| Have you checked out our YouTube videos?
- Check out whether you part of some of The Arc of Aurora's memories in "Making Memories".
- See the rest of our videos here.
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Support Us When You Shop Online!
Did you know that with each purchase 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.
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From the Editor
"We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be."
- Kurt Vonnegut, Mother Night
Happy Late Summer -
Vonnegut's quote above is a bit cynical, I know, but maybe not so much... Regardless, election time is
 approaching, and the choices our ballot offers will affect our lives for years to come. Thus, it is important to educate yourself about the
choices on your ballot and your rights as a voter; to help you, Hanni Raley, Director of Systems Advocacy has included a lot of helpful information in our
Hot Topic section below.
A few states have established ABLE accounts that qualified participants here in Colorado can contribute to. Once again, Hanni is our go-to on that information in the
Policy Profile section below.
This issue, a combined August/September one, is chock full of information. Check it out -- and, as ever, let me know what you think.
Enjoy the last days of summer!
Jean Solis
Editor and Director of Marketing and Development
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Do You Love to Bowl and Are You 16+ Years Old?
Then you can join The Arc of Aurora's Sunday Get Together Bowling League! The group meets at the AMF Aurora Lanes, 16700 E. Mississippi Avenue, Aurora 80017, on Sundays starting September 11. Practice  begins at 12:45PM, games at 1PM. Cost is $9/week for 3 games and shoes. Use a wheelchair? No problem! Supervision is NOT provided. Got questions? Call Dottie at 303.337.5540.
Is Your Arc of Aurora Membership Current?
The Arc of Aurora's membership calendar is July 1 - June 30. Thus, it's time to confirm that you have renewed your Contributing Membership for 2016-'17. In addition to access to advocacy support, Contributing Members are eligible to apply for annual scholarships offered by The Arc of Aurora (other  criteria must also be met) and receive a 15% discount card for arc Thrift Store shopping throughout the year. Click here to renew your Membership online or check in with your Arc of Aurora advocate for a printed form and payment by check or cash.
Make Volunteering a Regular Part of Your Life
Aktion Clubs are service clubs for people with developmental disabilities and are supported by local Kiwanis Clubs. A metro area club is starting up, and you are invited to join! The next Aktion Club meeting  is Tuesday, September 6, from 1-2:30PM at the Englewood Public Library, 1000 Englewood Pkwy, Englewood, CO 80110 in the Andersen Room. Attendees will nominate and elect officers and board members. The agenda also includes a program on Operation Christmas Child by Nicole Johnson. You may arrive as early as 12:30PM. Questions on Aktion Club may be addressed to Jean or your advocate in The Arc of Aurora office.
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Hot Topic: Exercise Your Right to Vote
Contributed by Hanni Raley, Director of Systems Advocacy
No way could you have missed it... an important election occurs this November 8th! From presidential nominations, local legislator seats, school district bond issues, and ballot initiatives, there has never been a more important time to be sure your voice is heard through your vote on Election Day. Here are some helpful tips to be sure YOU are ready to cast your vote.
REGISTER TO VOTE
While you may register to vote in-person on the day of the election, save yourself the headache and get registered to vote in advance. Visit the Secretary of State's webpage
here to register or to check your registration status. Also, you may register to vote by text right now. Eligible Coloradans can simply text the word "Colorado" or "CO" to "2Vote" (28683) on your smartphones and then open the link to the registration and election information site. It's that easy.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
Individuals with all disabilities have the right to access the polling place and cast their vote. These polling places are required under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to meet certain
 accessibility standards. If you have a disability and need assistance casting your vote, you have the right to get help at the polls from a person of your choosing. Polling place election workers may also assist you. Another option is to cast your vote by mail, so you may have the time and help needed to make informed decisions.
WHAT IF I HAVE TROUBLE AT THE POLLING PLACE?
