June 2022 eNews

UPCOMING EVENTS  Check out the June Calendar for upcoming trainings and events! COVID VACCINE, TESTING CLINICS Lane County Public Health will host drive-through COVD testing clinic at The Arc Lane County parking lot on June 3 from10 a.m. to noon. In addition, The Arc Lane County will host a Sensory-Friendly COVID Vaccine Clinic on June 10. The clinic is open to everyone in the community and is especially designed for those who may need extra time, patience and accommodations to get their COVID vaccine or booster. The Arc also has free masks and COVID-19 rapid antigen tests available. Email communityhealth@arclane.org or call 458-215-4268 to request free masks or test kits. SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER (ALMOST)! While students are eagerly counting the days until summer break, parents are stressing about how to keep their children engaged during the long days of summer. Have no fear - The Arc Lane County and Families Connected have got you covered! Come to the Families Connected 4th Annual Summer Kick-off on June 17 for a scrumptious ice cream treat and pick up information about all kinds of activities we have planned this summer. We have an exciting calendar planned, so come make fun summer memories with us!

JOIN THE FAMILIES CONNECTED SUMMER BUCKET LIST CHALLENGE Families Connected has put together a fun Summer Bucket List Challenge for parents, teens and children to participate in this summer. Families Connected will award participants with fun prizes for completing items on the bucket list. To see how you can have a blast this summer and earn prizes in the process, check out the Families Connected Summer Bucket List Challenge.

THE ARC TO HOST FREE SUMMER ACTIVITIES INSIDE NEW ARC PARK The Arc will host fun activities inside the Arc Park this summer for people of all ages to enjoy. From music and dance on Mondays to water activities on Wednesdays and a variety of sensory activities on Saturdays, there will be something fun for everyone to enjoy. See the fun Arc Park Activities for July. RSVP information will be coming soon!

THE ARC CARNIVAL COMES TO TOWN JULY 16 Mark your summer calendar now for Saturday, July 16, when The Arc Lane County will host its biennial carnival for the entire community to enjoy!   The Arc Lane County Carnival will feature games, prizes, a magician, face painting, inflatables and more, and it will be held inside the new Arc Park. The Carnival is free, but attendance will be limited to 250 people. RSVP early to reserve your family's tickets. RSVP here for The Arc Carnival.

DIRECTION SERVICE SUMMER DIRECTORY LOADED WITH RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES Direction Service has published its annual 2022 Summer Directory, which is full of recreation, respite, support, and service opportunities that families of children with disabilities can access. Spanish-speaking families are encouraged to call the Direction Service office at (541) 686-5060 for assistance locating summer programs for children with special needs.

SUMMER WORK PROGRAM TO HELP TEENS, YOUNG ADULTS LEARN EMPLOYMENT SKILLS The Arc Lane County's Summer Work Program will help teens and young adults plan for an exciting future by exploring what it means to work and be a valued employee. The Summer Work Program is a six-week program with a morning and afternoon cohort. The students will receive classroom instruction to learn workforce readiness skills, and then gain valuable, boots-on-the-ground experience in a paid internship. Contact Rachel for more information.

VISIT SENSORY ZONE AT SUMMER CELEBRATIONS The Arc Lane County's Sensory Zone will be available for people and families to access at local festivals this summer.   The Sensory Zone has fidgets, headphones and other tools people can access to help them self-regulate. There is also a quiet space in the event someone needs a place to retreat to if he/she feels overwhelmed.   Come see the Sensory Zone at the Children’s Celebration and PetFest on June 11, the Eugene Riverfront Festival on July 14, Florence Night Out on Aug. 2 and the Scandinavian Festival on Aug. 11-14.

TIES CENTER ARTICLE DEBUNKS COMMON MYTHS ABOUT INCLUSIVE EDUCATION The TIES Center, is the national technical assistance center based at the University of Minnesota, has released an article to debunk many of the common myths about inclusive education. Even though the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) states students should be taught in the least restrictive environment, many students continue to be educated in segregated special education classrooms. Read Debunking Myths about Inclusive Education for Students with the Most Significant Cognitive Disabilities.

SCHOLARSHIP OPPPORTUNITY FOR PARENTS The Arc U.S., in partnership with Comcast NBCUniversal, is providing scholarships to eligible families of color and low-income households to receive free online access to The Arc@School's Special Education Advocacy Curriculum. This online, self-paced curriculum helps parents learn to advocate for the services and supports their child needs.  Complete The Arc's 2022 Scholarship Application for Special Education Advocacy Curriculum to apply.

Families Connected, a program of The Arc Lane County, provides peer support to parents in their journey raising a child with a disability. Familias en Conexión is a sister program for parents who speak Spanish. 

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