There is a lot of good information in Fusion including a publication developed by The Arc of New Jersey, “Prevent, Understand, and Live with Diabetes: A Guide for People with Developmental Disabilities” as part of their Diabetes Awareness and Education Project. This guide, which is available in English and Spanish, educates individuals with I/DD and their caregivers about important steps to take to help prevent and control diabetes, including diet changes, improved exercise habits, and regular monitoring by a health care professional. The Arc of New Jersey will present a HealthMeet™ Webinar on this topic December 5 (see below for registration information). Tony
A newsletter for chapters that connects, engages and informs.
NOVEMBER 26, 2012
Letter from the CEO
Peter V. Berns
CEO of The Arc
On Meeting with the President
On November 16, 2012, I had the opportunity to meet with President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and senior-level administration officials to talk about the fiscal cliff. Also in attendance were eleven leaders of other major civil rights and advocacy organizations. See our blog entry for more details about the meeting.
The President’s message was clear. He needs our advocacy in support of extending the Bush-era tax cuts for the middle class, as well as for raising additional revenue to reduce the deficit and prevent cuts to essential programs and services. And we need to carry that message to those in Congress that might otherwise prefer draconian budget cuts, including cutting services and supports that people with disabilities need to be included and participate in their communities.
I left the meeting with a clear appreciation for the fact that the President understands the importance of Medicaid to people with disabilities and their families, as well as to others who rely on this program. But if we are going to save Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income and Social Security from cuts, we can’t rely on the Administration to do it alone. They need the activism of our movement to make it happen! And that, I think, is the reason The Arc was singled out among the many national disability organizations to be at the table.
The Administration has noticed the breadth and depth of The Arc’s network and how effective we’ve been at organizing and mobilizing people with I/DD and their families at the local level to tell their stories to their Senators and Representatives. So the time to act is now. Read The Arc’s new National Policy Matters to learn more about the fiscal cliff. Call your Senators and Representatives and tell them Don’t Cut Our Lifeline!
Resources & Opportunities
Get Information about Diabetes and People with I/DD
The Arc of New Jersey, a HealthMeet™ pilot site, has produced a publication, “Prevent, Understand, and Live with Diabetes: A Guide for People with Developmental Disabilities” as part of their Diabetes Awareness and Education Project. This guide, which is available in English and Spanish, educates individuals with I/DD and their caregivers about important steps to take to help prevent and control diabetes, including diet changes, improved exercise habits, and regular monitoring by a health care professional. The Arc of New Jersey will present a HealthMeet™ Webinar on this topic December 5 (see below for registration information).
Tis the Season for Car Donations
Be sure you are getting the word out about The Arc’s Car Donation Program as we creep closer to the end of the year when people are feeling charitable and thinking about their tax deductions. Remind your community through emails, your newsletter or social media that they can take a tax break while helping to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities by donating an old vehicle to your chapter online or by calling 1-800-ARC-CAR-0. If your Chapter is not yet a part of The Arc’s Car Donation program, signing up is free and we’ll give you some marketing materials to get you started. If you’re already using the program but could use some advice on how to promote it, contact Shelly DeButts, The Arc’s national marketing manager at debutts@thearc.org.
General Mills Foundation Accepting Applications for Champions for Healthy Kids Fifty grants of $10,000 will be awarded to community-based nonprofit groups in the United States for programs to improve youth nutrition and physical fitness behavior. Application deadline is December 3.
Early-Bird Discounts on Sibling Peer Learning Community End 12/14
Register now for an early-bird discount on participation in a new Peer Learning Community from The Arc on the need and impact of programming for siblings of individuals with I/DD. Does your Chapter have a formal or informal sibling program which could use improvement? Would you like to start one? Do you have some successes you can share? This intensive six-week exchange among chapters and experts in the field via teleconferences, webinars, a resource library, and message boards will help you learn what types of sibling supports exist, what types of support siblings are seeking and what others are doing in the field. Up to five participants from your chapter can participate for only $179 if you sign up before December 14! After December 14, the rate will be $199. The sessions run from January 14 to February 22, 2013.
Present at The Arc’s 2013 National Convention
With The Arc’s 2012 National Convention over, we are already ramping up for our 2013 Convention in Bellevue, WA, August 2 through 5! Next year’s theme, “Achieving Momentum” is an opportunity for us to come together and brainstorm new ways to keep moving forward. We are currently looking for presentation ideas, if you have a presentation idea or know someone who does please submit it by February 1, 2013.
