|
Join The Arc of Aurora Members, Family, and Friends at
|
|
April 23, 2016
Springfest FUNdraiser AND Dance at McCarthy's Sports Bar and Grill
Plan an evening of visiting with friends, silent auction, and dancing to music by Runaway Train. Interested in contributing to our fundraiser? We're looking for basket donations. Download and print the informational sheet here, or call Jean at 720.213.1420 to sign up. See Hot Topic in this issue for more information on Springfest.
April 29, 2016
Colorado's Mandatory Reporting Crimes Against People with Developmental Disabilities:
Everything You Need to Know about Implementing but Didn't Know Who to Ask!
August 6, 2016
Summerfest FUNdraiser at Pitcher's Sports Restaurant
Indoor carnival and silent auction
|
| Check out our YouTube videos!
Watch The Arc of Aurora's Self-Advocates starring in "Affordable, Accessible, and Available Housing:
#ItsTimeToTalkAboutIt"
Make Some Memories with The Arc of Aurora in "Making Memories". Check out one of our #ItsTimeToTalkAboutIt videos, "Employment for #PWD"
See the rest of our videos here.
|
|
Support Us When You Shop & Surf the Web
Did you know that with each purchase you make at Amazon.com you can support The Arc of Aurora?
Amazon Smile is a 501(c)(3) foundation that lets customers enjoy the same selection of products, etc., as on Amazon.com. The difference is that when customers
shop on AmazonSmile
, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to The Arc of Aurora!
eBay for Charity
is another online-shopping option that allows you to support The Arc of Aurora with each purchase! eBay for Charity teams up with a nonprofit called PayPal Giving Fund to ensure that 100% of every donation processed is given to the allocated organization!
goodsearch
is a Yahoo-powered search engine that offers funding to nonprofits like The Arc of Aurora with each online search! All you have to do is use the internet like you normally do, except the Arc of Aurora can earn a portion of goodsearch.com's advertising profits!
|
|
 |
|
|
From the Editor
March Madness is EVERYWHERE, including The Arc of Aurora office:
We have two new advocates in our office, Christine and Laura. Springfest silent auction and DANCE prep are underway. We are supporting our Aurora Police Department's Special Victims' Unit gearing up for the July 1 mandatory reporting of crimes against people with I/DD. We're following Aurora Public Schools' work to improve their failing schools, especially in regard to their education plans for children with I/DD. We're actively providing advocacy support for more than 200 clients with I/DD. We're tracking legislation that impacts the lives of all Coloradans with I/DD... It's madness everywhere!
Join us for our Springfest silent auction and dance and the mandatory reporting training; links for both events just to the left of what you're reading now. Both Christine and Laura plan to be at Springfest -- come introduce yourself!
 Spring comes with its own madness that you're probably coping with in your own homes, if nothing else with our longer days and recent time change. Good luck managing your madness, and we hope to see you at some of ours!
Jean Solis
Editor and Director of Marketing and Development
___________________________________________
|
Need a camp for your kids this summer?
Bowling Fun!
The Arc of Aurora sponsors a Sunday afternoon
bowling league through May for ages 16+ at
AMF
Aurora Lanes
from 12:45-3PM. The cost is $8 for 3
games, shoes included. If you
need support, please bring it - neither support nor supervision is provided. For more information, call Dottie at 303.337.5540.
Make a Springfest Basket Donation
Have you attended previous years' Spring- and/or Summerfest's silent auctions and thought, "I could help The Arc of Aurora and donate a basket, gift cards for baskets, or something else for staff to combine with other things in a basket."? Here's your opportunity! We are collecting new items and gift  cards, as well as assembled baskets themselves, for our April 23 Springfest silent auction of baskets. Click here
for a donation form you may complete and send to Jean in the office to let her know of your donation. Or you can just drop Jean a note at [email protected] or leave her a voice message at 720.213.1420 letting her know to expect your donation. We request items be dropped off in the office no later than Monday, April 4, for beautifying and cataloging.
