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NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW
SEPTEMBER, 2011
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Greetings, Member Friends -
We enter a busy time of year with activities and events that reinforce the value of your membership with The Arc of Aurora. This weekend, The Arc of the United States' National Convention will be held here in Denver. Members and staff attending will participate in workshops that offer state of the art ideas, strategies and research in many areas of importance to people with developmental disabilities, their families, and other advocates. Too, Board Member Wendy Rosanova joins our fellow Collaborative members presenting a workshop on Sunday afternoon. Your membership with The Arc of Aurora made you eligible for scholarshipped attendance at this Convention. Saturday, October 1 you are invited to attend The Arc of Aurora's A Decade of Change: Raising Voices, Shedding Light, Giving Hope, fundraising event at the Community College of Aurora. This fun evening (for which there is no charge to attend although RSVPs are necessary) offers several opportunities to financially support our ten-years-and-still-on-going work impacting crime victimization of people with developmental disabilities, one of which will go LIVE soon, an online auction. Check your inbox soon for an event invitation. Call me with any questions related to the event. October 19 and 20 The Arc of Aurora, in conjunction with its partners on the Collaborative to Address Crime Victimization of People with Developmental Disabilities, is hosting Scott Modell, Ph.D., to offer educational training on Working with Crime Victims with Autism, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Training is free but registration is required. And then there is The Arc of Aurora Annual Meeting, a gathering of The Arc of Aurora members to accomplish the work of the organization and to share a bit of social time. Calendar the late morning and early afternoon of November 19, Saturday, for that event. Details forthcoming in early November via US Mail. So very many ways to support The Arc of Aurora to help insure we are here to support you when you need us -- we look forward to seeing and/or hearing from you soon! Jean Solis, Editor Director of Marketing and Development |
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 Policy Profile Update: School Discipline -- Hit or Miss When It Comes to Protecting Students with Developmental Disabilities Pursuant to Senate Bill 11-133, the Legislative Task Force to Study School Discipline is required to hold at least four public meetings that include public testimony and discussion on the following topics: · current school discipline practices and statutes concerning zero-tolerance practices in Colorado Schools; · the use of law enforcement tickets, arrests, and other juvenile justice sanctions for school-based behaviors in elementary and secondary public schools in Colorado; and · the interaction of school discipline practices with the juvenile justice system in Colorado. In addition, the task force is required to review any available, non-identifying Colorado data collected by the Department of Education, school districts, or law enforcement agencies in studying issues relating to zero-tolerance laws and practices and the use of juvenile justice sanctions for school-based adolescent behaviors. The task force may also solicit information from the National Conference of State Legislatures, other national research organizations, and other states or organizations that have studied or introduced legislation concerning evidence-based practices for addressing school discipline issues. Two members of The Arc of Aurora testified during the public comment's period on the hit or miss relationship that current school discipline policies have in relationship to protecting students with developmental disabilities. |
Hot Topics: Training by Scott Modell, Ph.D. and A Decade of Change Fundraising Event
Training by Scott Modell, Ph.D.
As part of its work with the Collaborative to Address Crime Victimization of People with Developmental Disabilities, The Arc of Aurora is co-hosting Dr. Modell who will provide a no-cost, day-long training on Working with Crime Victims with Autism, Intellectual and Other Developmental Disabilities. Primary target audiences for the training include law enforcement personnel, prosecutors, court personnel and first responders. Secondary target audiences include parents, victim advocates, advocates human services' workers. We are offering the same training two different days, Wednesday and Thursday, October 19 and 20, to best accommodate folks' schedules. All are welcome to this no cost training, but registration is required.
 A Decade of Change Fundraising Event This year marks The Arc of Aurora's tenth year of actively working to address crime victimization of people with developmental disabilities, and our Legacy 2011 fundraising event, A Decade of Change: Raising Voices, Shedding Light, Giving Hope, honors that work.
Our work began in 2001 with the outreach and fundraising to facilitate The Arc of Aurora's three-part Project Illumination that debuted in 2003: artist Jason Dilley's Unheard Voices exhibit, the Community College of Aurora (CCA) Theatre Program production of How I Learned to Drive, and traditional trainings on how to End the Silence surrounding the incidence, prevalence and impact of crime victimization of people with developmental disabilities. In 2005, The Arc of Aurora implemented a federal grant that provided training to teams from around the country on how to replicate our Project Illumination in their communities.