FEMA Offers Emergency Preparedness Tips for People with Disabilities
Federal agencies have recognized that people with disabilities may need to take additional precautions in order to be ready for expected and unexpected winter weather events. FEMA recommends getting a kit and making sure it includes warm clothing, blankets, food, water, a flashlight, and small shovel, salt or sand, and additional blankets and supplies for service animals and pets. It is also important to try to obtain an emergency supply of medications and medical supplies in case travel becomes hazardous. Cold weather can stress respiratory and circulatory systems, making it more difficult to travel or complete tasks that require physical exertion. For additional winter weather tips for people with disabilities, visit the Fairfax County and CDC websites.
News & Action Items
Help Us Usher in 2013 with 2013!
Are you connected with The Arc’s national office on Facebook? If not, you should be! You never know what kind of great stuff we’re going to post about the I/DD movement. If your chapter has a Facebook page and you “like” us, we’ll “like” you back! But even personally, it can be a great way to stay connected to The Arc nationally, other chapters and people with I/DD and their families from across the country. In the final few weeks of 2012, we’re kicking off a campaign to usher in 2013 with 2013 new Facebook fans by December 31. You can help us get there by “liking” and sharing our page with everyone you know! The big bonus is, if we get more followers, you’ll be able to post news about your chapter and comments on our wall for those people to see.
Global Report on Article 19 Available Online
Inclusion International has uploaded a video presentation about their Global Report on Article 19: The Right to Live and be Included in the Community to Facebook, YouTube and www.inclusion-international.org. The presentation was shown at The Arc’s National Convention and International Forum, Achieving Inclusion Across the Globe, in Washington D.C. last month.
The Arc’s Joyce Lipman Speaks at Press Conference Supporting the ABLE Act
Recently Joyce Lipman, former member of The Arc’s Board of Directors, joined Members of Congress and other disability rights advocates on Capitol Hill to support the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act during a press conference. Joyce brought her daughter Elise with her to the event and shared with the audience how the ABLE Act would help Elise lead a better life by providing her financial security. The bill would create a new planning tool for families that would allow individuals to save funds in new ABLE accounts without impacting their eligibility for means-tested federal programs like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid. Representative Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), one of the lead co-sponsors of the bill, acknowledged Joyce and Elise, his constituents, as powerful advocates and voiced his support for the ABLE Act and his hope that the bill would pass before Congress adjourns. The ABLE Act has broad bipartisan support, with more than 230 House sponsors and 40 in the Senate.
Online Education Opportunities
Free HealthMeet™ Webinar on Diabetes and Developmental Disabilities
The American Diabetes Association estimates that nearly 26 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes and another 79 million Americans have pre-diabetes and are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. One study found that adults with cognitive limitations had a significantly higher prevalence of diabetes than did adults with no disability (19.4% vs. 3.8%, respectively). Like many other chronic health conditions, diabetes can be treated or prevented with appropriate health education and interventions but people with I/DD often don’t have access to these services. This is a problem that The Arc’s HealthMeet™ project aims to solve. Register now for a free Webinar: Prevent, Understand, and Live with Diabetes on Monday, December 5 from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. EST led by Nurse Practitioner, Leone Murphy, from The Arc of New Jersey.
Free Webinar Series for Students with I/DD & Their Families Think College‘s free webinar series, which begins on December 12, covers many different topics on postsecondary education options for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Families, professionals and students can learn about strategies to prepare for college-based transition programs, work and community-based participation. Information will also be provided about legislative and policy changes that affect postsecondary education for students with I/DD. All webinars will be held from 2 – 3:30 p.m. EST.
Chapter Focus
The Arc in Macon Helping to Move People with I/DD Out of Institutional Settings The Arc has long believed that individuals with disabilities should be empowered to live in accessible and affordable housing similar to those without disabilities. Institutional settings and large congregate living arrangements are unnecessary and inappropriate for people with I/DD, regardless of type or severity of disability. For this reason, we support the move away from restrictive institutional settings to community supports. Our chapters work to ensure that individuals with I/DD are given the opportunity to decide how and where they live within their communities. Thanks to the work of The Arc’s chapter in Macon, individuals in Georgia are now able to move from segregated institutions to group homes funded through new housing and urban development grants. Check out news coverage of their work on WeAreTheArc.org.
Brand Update Did you see the branded merchandise for sale at The Arc’s National Convention & International Forum? If you are using The Arc’s new brand, you can order similar merchandise emblazoned with your chapter’s logo for promotional giveaways or resale through Design Online, a digital storefront set up by The Arc for branded chapters to easily purchase bulk merchandise and stationery items.
December 7, 2012 – The Arc Tennessee, 60th Anniversary Celebration, Nashville, TN
December 10, 2012 – State Executive’s Meeting, Nashville, TN
January 7, 2012 – The Arc of Monroe County, Rochester, NY
January 27, 2012 – The Arc National Board Meeting, Washington DC
Find us on:
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
