A newsletter for chapters that connects, engages and informs.
JULY 23, 2012
Letter from the CEO
Peter V. Berns
CEO of The Arc
New NGA Chair Focuses on Employment for People with Disabilities
The Arc was excited to learn a couple months ago that Delaware Gov. Jack Markell, incoming chair of the National Governors Association (NGA), was planning to have his chair’s initiative focus on employment of people with disabilities and to share with his staff The Arc’s perspective on the challenges facing people with I/DD. Well now it is official. During the closing session of the NGA Annual Meeting this month Gov. Markell announced his chair’s initiative, A Better Bottom Line: Employing People with Disabilities, which aims to increase employment among individuals with disabilities. A major emphasis of the initiative will be on people who have significant intellectual and developmental disabilities and may require supports like job coaches and personal attendants in order to live and work in the community. The chair plans to convene governors, businesses, disability leaders and other thought leaders throughout the year to share ideas and move forward with support for this population. We look forward to working with Gov. Markell and his staff in support of this initiative. Some of you may know his Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services, Rita M. Landgraff, who was the executive director of The Arc of Delaware. Read The Arc’s statement about Gov. Markell’s initiative.
Resources & Opportunities
Not All Work at The Arc’s National Convention & International Forum
Although The Arc’s annual Convention is full of informative and enlightening sessions about issues important to the I/DD community, it’s not all work and no play. This year, we have planned an opening event filled with Hollywood glitz – “Red Hot on the Red Carpet!” will celebrate the glamour of the movies before our annual film festival. Dress up and stroll the red carpet, complete with paparazzi before enjoying an evening of short films by and about people with I/DD. Throughout the weekend, be sure to visit The Marketplace exhibit hall to shop for fun, colorful and unique products sold by people with I/DD promoting their own microbusinesses. And, plan to attend The Arc’s Research Luncheon this year with a “Highlander” theme. Wear plaid and enjoy a hearty meal as we award outstanding contributors to our field and hear from speakers Eric Rosenthal and Maggie Nygren. Register now to join us in Washington, D.C. October 25-28.
TD Charitable Foundation to Award $2.5 Million in ‘Housing for Everyone’ Grants
The TD Charitable Foundation has announced that it will award $2.5 million in grants to twenty-five organizations working to provide transitional and affordable housing to those in need. As part of the foundation’s annual Housing for Everyone program, the financial services firm is inviting nonprofits to submit proposals outlining their plans to address the most acute affordable housing needs in their communities. Grants of $100,000 will be awarded to organizations working to expand the availability of and/or access to transitional housing and homeless shelters. To be eligible, a nonprofit must develop or maintain affordable housing or provide housing-related programs and services to low- to moderate-income individuals or families in a community where TD Bank conducts business. Applications will be accepted online through August 31, and the winners will be notified in November.
Self-Advocates – Are You Voting? Tell Us Your Story
This election year, The Arc has been on a mission to highlight the importance of voting to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), their families, and everyone who supports our issues through the “We’ve Got the Power” campaign. Now we want to hear from self-advocates about their experience getting involved in our democratic process. Are individuals with I/DD registered to vote? Have they experienced any obstacles to registering, or accessing information about the election process? If you are a self-advocate or know a self-advocate with a story to share, contact Kristen McKiernan or Sarah Bal at The Arc’s National Office.
More Respondents Needed for Abuse Survey
Struck by the number of abuse cases against individuals with disabilities appearing in the media, the Disability and Abuse Project of Spectrum Institute created a survey on the attitudes, beliefs and experiences of many demographic groups (including individuals with disabilities) that have encountered abuse as victims and through their profession. It was created to help advocates and professionals better understand what victims are saying about their abuse experiences and how professionals view their experiences with abuse/crime victims. This survey will provide useful information that can help better serve our community. The survey takes about 8 minutes, is completely anonymous, and all results will be published online. Persons with a disability, family members, or a professional in the disability field are welcome to take the survey. Nearly 6,000 have responded, but more are needed to ensure the results are representative.
Help Support The Arc’s National Public Policy Advocacy
As you know, the federal government provides the single largest source of funding for programs, services and supports for people with I/DD, as well as for many chapters of The Arc. Working together last year, we were successful in defeating budget cuts that would have dismantled the programs and services we have worked so hard to build. But that fight is far from over. Your voluntary contribution to The Arc’s national public policy advocacy efforts will help protect the Medicaid lifeline and other important federal funding streams in the year to come. It is our leadership in federal public policy that sets The Arc apart. We are fortunate to have a public policy team with a combined 100+ years of experience working on your behalf. But the advantages of acquiring all of this talent for the sole benefit of The Arc bring costs. Help ensure our collective voice is heard in Congress. Contact Laura Schroeder for details or mail your contribution to The Arc, 1825 K Street NW, Suite 1200 Washington, D.C. 20006.
