This week is National Crime Victims' Rights' Week, and The Arc of Aurora is participating in several activities/projects to commemorate the week. For nearly ten years The Arc of Aurora has prioritized work on crime victimization of people with developmental disabilities.  Many of our most recent efforts are as part of our local Collaborative to Address Crime Victimization of People with Developmental Disabilities and include the following two efforts.

1)  Court:  What Is It?  What Does It Mean?

was a training offered Wednesday, April 13 at the Aurora Municipal Court.  The hour long session was targeted to self-advocates and their families/guardians.  Invitations to participate were emailed to members a couple weeks back. 

2)  The Collaborative nominated the Child Victim Unit of the Office for the 17th Judicial District Attorney for special recognition for its work with and on behalf of victims with cognitive impairments and other developmental disabilities.

In addition to these local efforts, on a national level The Arc of Aurora is working with the National Adult Protective Services Association and the Massachusetts Disabled Persons Protection Commission to promote a resolution to encourage all vulnerable populations to work together toward common goals.  This youtube video

Call to Action

provides an overview and gives the link to the resolution itself.

One life at a time we strive to make a difference for crime victims who have developmental disabilities.

MANY THANKS to all of the volunteers without whom Springfest would not have been as festive and profitable as it was, including our host Tim McCarthy, and basket solicitors and beautifiers Susie Neeley, Brenda Ryan, and Marilyn Litwin. 

Springfest 2011 held April 9 at McCarthy's Sports Bar and Restaurant was a stunning success:  49 baskets, nearly 80 attendees, $2900+ raised for The Arc of Aurora's advocacy services, and a fun time had by all! 

The Arc of the United States' National Convention will be held in Denver in September 2011.  Over the summer look for more information about attending and volunteering.  Having our national convention in town offers us a unique, more affordable opportunity to see our organization's governing body at work.

The National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD), National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS), Autism Society of America (ASA), Autism National Committee (AutCom), and The Advocacy Institute (AI) are sponsoring a survey of whether the rights of students with disabilities and their parents are protected. The survey topics include whether the rights of students with disabilities and their parents are protected throughout the special education process, including IEP meetings and IEP issues, eligibility (child find), Due Process hearings (impartial hearings), and other education issues. There is also a questionnaire for parents whose children have been denied eligibility for IDEA (denied an IEP). They are studying these issues for all students, regardless of their disability or special need. There are surveys for all community members: parents of children with disabilities; self-advocates (people with disabilities); and attorneys, advocates, and other professionals. The survey will run March-May 2011. The results will be compiled into a report about experiences under the IDEA that will be published this summer. Learn more and take the survey at: http://www.ideasurvey.org 

It's Prom Time!

Colorado Community Church (CCC) will be hosting A Night to Remember, a free red carpet gala prom for adults (age 18+) with special needs.  The event will accommodate 104 guests from the Denver Metro area and is open to adults with special needs who have never attended a prom before. CCC has donations of formal wear and alterations available prior to the event. During the event, CCC will have chaperones and a pampering room with assistants available.

Date: Saturday, May 14, 2011

Time: 5:30-9:30 pm

Where: Colorado Community Church, 3651 S. Colorado Blvd.

             Englewood, CO 80113

RSVP:  ASAP to Jim Galanaugh, 303-256-2888,

jgalanaugh@coloradocommunitychurch.org 

Hear an archived discussion between Denver Fox, Phil May and Mark Rudin on education about, raising the awareness of and eventually ending the years-long waitlists for Home and Community Based Medicaid Waiver Services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.   Almost all states have extensive waitlists - some for 20 years or more - totaling in the neighborhood nationally of 370,000 adults and children at home with aging parents.  it is little known that individuals with disabilities can not move from one state to another without going to the bottom of the waitlist in their new state. Some military families never qualify for services, failing to get through the waitlist before transferring to another state.

Colorado residents behind on home heating bills still have time to apply for help. The Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) encourages Coloradans who are having a hard time paying utility costs to apply for LEAP benefits.  Applications will be accepted through April 30, 2011.  Download and print an application from http://www.cdhs.state.co.us/leap or call 1-866-432-8435. 

Free Shrine Circus Tickets for Saturday, April 16 -- The Arc of Aurora Board member Von Limbaugh has found himself just now at newsletter press time with 14 tickets to Saturday's Shrine Circus at the National Western Events Center starting at 2:30PM. The circus is a great family event. If your family can use some of these tickets, contact Von directly at von@thelimbaughlawfirm.com.

Parents' Support Group -- Board member and parent Myrrena Schwegmann is facilitating the next parents' support group meeting on Tuesday, June 14, 2011, from 9:30-11AM at The Arc of Aurora office.  Questions or RSVP to Myrrena at 303.750.4598 by June 10.

Food Pantry -- The Arc of Aurora maintains a small food pantry with nonperishable food and personal hygiene items.  The pantry's supplies come from the arc Thrift Stores and generous members and friends.  Call your advocate to access the food pantry or Jean to donate to it.

Member Fun Event 2011 -- Ya'all are welcome, ya hear?!  Mark your calendar for country dance lessons and social time with other The Arc of Aurora members and friends:  Friday, June 17, 4:30-7:30PM.  Dust off those cowboy boots and Stetson hats!  Look for invitations (which will require an RSVP) next month! 

Forty-nine baskets.  Raffia, ribbon, cardboard, tape.  TONS of tenacity asking for donations.  TONS of creativity in packaging those donations so they bring the highest bids possible.  Marilyn and Susie spent countless hours the weeks before last Saturday night's Springfest Basket Bonanza asking and beautifying.  And their efforts paid off in a fabulously fun, festive, profitable event for The Arc of Aurora.  MANY thanks, Marilyn and Susie!

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Did you know that the majority of The Arc of Aurora's annual operating budget comes from a portion of the proceeds from the sale of items donated to the arc Thrift Stores?  Getting to your spring cleaning?

Call 303.238.5263 to schedule a pickup of your gently used items and help support The Arc of Aurora!