Despite the protection that the ADA offers to those with disabilities when it comes to voting, history has shown that people with disabilities still face discrimination at the polls. Discrimination could be non-ADA compliant polling places or misinformed election workers, and it is never acceptable. If you have trouble at any point during the registration or voting process, call The Arc of Aurora at 720.213.1420 or The Election Protection Coalition (EPC) at 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683). The EPC offers voter protection services and can help you understand your voting rights.
Be prepared to cast your vote by knowing what will be on your ballot in advance. Here are a few resources you might consider using to research upcoming
 issues:
Ballotpedia will generate a sample ballot for your review
Ballot Ready will generate your ballot options, and will help you to compare candidate stances on issues that matter to you. Also, if you use a smartphone, you can save your candidate choices to your device, which you can then use as a guide in the voting booth.
WHAT ARE THE ISSUES?
Beyond candidate elections, Colorado voters will be asked to look at bond and ballot initiatives.
School District Bond Elections
- Decreasing classroom size
- Building repairs
- Security enhancements
- C
omputer and technology upgrades
- Building a new school for Mrachek Middle School
- Building a new 6th through 12th grade school in northwest Aurora and a new preschool through 8th grade school in east Aurora
- Constructing a ballot that APS may lease to a state institution of higher education to provide students with more postsecondary learning opportunities
- Decreasing classroom size
- Building improvements
- Building a new elementary and middle school
- Security enhancements
- Building a Career and Innovation Education Center - Customized spaces for elementary and middle school innovation and collaboration
Ballot Initiatives
Colorado $12 Minimum Wage Amendment: Proposing to increase the minimum wage to $9.30 per hour with
 annual increases of $0.90 each January 1 until the wage reaches $12 per hour by January 2020. Also includes an annual adjustment for cost-of-living increases.
Colorado Exempt Certain Possessory Interests from Property Taxes, Amendment U: Proposing an amendment to the Colorado constitution concerning an exemption from property taxation for certain interest values.
Colorado Medical Aid in Dying Initiative: Proposing a change to the Colorado Revised Statutes to permit any mentally capable adult Colorado resident who has a medical prognosis of death by terminal illness within six months to receive a prescription from a willing licensed physician for medication that can be self-administered to bring about death.
Colorado No Exception to Involuntary Servitude Prohibition, Amendment T: Proposing an amendment to the Colorado Constitution concerning the removal of the exception to the prohibition of slavery and involuntary servitude when used as punishment for persons convicted of a crime.
Colorado Requirements for Initiated Constitutional Amendments Amendment: Proposing an amendment
 to the Colorado Constitution to make it more difficult to amend the Colorado Constitution, by requiring that any petition for a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment be signed by at least 2% of the registered electors who reside in each state senate district for the amendment to be placed on the ballot.
Colorado State Health Care System Initiative, Amendment 69: Proposing an amendment to the Colorado Constitution, which establishes a healthcare payment system to fund healthcare for all Coloradans by increasing state taxes and creating a governmental entity called ColoradoCare to run and oversee the program.
Colorado Sales Tax Ballot Issue 4B: Appearing on ballots in Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Boulder, Denver, Douglas and Jefferson Counties. This issue proposes to extend sales and use taxes until 2030 specifically for the Denver Metropolitan Scientific Cultural Facilities District to collect, retain, and spend garnered revenue.
Colorado Tobacco Tax Initiative No. 143: Proposing to amend Colorado's constitution so that starting in
 January, taxes on a pack of cigarettes would increase from 84 cents per pack to $2.59 per pack. The tax on other tobacco products would increase by 22 percent of the manufacturer's list price. Funds generated by the taxes would go to existing tobacco education, prevention, and cessation programs. Additionally, new revenue would be allocated for tobacco-related health research; veterans' programs; child and adolescent behavioral health; construction and technology improvements for qualified health providers; educational loan repayment for health professionals in rural and underserved areas; and health professional training tracks.
