The Arc Advisor - March Edition

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From Our President & CEO

Well, the ice is melting and we’re waking up to birds singing – a new season is emerging. The Arc of Plymouth and Upper Cape Cod is galvanized with the onset of spring, and we’ve begun to re-group and emerge as well – stronger and more committed to the work we do and the people and the families we support than ever before. It’s been a time filled with challenges, change and uncertainty however we can see the future and it’s bright!

Over the winter the Omicron variant did its very best but, our team worked beautifully together to ensure the people we serve, and our employees had the support they needed to emerge healthy and safe. Now that so many have received their Covid-19 vaccinations and the all-important booster shot, our communities are opening their doors. What a welcome sight. Rest assured our health and safety precautions are still in place and our team is being extra cautious to maintain safety. Slowly but surely, we’re emerging. Emerging with new and talented employees who came on board to help move our mission of empowering and supporting people with disabilities and their families to belong, contribute and thrive forward.

I am excited to report that we are in the process of building a new home for people living with an ABI (Acquired Brain Injury) and we anticipate it will be ready for move-in sometime in the early summer. Four people currently living in a long-term nursing facility will move into a new state of the art home – a home they can call their own. We have started to see a return to our CBDS and Employment programs, now located at 52 Armstrong Rd in Plymouth. This is truly remarkable as during the height of the pandemic, all services went virtual and many programs across the Commonwealth sadly had to close their doors. We are so thrilled to see the excitement on the faces of people, who for so long felt disconnected and lost, as they return to work and to gather again with friends. Welcome back everyone! Lastly, the census in our AFC and Shared Living programs as well as our Agency with Choice and DESE programs continues to grow – evidence that we’re reaching more and more people every day.

Spring is here symbolizing the emergence of something new, fresh, and energized. We are truly optimistic and joyous about the future!

Wishing you and yours all the best,

Mary Valachovic

President and CEO

Events

9th Annual Herring Run Festival

April 9th and 10th

11:00am - 4:00pm

The Middleborough Tourism Committee is pleased to be hosting Middleborough’s 9th Annual Herring Run Festival on April 9th and 10th, 2022 from 11:00 am until 4:00 pm.

Free Admission is free to all!

For more info click here >

BEETHOVEN@250+

March

26th at 7:30pm

27th at 3:00pm

Happy Birthday, Beethoven! Fast forward 250+ years, and his music still connects us to ourselves and each other. Ode to Joy celebrates the shared triumph over adversity and unwavering resiliency of the human spirit!

For more info click here >

FREE FAMILY MARKETS

Every Third Wednesday

11:30am - 2:30pm

Located at 430-3 Court Street in Plymouth, The Plymouth Family Resource Center offers a free monthly market offering free diapers and baby wipes, baby-proofing supplies, baby formula, menstrual products, food, and more.

For more info click here >

Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

Governor Charles D. Baker declared March Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders joined the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council and The Arc of Massachusetts to share the Proclamation at the virtual 44th Annual Legislative Reception.

Governor Baker’s Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month Proclamation is written in “plain language.” Writing the Proclamation in plain language makes it more accessible for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and the community.

For more info click here >

Calling All Advocates and Friends of The Arc!

We need your help to advocate for increases in the Fiscal Year2023 budget that support people with autism and IDD and their families. The proposed FY’23 budget has been introduced by the Governor and is now being debated in the House Ways and Means Committee. Please take a few minutes to reach out to your Representative on the FY’23 budget.

Email your local Representative here!

People with Disabilities in Ukraine Need Our Help

Escaping the horror in Ukraine is not an option for many disabled people and their families. There are 2.7 million people with disabilities in the Ukraine who are at immediate risk due to lack of access to emergency shelter, basic amenities, and evacuation support. Their needs are not being prioritized in the response to the war.

Our mission goes beyond the southern New England communities that you support each day. Many of us would like to help any way possible and we've gathered some great options to do so.

The following information was shared with us through a global webinar hosted by ANCOR (American Network of Community Options and Resources). We encourage you to contact the organization you are considering donating to directly, or email EASPD (European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities) with further questions: info@easpd.eu.

If you prefer, the Arc of Plymouth and Upper Cape Cod has created a special campaign to raise funds that will all go directly to an organization that supports Ukrainians with disabilities. You may donate to that fund.

https://www.plymouthcapearc.org/ukraine-support

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