In This Issue:

• Research in Our Community Has Led to New Projects
• Understand IDEA with Our Self-Guided Training
• Share Your Story
• In the News: Colin Farrell Launches Foundation for People with Disabilities
• Don’t Miss DRMAC’s Transit to Wellness Expo
• Aug 27 Webinar Will Highlight Apps to Support Independent Living
• Last Call for Survey Responses!

Research in Our Community Has

Led to New Projects

You may recall that last year, our Child & Family Advocacy team ran several focus groups and a survey for parents. Their goal was to learn more about the most critical needs of families and additional ways The Arc can provide support. Now, we are excited to present the takeaways from this research—and some new projects inspired by their findings!

In the survey, parents ranked several topics as the most important to them: how to better advocate for their child, how to better understand the special education process, and support events for parents/caregivers. Participants also emphasized the need for more information on maximizing insurance benefits, as well as the supports and services needed for teens and young adults transitioning into adulthood.

To address these needs, our team has planned several exciting projects. These include:

• A new team that has been established at The Arc—our Teen & Young Adult Advocacy team, available to support individuals as they navigate challenges specific to this stage of life.
• An upcoming Empowering Parents Workshop Series, which will occur monthly and will teach parents how they can better advocate for their child.
• In collaboration with Family Voices, The Arc is presenting a webinar on Children's Medicaid. The Arc will also host a similar in-person training this spring.
• Trainings on Guardianship and Alternatives to Guardianship that are currently being developed.

In the meantime, we also continue to offer several self-guided trainings on our website on topics like special education, life after high school, and understanding social security, which can be accessed here.

“An educated parent is an empowered parent,” said Dr. Sally Carruthers, Director of Child & Family Advocacy. “Participating in trainings allows parents to become proactive in their child’s education rather than reacting to the problems that arise along the way.”

We’re looking forward to sharing more about these new projects as we begin to roll them out! Please be on the lookout for more information in future e-newsletters. 

Understand IDEA with Our Self-Guided Training

The new school year has begun! Parents are thinking about how they can support their child’s education this year, and The Arc-JCCGC is here to help them better understand their children’s educational rights.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, is federal legislation that ensures all students have access to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE) that meets the student's needs. Understanding the principles of IDEA is crucial as you prepare to advocate for your child’s rights and needs.

Whether you are familiarizing yourself with IDEA for the first time or simply brushing up on your knowledge, our self-guided training, An Introduction to Special Education Law: 6 Principles of IDEA, can help. This training will give you a brief video overview of IDEA and its principles, written explanations for each of the six principles, a guide to common special education acronyms, and more. Since the training is self-guided, you can review the topics that interest you, at a time that works for you.

Click here to gain a better understanding of IDEA.

Share Your Story

Our stories have the power to change how people see the world. When we share the successes we have experienced and the challenges we have overcome, we shatter stereotypes about people with disabilities. We help others understand that every person with a disability is a unique individual with their own abilities, talents, goals, and dreams—and that all of us can work together to create change in our community.

Because of this, The Arc is collaborating with people with disabilities to help tell their stories to our community! Would you like to share your story with us? We would love to hear from you if:

• You have a great job that you love
• You are in college, or have graduated from college
• You are living independently
• You have faced a challenge or discrimination and you’d like to raise awareness
• You have received support from The Arc
• Your story is not on this list, but you have an important story to tell

If you would like to share your experience, we want to hear from you. If you know someone who has a story to tell, please forward this message onto them. We will work with you to tell your story in whatever way you are comfortable, and we will never share your story without your permission.

Please reach out to info@arcjc.org to share with us or to ask any questions.

We look forward to hearing from you!

In the News: Colin Farrell Launches Foundation for People with Disabilities

“I’m proud of him every day, because I just think he’s magic.”

That’s one of the many thoughts that actor Colin Farrell shared with People Magazine as he opened up about his son, James, and his genetic disorder. James was born with Angelman Syndrome, which is known to cause developmental delays and intellectual disabilities.

For Colin, life with James, who is about to turn 21, has been full of pivotal moments—from finally getting an accurate diagnosis to seeing James take his first steps, despite doctors being unsure if he would ever walk. Colin has watched his son grow up into a kindhearted young adult, and the actor believes that James would want to share his story to help others.

Colin is now raising awareness about an issue that faces many adults with disabilities: Upon turning 21, many people age out of supports, like special education classes, and “more often than not (are) left behind,” he explained to People.

To address this, as well as other needs of people with disabilities and their families, the actor has launched the Colin Farrell Foundation. The foundation will “focus on housing, day programs, workforce support, and advocacy to create lasting change for individuals with intellectual disability,” according to its website.

The People interview was published this month in both a readable and watchable format. To watch the interview or to read the article, click here. To learn more about the Colin Farrell Foundation, click here.

Don’t Miss DRMAC’s

Transit to Wellness Expo

Calling all caregivers! The Denver Regional Mobility & Access Council (DRMAC) will be hosting its annual Transit to Wellness Expo on August 30. The expo gives caregivers an opportunity to explore resources and information about accessible transit options that can assist them in their caregiving roles.

This year, the Transit to Wellness Expo will be taking place from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM on August 30 at City Park Pavilion (2001 Steele St, Denver, CO 80205). The expo is free to attend and is taking online registrations. Click here to register or learn more.

Aug 27 Webinar

Will Highlight Apps

to Support

Independent Living

If you or your family member with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) is living independently, the PACER Center’s upcoming workshop could be a great tool for you! The Minnesota-based center will be hosting an online workshop highlighting several apps that can help adults with IDD thrive as they live independently. The workshop will explore apps that assist with a variety of day-to-day activities, like time management, completing tasks, keeping track of money, developing social skills, and living a healthy lifestyle.

The 1-hour workshop is free to attend and will be held over Zoom on August 27 at 1:00 PM Mountain Time. To register for the workshop, click here. To learn more about the PACER Center, click here.

Last Call for Survey Responses!

There’s still time to respond to our survey about a potential peer support program at The Arc-JCCGC! We’re collecting feedback to learn if, and how, we should offer this new service to our community.

If you would be interested in The Arc providing peer support, and you have not had a chance to take our survey yet, we want to hear from you. Please let us know what you think by filling out our short survey using the links below.