Happy May, Y'all!
Spring has sprung in The Natural State! There's so much to celebrate this May; keep reading to find out more!
Image: Words "Happy Mother's Day" in colorful text, surrounded by colorful hearts, flowers, and confetti.
Happy Mother's Day to all moms across our state! Whether you are a first-time mother or a seasoned expert in motherhood, we want to acknowledge and celebrate all that you do for your children!

Celebrating Mother's Day with children with developmental disabilities may be a bit different than how others may celebrate the national holiday. This article by Ellen Stumbo may describe some of the experiences and struggles that moms of children with DD may face. It is a love letter to your hard work and determination to create a brighter future for your child!
The Council
Fostering an Inclusive Workplace Environment
More and more employees are experiencing disability due to the pandemic. This blog has tips for evolving your organization's disability and inclusion mission to support and retain a new generation of employees with acquired disabilities.

Improving your ability to provide appropriate accommodations will benefit employees with new disabilities, as well as those with lifelong disabilities, all while enriching your overall workplace culture.
The Summer Games Are Around the Corner!
Ready, set, GO! The Arkansas Special Olympics Summer Games occurred on May 12th and 13th! We hope that you were able to swing by Harding University to witness the competition between some of Arkansas' best athletes.

Missed out on the action? Watch the video below to catch up on the games!

Council's Work Plan
Quarterly Council Meeting
Mark your calendars to get ready for our next Council meeting on June 9! You do NOT need to be a Council member to participate in the meetings and contribute ideas of your own. We look forward to seeing you there!
Council Member Spotlight
Our Council members advocate for disability rights day in and day out. This May, we would like to thank Janette Williams-Smith and Amanda Sanders for their service as Council members.
Janette Williams-Smith
Janette Williams-Smith serves as a parent advocate member of the Council. She is a social worker for the Veterans Health Administration and a staunch advocate for her twin sons. With her unwavering commitment to her sons' community integration and inclusion, Janette seeks and attains services and resources that will benefit them. She takes every opportunity to share her knowledge of services and resources for individuals with developmental disabilities with others.

Janette, her husband, and twin sons reside in Cabot. Among Janette's extracurricular activities are participation in her sorority (Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.), international travel as an Education First (EF) and Explorica group leader, and reading for knowledge.
Amanda Sanders
Amanda serves on the Council as a parent of a child who lived in a state-run residential institution, known in Arkansas as a Human Development Center (HDC). She is a mother to a 23-year-old son with autism and two additional teenagers and has been married for 26 years. Amanda is completing a bachelor's degree in psychology and plans to attend graduate school.

Amanda has been an advocate and volunteer for over two decades. She believes everyone deserves a chance to succeed.

She has spent the last three years trying to convince her English bulldog that the shower curtain is not dangerous. She has yet to succeed.
Your service on the Council is greatly appreciated. Thank you for all that you do!
"Why I hired a workforce no one else would"
This interesting Tedx Talk from TedxNaperville highlights a business owner who hired individuals with disabilities – and how his company became a wild success.