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ARCHWAYS ENTERPRISES
growing
businesses
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| WE WORK HARD TO MAKE YOU SHINE... |
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| GO GREEN WITH US... Positive Footprints Recycling |
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 Kyle Burns is a 30 year old gentleman with autism in our Supported Employment Program, Archways Enterprises. Kyle is unique in many ways but what is most inspiring is that he was a published author and illustrator at the age of 23.
Kyle attended the League School of Greater Boston, a special needs school for students with autism spectrum disorders where he developed an interest in story writing. He has many talents including drawing and writing and has always had a vivid imagination so a Story Teller was born!
Read the full story
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"Webster Bank is committed to living up to the communities we serve," said Ann Meade, Senior Vice President of Commercial Banking at Webster Bank. We do this in part by supporting the Arc of Greater Plymouth, an organization that provides critical support for our developmentally challenged neighbors and their families. The people of Arc are true heroes in our community and we are honored to partner with them."
Ann Meade,
SVP Webster Bank
"Cool Gear International is honored to be a member of the Plymouth community and with that honor comes responsibility. As a business leader, we are responsible for promoting the rights of those that are challenged to do so on their own. Arc's programs and services allow our families, friends, and neighbors with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to reach their developmental goals through meaningful engagement in society. This gift of inclusion is something that we can all be grateful for."
Donna Roth
Founder & CEO
Cool Gear International
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Thank you to our Sponsors and Community Business Partners
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ADULT FAMILY CARE MAKES A DIFFERENCE
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The Massachusetts Council for Adult Foster Care (AFC) began a pilot program in the 1970's to assist frail seniors in remaining in a home setting by matching them with a Caregiver. It operates on the fundamental belief that people have a right to remain at home in a community setting and has since expanded to include youth and adults with disabilities.
At that time, there were only a handful of member agencies contracted as providers to administer the program. It's growth as a program was limited by several factors but perhaps the most difficult was the exclusion of family members as Caregivers. This requirement changed in 2007 allowing family members as Caregivers, provided they are not the legal guardian of the participant, and extending the eligibility to persons over the age of 16 with a need for assistance in prescribed Activities of Daily Living.
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Parent Support & Transition Group
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Parent Support Transition Groups are scheduled for February and March and are facilitated by Kathy Dunn. The two Groups will meet on Tuesdays beginning February 7th through March 7th. The "Early Adolescent Support" group, Ages 12- 16 years meets 10:00am-11:30am. The "Turning 22- Transition Support" group ages 16 & up meets 6:30pm-8:00pm. The brochure and registration is included in this Newsletter. Please Join Us!
Kathy Dunn was a Guidance Counselor at Duxbury High school, spearheaded the Best Buddies program and currently serves on the Citizens Advisory Council with the Department of Developmental Services, League of Women Voters and is a Counselor at South Bay Mental Health. Kathy's experience as both a parent of a child with disabilities and professional experience gives her a unique perspective.
Early Adolescent Support will include discussions specific to this age group. We will focus on emerging challenges that will be faced in upcoming years. We will discuss hygiene, sexuality and personal issues to help better prepare for this very delicate time in your childs' life. We will also discuss hot topics such as IEP's and how to plan for future transitioning periods. Support and Education are key to overcoming obstacles and hurdles.
Turning 22: Preparing for Transition is a pivotal time in the life of an adult with disabilities requiring many choices and decisions to be made. Long before turning 22 it is important to become familiar with options surrounding guardianship, living arrangements, day programs and flexible supports. This group is for parents of young people ages 16+ and will be geared to their needs.
For more information contact Kristine Marquis 508 732-9292 ext 117 or
kristinem@thearcofgp.org
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SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG ADULTS WITH DOWN SYNDROME
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The application for the O'Neill Tabani Enrichment Fund through The National Down Syndrome Society is now available!
The mission of the O'Neill Tabani Enrichment Fund is to offer financial assistance to young adults with Down syndrome - 18 and older - who are continuing to enrich their lives by taking classes or enrolling in postsecondary educational programs. Read more and download the application here:
www.ndss.org/OTEF
For any questions regarding the O'Neill Tabani Enrichment Fund, please either send an email to
otef@ndss.org
or call 800-221-4602.