Invite the Candidates to the National Forum on Disability Issues
The Arc is a national sponsor of the The National Forum on Disability Issues September 28 in Columbus, Ohio. Your help is needed to make sure it is a success. Please invite the top presidential candidates, President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney to the forum and tell them why disability issues are important to you. This forum will be the only national event to focus specifically on disability issues. You can contact their campaign offices at www.ncoa.org/DisabilityForum. If you are in Ohio, please also invite Josh Mandel and Sherrod Brown. Questions? Contact shetrick@abilitycenter.org.
New Report on Philanthropy and Voluntarism Available
While millennials (defined in the report as people between the ages of 20 and 35) tend to interact with nonprofit organizations in impulsive, immediate ways, they also value authentic, personal connections with the nonprofits they support, a report from Achieve and Johnson, Grossnickle and Associates finds. Based on online surveys and focus group discussions, The Millennial Impact Report 2012(35 pages, PDF) found that 75 percent of millennials donated to a nonprofit or charitable cause in 2011, while 71 percent said they had raised money for a nonprofit. The report also found that while three-quarters of survey respondents own a smartphone, Web sites continue to be the primary source for millennials seeking information about a nonprofit’s work or opportunities to volunteer or donate.
News & Action Items
The Marketplace Bookstore Returns to Convention
The Arc and American As¬sociation on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) will be joining forces at the 2012 National Convention & International Forum to stock a bookstore in The Marketplace exhibit hall. AAIDD is known for publishing high-quality books and publications for professionals in the disability field and related human services professions. Each title has been vetted as a best-in-class resource geared toward keeping working professionals and family members informed of the latest information trends in the field of I/DD. After the success of last year’s Marketplace Bookstore, we’re expanding the opportunity to purchase compelling and educational books on a range of topics. Let us know if you have any favorites by emailing info@thearc.org.
The Arc’s Director of Chapter Organizing and Advocacy to Attend NCSL
Dee Dee Eberle, The Arc’s Director of Chapter Organizing and Advocacy will be attending the National Conference of State Legislators in Chicago August 5-8. She’ll be talking to state lawmakers about The Arc’s interests in protecting the Medicaid lifeline for people with I/DD and asking for their support at the state level to make sure the interests of people with I/DD are served as the states determine how to spend federal dollars for human services programs.
The Arc Audi Racing Program Approaches the Finish Line
The final Pirelli World Challenge races hosting The Arc Audi Racing Program are coming up in California and Ohio. The program has been an unprecedented success providing seven chapters of The Arc across the country to invite 20 individuals with I/DD each to serve as honorary crew members for Istook’s Motorsports and get an idea of what it’s like to work for a race team. Also, driver and team owner Don Istook helped raise awareness about the employment challenges faced by people with I/DD at each race, introducing the issue to thousands of people. Check out this interview of Don Istook from the Audi Motorsport blog discussing The Arc Audi Racing Program and look for news about the 2013 program coming soon.
Online Education Opportunities
Still Time to Register for Bullying Webinar
Register now for tomorrow’s webinar from Autism NOW. “Bullying: What to Know and How to Help Prevent It!” will be presented by Autism NOW co-director Amy Goodman from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. EDT. Listen in to find out more about different forms of bullying, laws designed to protect individuals from being victims of bullies, and strategies that may help prevent bullying or stop it once it occurs! Reserve your seat now.
Brand Update
Congratulations to Colorado which now has 100% of local chapters licensed to use The Arc’s new brand. Washington State and Tennessee are in hot pursuit with only one chapter each left to sign before reaching 100%. Overall, 50% of The Arc’s 700+ chapters are licensed. The more chapters who are using the new brand identity, the easier it will be to raise awareness about The Arc nationwide. If you need assistance adopting the new brand, please contact Amberley Romo at romo@thearc.org.
July 26–29: NCE Summer Leadership Institute, Indianapolis, IN
July 29: The Arc Board of Directors Meeting, Indianapolis, IN
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We encourage you to share this publication with other staff members and volunteer leadership of The Arc, and have them become an online user to gain valuable information in the “For Chapters” section of our website.
For online access to “For Chapters,” click on the “For Chapters” link at bottom left of The Arc home page under “Chapter Resources.” If you’re already logged in, you will be brought directly to the “For Chapters” section. If you’re not logged in, you will be prompted to follow a link to the login page. If you’re a member, simply enter your username and password and click login. If you’re not a current member, click on “New User Registration” and complete the new user form. Under “Chapter Involvement,” please be sure to select “Employee of a Chapter.” Within 24 hours you will have access to the “For Chapters” section of the website.
Tony Paulauski Executive Director
The Arc of Illinois
20901 S. LaGrange Rd. Suite 209
Frankfort, IL 60423
815-464-1832 (OFFICE)
815-464-1832 (CELL)
Tony@www.thearcofil.org
