Teen LifeAbility Starts Next Week!

BAM! POW! Our Teen LifeAbility pilot program will start with a bang!

On June 20 at 6 PM, we will kick off Teen LifeAbility by focusing on the super powers that we all have, no matter what our abilities are. Join us as we discuss how friends/allies help us maximize our strengths and reach our full potential. At the same time, parents will have the opportunity to meet with other parents who are in the same boat and also with some who have been through transition already. Parents will also be shown a valuable Arc resource that can help make this time of transition easier. Teen LifeAbility is free of charge and designed to empower teens with I/DD and their parents/guardians, and awaken their inner superheroes.
Who is it for?
Teens with intellectual & developmental disabilities between the ages of 14 – 18 and their parent(s)/guardian(s) are invited.

What’s going on for parents?
There will be a parent session at the same time as each Teen LifeAbility session, but in a separate room, to help provide moms/dads/guardians with:
  • Community & Support — a place where others understand their lives and perspectives
  • A Forum — ask questions and hear from parents of teens who’ve been there
  • Vision — a place to think about tomorrow and see opportunities

When is it and what is it about?
Two pilot sessions have been planned for this summer. If the pilot is successful, there will be future, ongoing sessions, but for now, Teen LifeAbility takes place on:

  • Thursday, June 20 from 6:00 – 7:30 PM
  • Teen Topic: Friendship
  •   Parent Topic: Reliable Info & Advice
  • Thursday, July 25 from 6:00 – 7:30 PM
  • Teen & Parent Topics: to be chosen by attendees at June 20 session!

How do I sign myself and my teen up?
Please RSVP to [email protected] or 303-232-1338. You may direct questions there as well. Again, registration is free to all teens and parents.
Rockin’ the Runway Together Was a Huge Success!
 
Rockin’ the Runway Together this past Saturday was a model of inclusion! Mayor Adam Paul kicked off the event on the Belmar Plaza in Lakewood, which was packed with excited spectators having a wonderful time. Along with the great turn out, each model graced the runway with their own unique style and presence. Thank you to everyone who helped bring the community together to make our event unforgettable, and to all who participated and attended!

We truly appreciate our local news stations taking the time to come out and capture the joy and inclusivity of Rockin’ the Runway Together. This event was able to come to life through a collaborative effort among The Arc, DDRC and Colorado Miss Amazing, and was supported by numerous dedicated community partners. Be sure to check out CBS Denver and 9NEWS ’s stories!

To see more photos and videos from the event, click here !
Celebrate Summer at The Arc's Picnic July 17!
 
Summer time at The Arc means one thing: it’s time for our annual summer picnic! This fun and festive social event will be held Wednesday, July 17 from 4:30 to 7 PM at Clement Park, located at 7306 W Bowles Ave in Littleton.
 
The Arc’s annual picnic is FREE to everyone in our community, so you are welcome to bring a friend. This is a unique opportunity to come together and connect with people with disabilities of all ages, other families, and a variety of our community professionals. This fun social event features something for everyone: live music, a delicious and exciting menu, a magic show, balloon art, face painting and more! We're also expecting visits from the Littleton Fire Department (and a couple of their fire trucks)!
 
To ensure we have enough food for all of our guests, please RSVP online by clicking here, or call (303) 232-1338 and let the receptionist know you want to RSVP for the picnic. Please be sure to include your full name, where you can be reached, and the number of adults and children that will be attending with you. 
 
We truly hope that you can join us, and we look forward to seeing you there!
Urgent Action Alert about Competitive Integrated Employment
 
ACTION ALERT: Comment Today to Support Equal Pay for People with Disabilities!
 