Contributing Membership
with The Arc of Aurora has
many benefits. AND both new and renewing members are eligible for a gift card drawing each month - realize your benefits right
away! Click here to renew now.
|
|
Hot Topic: Springfest -- Silent Auction AND Dance!
|
Like to dance to live music with NO cover charge?Want to bring your family and friends along? Enjoy
 seeing Arc of Aurora friends from days gone by? Love the music of Runaway Train (who played at The Arc of Aurora's 40th Anniversary celebration last fall)? Then calendar Saturday, April 23, 5-8PM to join the fun!
The Arc of Aurora's annual Springfest, hosted by McCarthy's Sports Bar and Grill, 15350 E. Smoky Hill Road in SE Aurora, is one of just a few fundraising events the organization holds each year. Well, this year's Springfest not only offers you the opportunity to bid on baskets {100% of the proceeds from
which
support The Arc of Aurora's advocacy work}, but you can also DANCE TO LIVE MUSIC! Springfest includes two events, the silent auctioning of approximately 50 themed baskets AND the Ladder of Liquor. Silent auction = browse the selection of baskets, each of which has a bidding sheet. Follow the instructions on the bidding sheet to bid and possibly win a basket. The final bidder when the auction closes at 8PM wins. Baskets will also be available on a Buy it Now status. If you REALLY want a basket, you can pay the Buy It Now price noted on the bid sheet right then and walk away right then with the basket: no bidding war, no waiting until 8PM. But you may want to arrive early for the best selection of baskets. Ladder of Liquor = donate $20, pick a hidden  number, win the bottle of liquor (all bottles are displayed) whose number corresponds to the number you select. Voila! Gift for your next party taken care of or you'll have a fabulous new addition to your home bar! Bid and play often and The Arc of Aurora's advocacy support wins, too!
New to the event this year will be the opportunity to provide or update your contact information with The Arc of Aurora.
The first 100 people who update/provide The Arc of Aurora their contact information will receive a $5 gift certificate for McCarthy's, usable event night on food or drink. Only 2 gift certificates/family.
The Arc of Aurora's
 April 23, 5-8PM Springfest at McCarthy's Sports Bar and Grill will be a rockin' family fun event you will not want to miss. Calendar the date now!
Questions on the event may be directed to Jean Solis, [email protected] or 720.213.1420.
|
|
What's Happening on Social Media
|
"Know someone who could benefit from an adaptive bike? Consider entering and/or donating to theUNcontest here!
"Concerned about #transit issues in #Denver Metro area? Get involved with RTD! Call for members for RTD's Citizens Advisory Committee! Applications due March 31st. Find information and application here.
"It is shameful indeed when legislators prefer to support monopolistic, nearly 100 percent government-funded big businesses over taxpayers and individuals with disabilities" #Justic4COIDD #Coleg #ItsTimeToTalkAboutIt See the article here.
"In an #election where gender & race are both popular topics of discussion, there is a silent but formidable group of voters that no one's talking about: #disabled #voters." See the article here.
Could #Colorado help #Uber become an #accessible #transportation option? Read the article here.
Don't miss a thing by following The Arc of Aurora on
 and
Legislative Session Updates
Contributed by Hanni Raley, Director of Systems Advocacy
Here are the bills that The Arc of Aurora is watching at the State Capitol, specifically as they relate to children and adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.
House Bill 16-1027:
Criminal Disposition For At-risk Persons, Sponsored by Representative Danielson
This bill allows the prosecution to request to take the deposition or statement of a victim or witness who is an at-risk adult and/or an at-risk elder if they may be unavailable at trial (likely due to death or incapacity) to be used in future trial. This bill helps to recognize and realize new tools to increase prosecution like the Hearsay Exception and Mandatory Reporting which will increase the likelihood that victimization of a person with I/DD has substantial chance of prosecution and justice.
This bill passed out of House Judiciary Committee and passed the Second Reading on the House floor. Waiting for it to be assigned to a Senate Committee for the next step of the legislative process.
House Bill 16-1054:
End-of-life Options For Terminally Ill Individuals, Sponsored by Representative Court, Representative Ginal, and Senator Merrifield
The bill enacts the Colorado End-of-life Options Act, which authorizes an individual with a terminal illness to request, and the individual's attending physician to prescribe to the individual, medication to hasten the individual's death. Considerable concerns regarding the lack of protections for people with disabilities have been raised.