Colorado Sales Tax Ballot Issue 4B: Appearing on ballots in Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Boulder, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson Counties. This issue proposes to extend sales and use taxes until 2030, specifically for the Denver Metropolitan Scientific Cultural Facilities District to collect, retain, and spend garnered revenue.
 At The Arc of Aurora, we know that voting is a right that comes with much responsibility. If you have any questions about the voting process or issues, or need any help at all, don't hesitate to contact your advocate or Hanni Raley, Director of Systems Advocacy, at 720-213-1420 or [email protected].
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Policy Profile: The Arc US's Position on New Department of Labor Regulations
Originally written and distributed to Arc Chapters, Including The Arc of Aurora, by Marty Ford, Senior Executive Officer for Public Policy at The Arc US
Many (Arc) chapters have expressed interest in legislation to assist in the costs of meeting the requirements of the new Department of Labor regulations. The Disability Community Act (H.R. 5902) was introduced on July 14, 2016. This memo is to bring you up to date on our (The Arc US's) position on the bill.
We support Section 2: Higher FMAP for Certain  Medicaid Expenditures Associated with Certain Regulation Compliance. Section 2(a) provides temporary funding for three years (2017-2019) in the form of a Medicaid Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) bump that will allow providers to comply with the Department of Labor Homecare Rule, the Department of Labor Overtime Rule, and the Medicaid Home and Community Based Services Rule. This FMAP bump would be a 90-10 split, with the majority being Federal funds.
We also support Section 2(b): Conforming Terminology for Intermediate Care Facilities. Section 2(b) would replace the term "mentally retarded" with  "intellectual disability" where it remains in Title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act in reference to ICFs and state I/DD agencies.
However, at this time, we are unable to support the pay-for which is included in Section 3 of the Act. The pay-for would require states to create electronic visit verification systems for personal care services and home health care services under Medicaid. Although this may not appear problematic on its face, many people with disabilities have experienced problems with limitations on personal freedom as similar programs have been implemented at the state level. No protections to prohibit such limits are included in this section. Electronic Visit Verification is also the pay-for included in the "Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act of 2016" (H.R. 2646). There is currently great division within the disability community around provisions to require EVV. Therefore, we are able to work in support of Section 2 of the Disability Community Act (H.R. 5902), but cannot fully endorse the bill at this time due to the pay-for.
ABLE Accounts Are Finally Available!
Contributed by Hanni Raley, Director of Systems Advocacy
June 2016 marked the the launch of the country's first ABLE programs. A a result of the Achieving a Better
 Life Experience (ABLE) Act, qualified individuals with disabilities which were acquired before the age of 26-years-old can now save funds in a tax-advantaged savings account (an ABLE account) to offset disability-related expenses. Funds saved in the account and used for qualified disability-related expenses will not be taken into consideration when determining eligibility for publicly-funded benefits, such as Social Security and Medicaid.
Qualified disability-related expenses used to supplement (not supplant) publicly-funded supports include those related to the beneficiary's disability and help the beneficiary increase or maintain his/her health, independence, and/or quality of life both now and in the future. You can learn more about ABLE
 accounts and the ABLE Act at the
ABLE National Resource Center's website.
While ABLE accounts will not be available in Colorado until sometime in 2017,
Tennessee,
Nebraska, and
Ohio have implemented ABLE accounts
which are open to non-residents! These accounts can be transferred to a Colorado bank when the state program is implemented next year.
Have a question on ABLE accounts and your eligibility to contribute to one? Contact your Arc of Aurora advocate today.
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Trending on Social Media
"Living in #poverty is the norm in the #disability community. We get caught, quite frequently as children, in a system that robs us of our dignity and causes many to fall into despair. We are constantly battling #discrimination just for who we are, and then on top of that, we have faceless bureaucrats requiring us to go through endless paperwork systems in the name of "person centered planning" to get somewhere that we never wanted to go in the first place. We wind up appealing the outcome, and so goes the cycle of poverty." Read the article
here.
