Artwork by Self-Advocate Joe Shultz
|
|
Not everyone may realize that the The Arc is a resource of information for anyone seeking more information about the rights and services of people with a disability. This month I share a few things that might be of interest to you or someone you know.
We are rich with good fortune to have a number of wonderful Colleges and Universities within the Capital Region landscape. I was recently listening to the Presidents of these fine institutions and started looking to see what they offer us that I did not know. Here are a few things that I found out.
The University of Albany hosts "The Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD Albany)", which is an affiliated resource center that brings research and practice to the community. They hold several information events and educational sessions. In the month of May there are some in the following areas: Sexual Health Education (S.H.E.) an
d Verbal Behavior, and Self-Care for the Caregiver. To find out more information go to the following link:
https://www.albany.edu/autism/90915.php
. These are all online, and I believe free. The Verbal Behavior training is done by a former employee of ours, Deirdre Muldoon, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, who worked at Pinewoods Center.
Another opportunity CARD offers is "The Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®)". Peers is an evidence-based social skills group for adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The program is offered at no cost and includes small-group instruction, role-playing demonstrations, social coaching, and socialization assignments to help teens learn real-world social skills to make and keep friends. If you are interested in this check them out at the following link:
https://www.albany.edu/autism/90926.php
.
Calling Self Advocates! If you are interested in additional training Developmental Disabilities Planning Counsel (DDPC) and Yang Tan Institute at Cornell University has created a Partners-in-Policy making program to help individuals with developmental disabilities and their family members with advocacy training. The goal of the program is to help all advocates influence local and state policy. Our former employee, Carol Blessing, LMSW is the Program Director and Training Coordinator of this initiative. For information and sign up for fall classes follow this link
http://nyspip.org/
.
News from OPWDD for families with children has been released recently. As we begin to see changes related to the new 1915 (c) Children’s Waiver, children’s Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) are Medicaid services for children who 1) need extra care at home/in the community and 2) want to avoid going to the hospital or a long term facility. They offer personal, flexible services to meet the health, mental health, substance use treatment and/or developmental needs of each child/youth and support them as they work toward goals and achievements. This brochure is available at this link
https://www.omh.ny.gov/omhweb/bho/docs/hcbs_brochure_english.pdf
. Our Arc offers some of these options now and we are working to add new opportunities as soon as we can. Helping families is an important part of our plan for the future. Check back over the next few months for more information.
Please consider attending one of the many events we have going on this spring and early summer.
May 8
th
is the Wine Tasting Event at NY Wine and Liquor
Evening on the Lake June 26
th
at Old Daley Inn on Crooked Lake. Our largest fundraiser which features Art, Auctions, and Appetizers, and the auction items are amazing you do not want to miss this event.
If you are on social media we will share relevant information on events and other resources that might be of assistance. If you have a question about our supports or services feel free to email
[email protected]
or call my office 518-274-3110 x3019 and we will get back to you.
Wishing some warmer Spring days ahead,
Don Mullin, CEO
|
|
Rensselaer County Arc Welcomes
Our Evening On The Lake 2019
Honorary Chair, Keith Algozzine, PA-C
|
|
I
t is a pleasure and honor to introduce Keith Algozzine as this year's Evening On The Lake Honorary Chair. Keith is a board certified Physician Assistant and co-founder and CEO of United Concierge Medicine and Management (UCM). Before creating UCM, he has been the Chief PA of Emergency Medicine for St. Mary's Hospital in Troy, NY, as well as part of the national ER, start-up management team for Pegasus Emergency Medicine. He was also a co-founding member and Director of Patient Services for a nationwide telemedicine company. Keith has been recognized by the Albany Business Review as a 40 under 40 award winner and was instrumental in UCM being awarded the 2017 CEG Lift Off technology award. Keith currently represents United Concierge Medicine on the American Telemedicine Association Accreditation Advisory Board and has been appointed as a member/advisor to the Clinical Practice Guidelines Committees dealing with telemedicine considerations in the practice areas for primary care and urgent care. He now leads a team of telemedicine experts who are changing the way healthcare is delivered at United Concierge Medicine.
Keith tells a story of how it was our Arc that prompted him to realize the need for tele-medicine service. Join us at the Evening On The Lake event to meet Keith and listen to his story.
|
|
CEO Don Mullin and Self Advocate John Larose
Make Their Acting Debut!
|
|
It's A Must See!