This week the Department of Labor announced its new website, “ the Section 14(c) National Online Dialogue .” The purpose of the website is to collect comments from the public about the impact of paying subminimum wages to people with disabilities under section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Employers with 14(c) certificates can legally pay people with disabilities less than the federal minimum wage, often times pennies on the dollar. Section 14(c) certificates are typically used in “sheltered workshops,” where people with disabilities are segregated from the broader community. Disability advocates view Section 14(c), which was created in 1938, as outdated, discriminatory, and reinforcing a life of poverty, segregation, and dependency on public support for people with disabilities.  It is critical that you make your voice heard!   
 
Input from people with disabilities, families, employment providers and employers is important. Share your perspective online here before Friday, June 14th.  
 
Ideas to include in your comments are:
 
  • If you are a person with a disability or a family member, talk about why a community job at fair pay is important to you/your family. Think about relationships with co-workers, how you/your family member have grown in your job, and opportunities to go into the broader community. If you/your family member have ever been paid subminimum wages, talk about how that made you feel and about your transition from sheltered work to CIE.
  • If you are an employment provider, talk about how you support people with disabilities in competitive integrated employment. If you are a provider who has transitioned away from using 14(c) certificates, talk about that experience.
  • If you are an employer, talk about your experience with employees with disabilities. Think about their contributions to your workplace and how you have been able to ensure their success.
  • If you are an advocate familiar with disability employment trends in your state, share information about that progress. Think about what policies have advanced CIE and how your state may be moving away from using sheltered workshops.
 
Disability advocates have made significant progress towards eliminating Section 14(c) and establishing the legal right of people with disabilities to be paid the same as everyone else. In 2014, Congress passed the bipartisan Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) , which made competitive integrated employment (CIE) a priority, limited the use of subminimum wages for youth with disabilities, and required people currently being paid subminimum wages to be given other employment options. In 2016, the Federal Advisory Committee for Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment for Individuals with Disabilities recommended to Congress and the Labor Secretary that Section 14(c) be phased-out, together with capacity building for competitive integrated employment. In 2019, Congress introduced bipartisan legislation, the Transformation to Competitive Employment Act , to phase-out 14(c) and help providers transform their models to CIE. Numerous states have already prohibited the use of subminimum wages , and other states are currently considering legislation.  It is very important that we urge the Department of Labor to continue the progress towards ending this outdated and discriminatory practice.
 
Remember, you only have until June 14th to make your voice heard here !
Support The Arc While Shopping at Amazon
 
Father's Day is this Sunday, June 16 ! Now's the time to get something special for all the dads in your life.
 
Did you know that using AmazonSmile is a great way to support The Arc? Simply click here to shop for all your Father's Day gifts and Amazon will donate to The Arc - Jefferson, Clear Creek & Gilpin Counties! Win-win!
 
Each eligible purchase you make will result in a donation to The Arc. Donations are made by the AmazonSmile Foundation and are not tax deductible by you.
 
For more information please see the complete AmazonSmile program details . 
Junk Your Jalopy and Raise Money for The Arc!
 
Is it time to finally let go of your old car? We know, you had a good run. You got far more mileage out of it than you thought you would. It was a good car right up until the end. But now the necessary repairs to get it back on the road just don’t make financial sense and it’s not worth nearly as much as you thought it might be as a trade-in. It’s time. 
 
Don’t worry. Your old car is still valuable … in fact, it’s worth the world to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). You see, The Arc can take your old car as a donation and turn it into cash to directly help people with I/DD with such needs as employment, education, housing and advocacy to ensure they are treated with dignity and respect.
 
The Arc doesn’t care if your old car has some blemishes, a little rust, a dead battery or worse. Vehicles for Charity can take your clunker and turn it into cash at auction. To ensure your donation benefits our chapter, simply designate The Arc - Jefferson, Clear Creek & Gilpin Counties as the recipient, and the proceeds will come directly to us.
 
It’s easy to get started. Donate online or call 1-866-628-CARS, arrange your free pickup, and claim your tax deduction. To donate and for more information, click here . 
Are You on Social Media? Connect with The Arc Today!

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Want to be even more connected? Check out our website here!