"Thank you EVERYONE who came out this weekend to SummerFest!!! It was a fantastic event with PLENTY of fun, food, dancing, and friends!!! See photo album
here.
"#Kids with #disabilities are twice as likely to be #suspended and they account for two-thirds of those secluded at school, according to the US Department of Education. #EquityGap #ItsTimeToTalkAboutIt Thanks for keeping the discussion going, Disability Scoop! Read the article
here.
"#Affordable & #accessible #transportation is the key to connecting #PWDs to their #community!!!" Watch the video
here.
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Don't miss anything by following The Arc of Aurora on
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The Arc of Aurora is Getting Social*
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Transforming the Unfair, Inadequate and Status Quo
Submitted by Darla Stuart, Executive Director
We have shared many definitions of social enterprise and the following is my last to offer and favorite:
"Unlike social service providers, social entrepreneurs explicitly aim to permanently and systematically transform an ... unfair societal condition. Unlike social advocates, social entrepreneurs act directly, creating a product, service, or methodology that spurs the transformation of the status quo."
Steve Denning ,
F
orbes Magazine, October 13, 2015
In October we will formally introduce our social enterprise business. Wow -- has this been a test of our tenacity and an honor to participate in! To that end, I'd like to thank Dee Ramos, Hanni Raley, and Jean Solis for being a part of the team that helped create The Arc of Aurora's social enterprise, and I'd like to thank all the Board and staff for being sounding boards and first followers. Together, we are in the final stretch and we are excited!
What makes our new business MOST exciting is that it does not stray from The Arc of Aurora's mission.  In fact, just like our advocacy efforts where we seek to transform an unfair or inadequate process or system, so, too, shall our new business seek to address the unfair and inadequate as it relates to people with developmental disabilities and their families.
Drum roll please ... Announcing ... Oops ... Tune in in October for the formal announcement!
*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."
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Spotlight On... Kathy Knoop,
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of Pitcher's Sports Bar and Restaurant
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Are you among the hundreds of The Arc of Aurora members and other friends who have attended any of  our ten Summerfest events at Pitchers? Maybe you participated in a pie eating contest, dunk tank toss, Hula Hoop contest, musical chairs contest, Ladder of Liquor draw, Dessert-Off, or karaoke contest and had a BLAST? Or maybe you were a silent auction item winner? Or maybe you receive advocacy support from The Arc of Aurora that was, in part, funded by the $38,000 raised through Pitchers' ten Summerfests. Whether it is Summerfest event day fun, an awesome auction item snag, or The
Arc of Aurora advocacy support provided over the past ten years, Kathy Knoop is responsible. Kathy acquires all Summerfest game/event prizes, all Ladder of Liquor bottles, and nearly all silent auction items. WOW -- that is a lot of asking for support for The Arc of Aurora! WOW -- the $
38,000 is a lot of cash in support of the advocacy work so critical to your and others' lives. WOW -- Kathy is AWESOME! For her longtime, continued support of The Arc of Aurora, its impact in Aurora, and the individual lives it touches, our hats are off to Kathy Knoop. Thank you, Kathy!
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Everything Else You Need To Know
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The City of Aurora Parks and Recreation and Open Space is building a new recreation center and wants your feedback! Join in the design process at Vassar Elementary, 18101 E Vassar Place in Aurora, on August 29 from 6:30 - 8 PM. Click
here to see the flyer.
Aurora residents can drop off their unwanted household chemicals to recycle for free on September 10 from 9AM-4PM at 13645 E. Ellsworth Ave in Aurora, 80012.
Attend this networking/educational presentation on Tuesday, September 13 from 8:30 AM to 10:15 AM at the Porter Place on 1001 E Yale Ave in Denver.
 Topics will include health and economic impacts of medication-related problems, preventing medication-related problems in older adults and how to individualize drug therapy. Free for CGA members, $20 for nonmembers.