This bill passed out of the House Judiciary Committee, but was laid over (not passed) out of House floor. This bill will no longer be heard and is considered dead.
Its Companion bill,
SB16-25, died on party line in Senate State, Veterans, and Military Committee on 2/3/16.
House Bill 16-1101:
Medical Decisions For Unrepresented Patients, Sponsored by Representative Young
The bill allows an attending physician or his or her designee to make health care treatment decisions as a patient's proxy decision-maker for a patient deemed incapacitated, in certain circumstances, after review by a hospital's Ethics Committee. Again, considerable concerns regarding the lack of safeguards for people with disabilities have been discussed.
This
bill was passed out of the House Health, Insurance, and Environment Committee with multiple amendments. It is scheduled to be heard for Second reading on the House Floor on 3/23/16.
House Bill 16-1127: Audits Of CCBs By OSA, Sponsored by Representative Sias
The bill directs the state auditor to audit all Colorado CCBs, no less than once every five years, or more frequently in the state auditor's discretion. The bill also requires the state auditor to conduct a performance audit of three CCBs annually and to submit a written report with recommendations on each audit conducted to the legislative audit committee. The bill also makes each community-centered board subject to the Colorado Local Government Audit Law.
This bill has not yet been calendared but has been assigned to the House Committee on Public Health Care and Human Services.
Senate Bill 16-038: Transparency Of Community-centered Boards, Sponsored by Representative Young and Senator Aguilar
The bill makes all writings made, maintained, or kept by a community-centered board (CCB) that receives more than 75% of its funding on an annual basis from the federal, the state, or a local government or from any combination of such governmental entities subject to public inspection, essentially opening up all local CCBs to Colorado Open Records Act (CORA).
Bill was heard in Senate State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee on 2/1/16 and was laid over for decision for Action Only, which means there will be no public testimony.
If the bill does not move forward, there are community members and organizations working with legislators to attempt to revive pieces of the needed transparency discussion... stay tuned!
Senate Bill 16-077:
Employment First For Persons With Disabilities, Sponsored by Senator Kefalas, Representative Ginal, and Representative Primavera
The bill asks certain state departments to develop employment first policies for persons with disabilities and is currently being rewritten to codify Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and other Federal legislation.
This bill was heard 2/16/16 in Senate Finance Committee and multiple amendments were passed at the time. Though the bill had been laid over for decision, it finally passed out of committee 3/17/16! The bill moves on to Senate appropriations before hitting the Senate floor for second reading.
Please stay tuned for legislative updates as this session promises to be an exciting one!
If you have questions about any of the bills listed or how to make your voice heard on a specific issue, please contact Hanni Raley at [email protected] or 720-213-1420.
|
|
The Arc of Aurora is Getting Social*
|
Strategically
Knowing Our Decision-Making Criteria
Submitted by Darla Stuart, Executive Director
|
|
*The Arc of Aurora was selected as one of four non-profits to attend a two year program starting in January 2016 on how to start a Social Enterprise. The Social Enterprise Alliance says, "Social enterprises are businesses whose primary purpose is the common good. They use the methods and disciplines of business and the power of the marketplace to advance their social, environmental and human justice agendas."
In this third month of the process now, our social enterprise journey is in the business idea generating  month. FINALLY, we can really start thinking about what kind of business we might create! Specifically, we were asked to think creatively regarding what's happening in the market today and why; what's next; what's coming; and what the market needs today and in the future. We are challenged this month to ponder and offer solutions regarding
- What issues or problems are our clients facing;
- How do we know;
- What do our clients repeatedly ask us for help with;
- Who else in our community has these issues or problems;
- Our assets and competencies including human assets; skills/expertise; audience/relationships/members; services, programs, events; facilities, equipment; and reputation/brand.
In addition, we need to consider our mission and key decision making criteria that include that The Arc of Aurora's Social Enterprise must
- Be a value add for our mission (advocating for PwIDD and their families) and those we serve.
- Create an immediate and sustainable WOW! response.
- Support sustainable expansion of our geographic footprint and funding.
- Reflect what people with disabilities and their families think they need and want to use.
