In This Issue:

  • Disability Voting Rights Week
  • National Direct Support Professional Recognition Week
  • Inspiring Futures: College Mentorship Program for Students with ID
  • Disability Information & Access Line Provides COVID-19 Vaccine Information
  • Webinar: Promising Programmatic Practices for People with Dual Diagnosis
  • The Planning Process for Early Intervention Services Webinar
  • Take a Pledge: Talk About Sexual Violence
  • Join Us at Coffee House Tomorrow!
Disability Voting Rights Week

Did you know that this is National Disability Voting Rights Week?

Voting is a powerful way to advocate for disability rights, because elections may decide how critical programs work for people with disabilities and their families.

The Arc U.S. has developed plain language materials in both English and Spanish to help people with disabilities and others learn more about voting and key issues for voters with disabilities.

To access these resources, a shareable voter pledge, a link to register to vote, and more, click here.

To check your voter status or to register to vote, click here.

Accessible voting information from the Colorado Secretary of State is available by clicking here.

In addition, you can help make sure disabled voters across the country and in every community are registered and ready to vote and have access to the ballot.

Every year, the REV UP Campaign coordinates Disability Voting Rights Week to increase the political power of people with disabilities. They do this by getting people with disabilities registered and ready to vote and engaging candidates and communities on issues impacting people with disabilities.

An estimated 38 million people with disabilities were eligible to vote in 2020, according to information from the American Association of People with Disabilities. REV UP invites organizations and advocates to participate in Disability Voting Rights Week - a national initiative - to continue to raise the disability voice and civic participation across the country.

For more information and to participate in Disability Voting Rights Week, click here.
 
Make sure your voice is heard. Vote!
National Direct
Support Professional Recognition Week

This is National Direct Support Professional Recognition Week – not only an annual observance - but also a great opportunity to recognize and express gratitude to direct support professionals.

Direct support professionals perform numerous functions depending on the needs of the individuals they assist. Often, they help people with disabilities be included in the community and lead self-directed lives. They also advocate for and teach advocacy skills to the people they assist. Whatever tasks direct service professionals perform, they are invaluable supports for individuals diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Take a moment to share your appreciation with your direct support professionals for all their hard work and dedication.

Some people like to express their gratitude with gifts. However, gestures such as handwritten notes or thank you cards, heartfelt emails, saying, texting, or communicating any way you like - to thank and express appreciation - may brighten someone’s day.

Happy National Direct Support Professional Recognition Week!
Inspiring Futures:
College Mentorship Program

IN! Pathways to Inclusive Higher Education is accepting applications for a free six-week mentorship program – Inspiring Futures - to learn more about what life is like in college. This is an opportunity for high school students with intellectual disabilities to meet and get to know current college students who have intellectual disabilities.

Each week, college topics and life after high school including career options, living away from home, and self-advocacy, will be discussed. 
 
College mentors will be from University of Colorado - Colorado Springs, University of Northern Colorado, and Arapahoe Community College (these three schools offer inclusive services to students with intellectual disabilities). Click here to learn more about inclusive higher education.
 
This program is intended for students that:

  • Are in their junior or senior year of high school or in a school district transition (18-21) program
  • Have an intellectual disability
  • Have an interest in learning more about college. It is okay if students aren't sure whether they want to attend college; this program is more about exploring post-high school options
  • Can commit to attending all six virtual mentorship sessions  

To participate in this program, students do not need to be set on going to college, they just need to be interested in learning more about college.
 
To read more information and apply for this college mentorship program – no later than the September 30 deadline – click here.
Disability Information & Access Line Provides COVID-19 Vaccine Information

The Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL) is available to help people with disabilities be vaccinated. DIAL's staff:

  • Helps find local vaccination locations
  • Assists with making vaccination appointments
  • Connects callers to local services – such as accessible transportation – to overcome barriers to vaccination
 
The hotline also connects callers to services that promote independent living and address fundamental needs such as food, housing and transportation.

For more information about DIAL and its services, visit the Administration for Community Living’s website by clicking here.
 
Webinar: Promising Programmatic Practices for People with Dual Diagnosis

The Arc U.S. is hosting a webinar about programmatic practices for people with dual diagnosis.

Chris Snell, MS and Dorian Crawford, PsyD of Incompass Human Services, will provide an overview of promising practices in community-based services for people who are dually diagnosed with an intellectual and/or developmental disability and a co-occurring behavioral health condition.
Learn about:
  • Community based program modalities and promising clinical practices, including residential, employment, and meaningful day curriculum, plus treatment and programming integration and oversight
  • Challenges and opportunities in supporting people with dual diagnosis, including internal and external stakeholder collaboration and communication
  • Staffing support and training needs
 
Promising Programmatic Practices for People with Dual Diagnosis
Date: September 22
Time: 12:00 p.m. Mountain Time

To register, click here.
The Planning Process for Early Intervention Services Webinar
 
The process of program planning in early intervention and special education can be challenging at times for parents, teachers, service providers, and administrators.
 
Join The Arc U.S. for a webinar on engagement in the early intervention program planning process.
 
Information will be shared to better inform parents of students with IDD. IDEA Part C and B, and program planning requirements. Strategies that support more meaningful engagement in early intervention programs will be explained. Equity issues and the points of advocacy at the individual and systems levels will be explored through examples, discussion, and reviewing the resources available.
 
This webinar will be captioned. The recording will be available to view on demand for those who register. Questions? Email [email protected].
 
The Planning Process for Early Intervention Services
Date: Tuesday, September 20
Time: 11:00 a.m. Mountain Time

Click here for more information and to register.
Take a Pledge: Talk About Sexual Violence

The Arc's Talk About Sexual Violence project is raising awareness about the high rate of sexual violence among people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.

You can support survivors with IDD by signing a pledge. Then, take action against this silent epidemic in the disability community by sharing the pledge with your network.

Click here to sign the pledge.
Join Us at Coffee House Tomorrow!
 
Join us at our monthly social gathering. Coffee House is an occasion where everyone is welcome. Come and make new friends, mingle with people of all abilities, and promote inclusion in our community.

Thursday, September 15th: 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
Panera Bread - 650 S. Wadsworth Blvd., Lakewood

Hope to see you there!
 
Thank You to Our Transformative Partner
Interested in learning more about this year's Summit of Hope sponsorship opportunities? Contact [email protected].

More information about participating in Summit of Hope will follow in the upcoming weeks!