Self Advocate John Larose and CEO Don Mullin step out on the stage for their first-time! They will appear in the Saturday, May 4th matinee playing the role of the building supers in the musical
Drowsy Chaperone
presented by SYFI Youth Theater Company (Staging Youths' Future Inc. (
https://www.syfitheater.com/
).
The Matinee is at 3 pm at the Genet Elementary School, East Greenbush. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $15. A special 50/50 raffle will be held during this performance for our Direct Support Professionals Fund (DSP's Fund). Heartfelt thanks goes to SYFI for making two fellas dreams come true!
"... The Drowsy Chaperone is a loving send-up of the Jazz Age musical, featuring one show-stopping song and dance number after another.
With the houselights down, a man in a chair appears on stage and puts on his favorite record: the cast recording of a fictitious 1928 musical. The recording comes to life and The Drowsy Chaperone begins as the man in the chair looks on. Mix in two lovers on the eve of their wedding, a bumbling best man, a desperate theatre producer, a not-so-bright hostess, two gangsters posing as pastry chefs, a misguided Don Juan and an intoxicated chaperone, and you have the ingredients for an evening of madcap delight..." (
https://www.mtishows.com/the-drowsy-chaperone
)
If you have any questions, contact Lisa at 518-274-3110, ext 3028
|
|
The Arcs Across The Counties Take Action!
|
|
As a fun way to promote awareness of the Arcs across the state and our current employment crisis for Direct Support Professionals, the Arcs challenged each other to a lip-sink video challenge. Each chapter participating was to create a video and promote it. The winning chapter would be the Arc with the most views! Check out our video!
We are looking to WIN the challenge! Take a moment to go to our Facebook page and watch the video there as well! That's how we get our votes! Just click on the link below
|
|
|
Our Evening On The Lake fundraiser is just around the corner!
|
|
Join us and our Master of Ceremonies, Lydia Kulbida from Channel 10 news, for this exciting, should not be missed event! Live auctions brought to life by Ralph F. Passonno Jr, CAI, AARE, GR of Uncle Sam AUCTIONS.com, Inc. Items galore donated by local businesses and friends of the Arc will fill our silent auction tables.
To purchase tickets or to become an Honorary Committee Member go to www.renarc.org or call 518-274-3110.
|
|
The Stronger Our Membership The Stronger Our Voice
|
Do You Support The Arc of Rensselaer County and what our agency does? Then become a member today! Go to our website www.renarc.org and sign up. For more information click on the video link. For questions call Lisa at 518-274-3110, ext 3028.
Don't Delay! Do It Today!!
|
Click To See Our Video On Membership
|
|
|
|
|
From The Desk of Stephen Roberts
What To Advocate For
|
|
What to advocate for is one dream for the future. For example, a self- advocate they may have a bucket list and on the list it may have to go visit an island or to go on a tour of the Statue of Liberty. Perhaps there is a type of vacation the individual will like to go, for example to go to Bahamas or to other states vacation destinations. He or she might set goals to achieve something within the year. For example to expand their Volunteer opportunities, change where they Advocate to where they will works, they choose a Class to join. A Self-Advocate can change their care design manager at any time. If they do not like how they are being treated. He or she will ask for help on things like the writing news-letters or anything they will need help on. The Self-Advocate will be a part of the voice along with their staff to accept the challenge for another Arc, and then challenge another Arc. He or she will advocate if they like to go out to the dances, which lives with them and many other things.
An Advocate is always positive and helps their family and friends. An Advocate is willing to stay and out help at egg hunt for Easter at the office or even open house, also to help make run, clean up for the haunted house around Halloween. The Advocate is willing to setup ideas list to help out ones office mats in a fund raiser for the fund call the (DSP). The DSP stand for Direct Support Professionals also called DSP for the people who help with people with physical and intellect disabilities to life their own lives. The Advocate makes a list and passes it on to like Car wash, Bake sales ,to have BBQ and doing a talent show to raise funds.
One may like to do a CQL meeting to talk and answer questions to help plan one’s dreams and their future goals. CQL stand for Council on Quality and leadership. The Advocate will answer 21 questions for example one of the question may be (Do you fear safe out in your community or did you feel safe at home.) The CQL will take about two hours to do and then they will ask someone the same questions who know you on the Advocate team. Self-Advocates many go and join on a committee like the membership at one at the office. He or she may to help to get new member for the membership.
If you have any questions on self-advocates give me a call
Author, Stephen Roberts, Self Advocate
|
|
Company Name
| The Arc of Rensselaer County www.renarc.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