After all of this focused thinking, we just start  brainstorming. Right now, every idea is a good idea. We do not judge or censor, and any idea for making money based on our assets, competencies and/or market needs/trends is written down for consideration.
So how has that process gone? To date, we have generated more than 25 ideas ranging from housing to Designer advocates. What ideas do you think we should consider? I would love to hear your thoughts; send them to me via email,
[email protected]
,
or call me at 720.213.1420.
Thanks! Darla
|
|
Christine Ungerer and Laura Miller, The Arc of Aurora's Two Newest Advocates
|
Hello there! My name is Christine Ungerer and I just recently joined The Arc of Aurora team! A little about me... I was born and raised in Montrose, Colorado, where I grew up learning to love camping, fishing, and hiking. I have my bachelor's degree in social work and am currently working on my master's
degree in social work at the University of Denver. I have been married to my husband for five years. We are huge fans of Marvel and love going out to see the midnight premiere showing of most superhero movies. We also have two dogs that are rescues. Their names are Kali and Cooper. Kali is a jack Russell lab mix and Cooper is a hound mix. I enjoy wall climbing, cooking, and coloring. I look forward to meeting everyone, and I am so excited to be a part of The Arc of Aurora organization!
My name is Laura Miller and I have worked for a number of years with individuals with special needs, primarily with kiddos. I have done volunteer work in
the Dominican Republic and I worked at an orphanage in Peru. I love to travel and even had the wonderful opportunity to finish out my college career at Massey University in Wellington, New Zealand. I have two sweet little boys who amaze me every day, and I am looking forward to the day when they are old enough to travel with me. I also enjoy painting and doing art and craft activities. I, too, am excited to be here and to work with you!
|
|
Everything Else You Need To Know
|
|
Webinars
Life Transitions Webinar Series
These April 29th and May 20th online presentations include topics of interest and importance towards the goal of helping participants better understand, advocate, and care for their family member with ASD and their families as a whole. Click here to read more about them and register.
CDE is offering 3 free online courses on
how to effectively partner with families to support student learning. Each course has a specific focus, timeframe and suggested audience. There is an emphasis on immediately applying the information to a situation through data-based action planning. Participants may choose to enroll with teammates or partners. See the
informational flyer here
, the
syllabus here
, and
register here.
This webinar on April 21 is for care coordinators, health department personnel, school personnel, and other professionals working with children with ASD and their families. Anyone is welcome to attend this free webinar or to attend in person at Anschutz. Register here.
 Dr. Grandin and Rupert Isaacson explore how to prepare the autistic child for the adult, working world through starting social skills and academics through movement and following the child's interests. This event is on April 11 from 6 - 9 PM.
RSVP to [email protected] by March 28 to attend this interactive event on April 7 from 9:30 AM - 3:00 PM and learn how to support choice and fulfilling lives in the community for your friends and family with developmental disabilities.
The University of Denver is conducting a paid research study which will involve 3 visits to the DU campus for 4 hours of testing, caregiver interviews, and survey completion. Participants must be ages 6-25 and have a diagnosis of intellectual disability. Participants will receive compensation for their participation, as well as a feedback session on cognitive test results from a licensed school psychologist. For more information, contact Jeanine Coleman at 303-871-2496.
Developmental Pathways and the Community Outreach Department are holding a free resource fair on April 2 from 1:00 - 3:00 PM to allow you to meet providers, therapists and more.
The Denver Asset Building Coalition (DABC) is
 preparing and e-filing basic federal and State of Colorado income tax returns FREE of charge for families making less than $55,000, or single filers making less than $35,000 in total income. Appointments are not necessary and the average wait time is less than 30 minutes. Prior to your appointment please make sure you have all of your documentation to complete your Federal tax return.
Click here for more information on this program and a listing of SuperSites, one of which is in Aurora.
These classes take place monthly at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Library from 5:30 - 6:30 PM and are recommended for enhancing your overall quality of life in addition to providing preparation for homeownership.
Continuing Education for Adults with Down Syndrome is a grant-funded research project featuring and evaluating 4 unique modules that support life-long learning for adults with Down Syndrome. This occurs Mondays from 6:30 - 8 PM at University of Denver's Morgridge College of Education. Contact Brianne Gerlach-McDonald at 906-251-8201 or [email protected] to sign up.