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Maggie Ferguson
Director of Adult Family Care /Shared Living
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Our new Director of AFC/Shared Living, Maggie Ferguson grew up in Bourne and has retuned home to Massachusetts after spending more than a decade living and working in Alaska. While studying for her degree in English Literature at UMASS, she chose an exchange semester at University of Alaska, which convinced her to relocate and find work in the Non-Profit sector there.
Maggie comes to The Arc with a wealth of experience working with children and adults with disabilities - from direct care for a child with multiple disabilities, to Early Intervention in home-based settings, case management for Adult Services, supervising 20 staff, and for the past 2 years in Administration as an Executive Assistant.
When asked what influenced her choice to work in this field, Maggie answered, " My goal has always been to work in the non-profit area where I could feel I was making a difference. I grew up with a neighborhood friend with Autism and baby sat for a child with disabilities. I just love the people. "
With Alaska facing huge budget deficits that will severely affect Human Service budgets and a daughter entering college here in Massachusetts, the family decided it was time to return. We are delighted to welcome Maggie back.
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Thank you to residents of Plymouth and surrounding towns for contributing to our One Warm Coat Drive this past winter. The Coat Drive is managed by our self -advocates in the Supported Employment program, Archways Enterprises.
We delivered 324 coats, 94 gloves/mittens, 35 scarves and 55 hats to the Pilgrims Hope Shelter; The Taskforce for the Homeless; area Churches; The Jacket Project at Nelson Park and children and adults in need at The Arc. A special thanks to Tom Fay, owner of the Cleanist in Plymouth who generously cleaned the coats prior to delivery.
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2017 ABLE
(Achieving a Better Life Experience)
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February 16, 2017 7:00 - 8:00 PM
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$25
In 2014, President Obama signed the Achieving a Better Life Experience, or ABLE Act, into law. The ABLE Act provides a vehicle for families to save for the future care of their child with special needs through an account made available by similar legislation for 529 college savings plans. People with disabilities and family members can open special savings accounts in which they can save money without jeopardizing their government benefits. Ohio, Florida, Nebraska and Tennessee have all launched ABLE accounts, based on the 2014 ABLE Act and Massachusetts will join them in 2017. Funds can be used to pay for education, health care, transportation, housing and other expenses. Learn how the ABLE account can help support your loved ones.
Presenters Frederick M. Misilo, Jr. Esq. from Fletcher Tilton and John Nadworny, CFP Special Needs Financial Planning a practice of Shepherd Financial Partners.
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The Arc of Greater Plymouth announces eight Spreading Inclusion Grant winners for 2017.
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 We are excited to include a community college Inclusion program, for the first time, and plan to continue to request applications from all area Community College Inclusion programs in the future.
The winners for this year are:
- Dr. Melissa Winchell- Massachusetts Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Initiative -Massasoit Community college-- to fund supplies for a project based on campus club to foster collaboration between neurodiverse students to execute community service projects, lead advocacy events and complete a Photovoice project documenting their experiences a Massasoit students.
- Susan Riser - Alden Elementary School, Duxbury Public Schools, Grade 5 --to fund purchase of Hokki Stools for three inclusive classrooms.
- Amy Piekarski - Speech/Language Pathologist, PreK, Carver Elementary School - to fund language therapy curriculum supplies
- Linda Smith- Kingston Intermediate School, Grade 5, --to fund standing desks, Hokki Stools, exercise balls for use in regular-ed classroom for students with attention deficit and anxiety disorders.
- Pamela Borgeson- Hanover High School grade 9-12 Engineering Department- to fund filament supplies for a Maker Bot 3d printer used in a collaborative intiative designing assistive devices for students with disabilities. The program connects students directly work together making customized devices specific to that student's special need. School plans to expand the program to reach out to other districts, area collaboratives , The Arc and other area support agencies.
- Tara Rezendes- Plymouth Community Intermediate School Grade 7 English Teacher-to fund purchase of Fidgeting Foot Bands for use by students with ADHD in six classrooms.
- Bryan Rodday and Sheryl Wade - Hanover High School, Grades 9-12 Sped and Alternative Classroom teachers - to fund a continuing inclusive social connections/ independent lifeskills/friendship program that meets monthly to plan, shop, cook and share a meal together.
- Jacie Fitzpatrick - Plymouth South Middle School- Grades 6/7 Science Engineering - to purchase 10 Makey Makey's (small circuit boards) for students of all abilities to learn coding, circuitry and collaboration in an inclusive classroom.
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