See Me Spotlight
Jos é M ondragon

Making Connections
Community connections and family are Jos é 's priorities. José, a self-proclaimed people-person, currently works for BrewAbility, participates in community events, plays football and soccer, and loves dancing.

"Dancing is my favorite thing to do. It's great exercise," said José. Often times José can be found on the dance floor busting out his favorite Michael Jackson moves. Being a part of a larger community and attending events is very important to José. "I like to be busy," he said. However, the current public health crisis is creating some challenges for him.

"I'm frustrated right now, because I'm not working or making any tips," said José. Just like many of us, he is adjusting to the current situation and feeling the economic impacts of COVID-19. However, he is doing his best to stay positive and continues to stay connected with his family and friends.
It makes sense that social connections are important to José. He is one of eight siblings. He was born and raised in Pueblo and currently lives with his brother, Art and their dog Blanco in Denver. José definitely prefers living in the Denver Area over Pueblo.

"I have a lot of friends here," said José. "There are a lot more opportunities in Denver to spend time with friends, meet people, and to work."

When he's not running around town or working, he can be found enjoying some much deserved downtime camping with his sisters.
Self-advocacy
José considers himself a self-advocate and makes sure to always express what he prefers in all situations. And, José has goals. While he's looking forward to returning to work and spending time with his friends again, he does have a big life goal that he's hoping to achieve.

"I'd like to get married," said José.

Like many self-advocates, José wants his voice to be heard and his decisions respected so that he can live the life he envisions and enjoys. While life isn't always easy, he loves using his sense of humor to brighten the days of his customers, friends, and family.
Announcing Our 2019 Annual Report

A lot can happen in a year, and that is certainly true at our chapter of The Arc. To help our community understand what we really do during a year’s time, we created and published a concise Annual Report using a new format this year. Our new, condensed format highlights our activities, focus, and impact during our most recent fiscal year.

We are proud to share our 2019 Annual Report, which is now posted on our website. If you'd like to download the report,  click here.
State of The Arc & SPARC Awards
Let's Celebrate Another Remarkable Year!
June 2020

Many of you are familiar with our Annual Meeting and SPARC Awards happening each spring. Well, this spring is a little different—for a few reasons. Because our Annual Meeting is so much more than just a meeting, it will now be called: The State of The Arc. This gathering is open to the public and attendees can learn more about our chapter's strategic financial decisions, the growth of our operations and a more personal look at what we really do.
 
Following The State of the Arc, we will have a light dinner, and then we’ll host the 2020 SPARC Awards. This part of the evening highlights the exemplary achievements of our award winners. In next week’s Arc in Motion, we'll announce who they are!

The SPARC Awards will also feature a Special Presentation including a feature video of self-advocates raising awareness in our community, as well as a Q&A with the cast. You won’t want to miss this revealing and entertaining presentation that encourages seeing people for who they truly are!
 
While our State of The Arc (formally our Annual Meeting) and SPARC Awards are typically held in April, we are postponing these events due to the Coronvirus pandemic. We are hoping to host them in June, however we are closely monitoring this public health crisis in order to reschedule at a time that is safe for everyone. Stay tuned. ..
Arc & Local Resources during COVID-19 Pandemic

We're here to help. While we aren't in the office, we encourage individuals, parents and caregivers to access our resources page for more information regarding the pandemic. Visit our resource page by clicking here .

Grab 'n Go Lunches for JeffCo Public Schools.

Food & Nutrition Services:
Beginning Monday 3/16 until Friday 3/27, “Grab and Go” meals will be available for collection for breakfast (8:00 - 9:00 a.m.) and lunch (11:30 - 12:30 p.m.) at the following school locations:
  • Arvada K-8 School
  • Colorow Elementary School
  • Edgewater Elementary School
  • Foothills Elementary School
  • Lasley Elementary School 
  • Parr Elementary School
  • West Jefferson Elementary School (as of March 16, 2020)

Families and students can go to any of these locations to collect food. We will be serving  anyone  in need. We will also be donating perishable foods and working with our local food banks in order to mitigate the community impact of missing food services in schools. Additional school distribution locations will be added as needed.
Plain Language Information for COVID-19
Developed by SARTAC  

This easy to read booklet about the Coronavirus was developed by the Self-Advocate Resource and Technology Center, or SARTAC. It has been created in English and Spanish. It was written by and for people with developmental disabilities and focuses on “need to know” information (not “nice to know” information). Please share it widely. Our goal is to keep people with disabilities healthy during this national crisis. You can access this booklet here .
COVID-19 Self-Advocates Conference Call
Hosted by SARTAC

SARTAC is hosting a conference call on Mar. 19 for self-advocates to share their concerns and to learn more about the Coronavirus. They want to share information that is easy to understand. They will listen to your questions and get answers. 

They are offering one more conference call this week. You can use your computer, tablet or phone to join a meeting to learn about "Social Distancing." "Social Distancing" is a term being used in the media right now as a way to slow the number of people contracting COVID-19/Coronovirus. 

Thursday: What is Social Distancing?
Mar 19, 2020 | 11:00 a.m. | Mountain Time

Ways to Join:
  • To join with your computer, click here.  
  • Meeting ID: 442 472 018
  • Call in on your phone: +1 929 436 2866
  • Meeting ID: 442 472 018
"Peanut Butter Falcon" Screening Postponed

In celebration of DD Awareness Month, a film screening of "Peanut Butter Falcon" was planned for March 21 at the Maglione Theater at 1 p.m. Due to public health concerns regarding the spread of COVID-19, this screening has been postponed. Once we receive rescheduled dates, we'll share the information with you. Stay tuned!