Join the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing on March 31 at 9 AM to discuss the interface between the Home and Community Based Services Setting Final Rule and Guardianship. This training will provide an overview of Adult Guardianship in Colorado, discuss how the best practice of a Human Rights Committee can be used as a tool to assists service providers and present some promising practices for providers to incorporate into their processes in regards to guardians and Final Settings Rule compliance.
Attend this educational event on April 21 from 10:00 - 11:30 AM at Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora for Autism Awareness Month. This may also be attended via webinar. Register
here.
Other Information
Elections matter. When you vote, you choose who represents the disability community in the government at all levels. 2016 is an election year...so exercise your right to vote!
In order to continue receiving Medicaid funding for waiver services, Colorado must separate case management and direct services. The redesign of the system to comply with these requirements is called Conflict Free Case Management. In support of the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing's (the Department) work to resolve the conflict of interest across the service continuum, the Colorado General Assembly passed legislation directing the Department to develop a plan for the delivery of Conflict Free Case Management and to submit the plan to the Colorado General Assembly by July 1, 2016. In order to ensure transparency, the Department is seeking input from clients, guardians, advocates, and providers to prepare for these changes and to inform its plan to the Colorado General Assembly.
Click here
to read the Department's announcement of Stakeholder meetings,
click here
for meetings' schedule, and
click here
for meetings' agenda. If you have questions about the implications of this change to the services you currently receive from Developmental Pathways, contact your Arc of Aurora advocate.
Are you a person with a disability who likes to eat? Do you like to cook? Check out
these videos by the National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD).
Tax Scams
Support in Applying for Benefits
Colorado Disability Benefits Support Program (DBS) is hosting a webinar series on the basics of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) programs and how to apply for them. This series is geared towards individuals/families who need these benefits but are having difficulty navigating the application process. It includes a basic overview of each type of benefit program, how to apply and an overview of the paperwork that applicants will receive and need to return to complete their application. Click here to view a flyer on the series.
This handout from PACER's National Parent Center on Transition and Employment discusses four basic steps parents can take to support their youth's development of employment skills and to investigate employment options in the home and community.
 Mile High United Way launched a new 2-1-1 service. This free and confidential community referral service provides connections to food, shelter, child care options, and even tax help. It's as easy as texting your zip code to 898-211 to get started.
As states prepare to offer accounts that will allow people with disabilities to save without losing government benefits, a new website is launching to help families navigate the offering.
The Aurora Animal Shelter partners with the Dumb Friends League to host subsidized mobile spay and neuter clinics for cats and dogs on March 24 @ 7:30 AM. Cats are free, dogs are $50.
More than 1 in 7 American children have a mental, behavioral or developmental disorder, according to the CDC, but prevalence is far from steady across the country.
As more people with autism come in contact with the court system, one state is requiring that judges be trained to better understand the developmental disorder.
Federal education officials want states to take action to ensure that minority students aren't over-represented in special education.
A genetic abnormality in the brain could be integral to Down syndrome, researchers say in a finding that could point to new treatment options for those with the chromosomal disorder.
Under a new proposal, the federal government would be required to take sweeping steps to utilize affirmative action to increase the number of workers with disabilities in its ranks.
Increasingly, hospital ERs are incorporating sensory rooms and other strategies to better serve children with developmental disabilities.
A revamped approach to federal legislation aimed at addressing the needs of kids with autism and other developmental disabilities who wander is garnering bipartisan support.
Many children with autism have difficulty sleeping, and new research suggests that such nighttime troubles may be directly tied to behavioral issues. Kids on the spectrum who didn't sleep well at night displayed more aggression, irritability and had greater difficulty paying attention during the day.
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced that all health plans within the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program - which covers federal employees, retirees and their dependents - must include ABA therapy starting next year.
Researchers say they may have figured out how a rare form of autism develops from a gene mutation, and they soon will begin testing a potential treatment.
Parents and others who provide care for people with disabilities could be eligible for a tax credit under a new proposal.
More than a quarter of children with developmental disabilities wander away from safe environments each year, a new study suggests, and those with autism appear to be at greatest risk.
|
|
|
