult leaders in Colorado
  • Learn from young adults and their vision for strong employment practices for people with disabilities
  • Provide opportunities for young adults to expand their leadership skills (become an Employment First Ambassador)
  • Help shape the expectations of competitive, integrated employment for young adults with disabilities transitioning out of high school
 
Become An Ambassador for Employment First In Colorado:
  • Attend a training on what Employment First is and why it’s important
  • Create your own presentation on Employment First and practice public speaking with other youth peers in the Youth Advisory Council
  • Present to a community group of your choice on Employment First and why it is important
 
For more information on the Colorado Office of Employment First, CLICK HERE.
If you are interested in joining the Youth Advisory Council, CLICK HERE!
Webinar: The Status Of Inclusive Higher Education In Colorado

Thursday, February 4, 2021
10:00 - 11:30 AM MST
 
Learning Objectives:
  • Understand Colorado’s pilot higher education initiative
  • Describe strategies, barriers, and successes of inclusion in the university programs participating in the pilot
 
The intended audience for this webinar includes: Professionals who support youth in transition, students in transition and their parents, and faculty in higher education who are interested in the inclusion of students with intellectual disabilities.
 
Background:
Senate Bill 16-196 created a 5-year pilot program to establish inclusive higher education programs for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities at the University of Northern Colorado, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, and Arapahoe Community College. The 2020-21 academic year is the final year of the pilot program.
 
Registration: CLICK HERE
Questions may be directed to [email protected]
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.