Governor Declares March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
Governor Brown has issued a proclamation recognizing March as Developmental Disabilties Awareness Month. In the proclamation, Gov. Brown recognizes Oregon's accomplishments on behalf of people who experience disabilities, and she acknowledges the need to do more to fully include the more than 66,000 children and adults who experience disabilities in Oregon.
Celebrating DD Awareness Month
To celebrate Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, Families Connected and The Arc Lane County will host a fun Spirit Week this week! Join us in dressing up to celebrate diversity in disabilities.

Families Connected and The Arc Lane County will also host a Disability Awareness Month Art Contest. Pick up supplies at The Arc Lane County's drive-through window on March 22 and create a unique poster to celebrate disability awareness month. The winner of the art contest will be announced next month. Take pictures of your Spirit Week costumes and art posters and share them on social media using the #disabilityawareness and #thearclanecounty hashtags.
Photos, Quotes Needed for New Oregon DD Awareness Poster
The Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities (OCDD) is looking for photos and quotes from Oregonians who experience disabilities to create a new Developmental Disability Awareness Month poster.

The theme is "Worlds Imagined." To participate, send a high quality photo (or photos) of a person with a developmental disability along with a short quote from the person about what they want the world to be like in the future. People of all ages and diverse lived experiences will be featured in the poster.

Email your photo(s) and quote, along with a signed copy of the OCDD media release, to Ryley by Wed., March 16.
The Arc to Host Sensory Friendly COVID Vaccine Clinic
The Arc will host a Sensory-Friendly COVID Vaccine Clinic for people of all ages on Fri., March 18 in Eugene. To help people understand what to expect at the vaccination clinic, The Arc has created this video social story. There is also a video with Spanish captions.

Lane County Public Health is also hosting regular drive-through COVID testing and vaccination clinics in the parking lot at The Arc Lane County, located at 4181 E St. in Springfield. Register here for either a COVID test or a COVID vaccine at the March 25 clinic.
The Arc Receives Grant to Provide Housing, Rental Assistance
The Arc will provide housing and rental assistance to adults who experience a developmental disability, as well as parents raising a child with a disability, thanks to a grant from Lane County Health and Human Services. The rental assistance will help reduce homelessness and housing instability among people with disabilities.

To learn about eligibility requirements, contact Trisha Aspiranti. Applications will be available starting April 1.
The Arc Hires Recreation Coordinator for Arc Park
The first phase of the Arc Park is nearing completion, with the roof of the amphitheater being constructed now and the accessible turf going in soon.

The Arc is still on target to open the park this summer. Thanks to grants from Three Rivers Casino and the Chambers Family Foundation, The Arc has hired a recreation coordinator to oversee activities in the Comcast Amphitheater this summer.

In addition, The Arc has received more than $20K in donations from commmunity members in the last month. The additional funds will help us construct the sensory wall that will live just outside the amphitheater. Special thanks to these new donors, as well as previous donors, who have given so generously to the Arc Park!
Enroll Now for JumpStart Preschool and ESTEAM
The Arc's new JumpStart Preschool has immediate openings for children ages three- to five-years-old who want to learn, play and grow in a fun, welcoming and nurturing environment.

The Arc's ESTEAM team is busy planning its summer curriculum for children and youth ages six to 13 years to experience fun and engaging activities related to engineering, science, technology, art and math. If robotics, computer programming and sculpture design appeal to your children, then email Annie to schedule a tour of ESTEAM. Please note, masks will be required when touring either JumpStart Preschool or ESTEAM.
The Arc Oregon to Host Virtual Convention
Save the date for The Arc Oregon Annual State Convention on May 5 and 6. The convention will be held virtually and it will include dynamic sessions relevant to the disability community, professionals, self-advocates and their families.

Interested in attending? Register online to stay abreast of convention activites.
The Arc Looking for More Totally Rad Employees to Join its Team
Working at The Arc is TOTALLY awesome! Where else can you join your executive director and dress in 80s attire for sprit week?

Are you looking for more fun in your next job? Then chek out The Arc Lane County. See Current Job Openings and text ARCAPPLY to 541-343-5256 to have a an application sent to you.