Attend this day-long conference on October 14 from 8 AM to 4 PM at the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora. Topics will include the importance of mental health and thriving for people with ASD, strategies to improve emotion regulation, learning ways to work with individuals within their environments to support thriving, and more. The registration deadline is September 30.
Surveys
The Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition (CCDC) and the Civil Rights Education and Enforcement Center (CREEC) are gathering information about medical providers with barriers to people with disabilities through this survey
here.
Extended School Year (ESY) Disability Law Colorado is collecting data regarding the failure of schools to individualize Extended School Year (ESY) services. If your child has received ESY services in the past, fill out this survey
here in English or
here in Spanish.
Other Information
 Aurora is taking a lead position in the metro area in recognizing the impact of homelessness and how it's creating programs to make a real difference.
A state fund used to loan money to families taking care of relatives with developmental disabilities received little oversight for more than twenty years.
 As the new school year gets underway, the U.S. Department of Education is reminding districts that they must consider behavior supports when crafting IEPs for students with disabilities.
The number of potential voters with disabilities is on the rise and now exceeds that of either African-Americans or Latinos in this country. Some 35.4 million people with disabilities are expected to be eligible to vote in the presidential election this November. That's an increase of 7 percent over 2012.
 The U.S. Senate has unanimously approved legislation to provide tracking devices and other resources to help kids with autism and developmental disabilities at risk of wandering.
With all eyes on the race for the White House, both political parties are calling for big change to rules on employing people with disabilities. The platforms approved at the Democratic and Republican conventions are both urging a move toward competitive employment.
A Chicago North Side residence has created a new program designed to meet a need that advocates say will only be more pressing in the years ahead: caring for people with disabilities as they age.
With a final court challenge rejected, implementation of an Obama administration rule mandating pay protections for in-home caregivers assisting those with disabilities is proceeding.
Increasingly, Medicaid dollars are going toward community-based services as opposed to institutional care, but some states are moving in that direction more rapidly than others. Of the $152 billion spent on long-term care services across the country during the 2014 fiscal year, 53 percent was directed to community-based services.
Federal Medicaid officials are pushing states to do more to ensure that people with disabilities have access to the care they need in order to remain in the community. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is outlining a number of steps that states and disability service providers can take to ensure a strong home care workforce is in place.
A recent report stated that people with disabilities who work at sheltered workshops, such as Goodwill, are being underpaid to an extreme degree, not developing any meaningful job skills and are denied the opportunity to find competitive, integrated employment.
Children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder
 before the age of 4 are more likely to get effective treatment than those who are determined to have the disorder after that threshold, researchers at Oregon Health and Science University found.
New research suggests that some of the medications often used to address symptoms associated with autism are more likely than others to cause weight gain.
New research suggests that a series of two-hour videoconferencing sessions may be enough to significantly boost the capability of working pediatricians to better treat those on the spectrum.
 This article draws on expertise in neuropsychology, psychiatry, criminology and social policy to analyze the experiences of young people with developmental impairment. In particular, it focuses on experiences that serve to heighten the risk of criminality and criminalization.
This article tells the story of Myles Himmelreich, an adult male with FASD, who has been in and out of the court system his whole life. He now travels the world speaking about FASD, its effects and what needs to be done to address it in the justice system.
A group of experts on FASD has produced proposed clinical guidelines for diagnosing FASD. These guidelines clarify and expand upon the widely-used guidelines issued in 2005, which were the first to help clinicians distinguish among the four subtypes of FASD.
This study looked at eating behavior in children with
 FASDs. Data was gathered from the children's caregivers via questionnaires and focus groups. To read the Abstract summary of the study, click
here.
The American Academy of Pediatrics presents updated diagnostic guidelines based on the evaluation of over 10,000 children for potential FASD. To read the Abstract summary of the report, click
here.
This study examined the effects of prenatal exposure,
sex and age on neurobehavioral functioning in children. Prior to this study, the role of age or sex in these effects had not been studied. To read the Abstract summary of the article, click
here.
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