Our work continues today with other community partners -- including the Aurora Police Department (APD), APD's Victim Services' Unit, Aurora Mental Health Center, arc Thrift Stores, Councilwoman Molly Markert, Gateway Battered Women's Services, SungateKids, both the 17th and 18th Judicial District Attorneys' Offices, and others -- on the Collaborative to Address Crime Victimization of People with Developmental Disabilities.
Plan to join our Saturday, October 1, 6-8:30PM, celebration: a formal, community-supported, multi-faceted event in the Community College of Aurora's Rotunda that includes:
- voting (via cash, checks and credit card donations) on local-artist-created art contest entries, the top 4 of which will be printed on the front of notecards that The Arc of Aurora will use as part of its work with the Collaborative to Address Crime Victimization of People with Developmental Disabilities for next April's National Crime Victims' Rights' Week; · - a performance by The Arc of Weld County's Truth Troupe of readings on the impact of crime victimization; · - a silent auction; · - appetizers, coffee and desserts We are also hosting an online auction in conjunction with this event that opens September 16 -- check it out and bid! The event invitation is coming soon. Space is limited and RSVPs are required. |
The Rest of the Story  CMS launches tools and initiatives to help improve American health care quality - Efforts give consumers information to inform their care The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a new tool for patients and caregivers and other enhanced initiatives today to empower consumers to make informed choices about their health care, and to help improve the quality of care in America's hospitals, nursing homes, physician offices, and other health care settings. A Quality Care Finder to provide consumers with one online destination to access all of Medicare's Compare tools -- comparison information on hospitals, nursing homes and plans. An updated Hospital Compare website, which now includes data about how well hospitals protect outpatients from surgical infections and whether hospitals care for outpatients who are treated for suspected heart attacks with proven therapies that reduce death. The Colorado Division for Developmental Disabilities announces effective July 1, 2012 Medicaid will no longer fund non-integrated work setting such as sheltered workshops. Peak Parent Center's Back-to-School SPEAKout newsletter has a good article, Transition from Early Intervention Services (IFSP) to Preschool Services (IEP), about some of the differences between Early Intervention and Preschool and what families and providers can do to be prepared for this big transition. That article is available in Spanish and English. All invited to next quarterly Parents of Adults with Disabilities - CO (PAD-CO) luncheon Great conversation, new ideas, updates from "parents-in-the-know." Wednesday, September 21st at Perkins, Buchtel and Colorado, 11:30 am. Children welcome. Questions may be directed to Denver Fox at padcoweb@aol.com. Developmental Pathways Family Fun Day in the Park is Saturday, September 17 from 11AM - 1:30PM. John Derry Park. Lunch and activities. Questions: 303.360.6600 Resources for military families with children with special needs Being part of a military family can be filled with many surprises, challenges, and opportunities. Part of the military life is moving to new locations every few years or even more frequently. This can be a bit more challenging when there's a child in the family who has a disability. The National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities has collected several resources together that military families may find useful. Parents Encouraging Parents (PEP) Conferences are family-centered events designed to offer support, information and education to both parents and professionals who work with children with disabilities across Colorado. PEP promotes the partnerships between parents and professionals that are essential in supporting and including children with disabilities in schools and communities. the 2011-'12 PEP Conferences are scheduled as follows: · October 27-29, 2011 in Vail, Colorado · February 2-4, 2012 in Colorado Springs, Colorado · April 26-28, 2012 (Location to be determined) For more information about PEP and to complete the preliminary application, please visit http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdesped/PEP.asp. You may also call 303-866-6846 or 1-877-834-0588 toll-free for general information. Baby's First Test will increase awareness and knowledge of newborn screening and better inform the decision-making process of newborn screening stakeholders, including new parents and healthcare providers across the country. Genetic Alliance launched this new resource in early September, 2011. Newborn screening has been available for nearly four decades. However, many parents are unaware of the specific conditions for which babies receive screening in their state, how screening takes place and who to contact for more information. Baby's First Test will serve as a comprehensive guide for many aspects of newborn screening, including conditions covered and what to do in case of a screen positive test result. Sharon Terry, president and CEO of Genetic Alliance notes, "This site aims to support families by promoting earlier education about newborn screening. It will also provide a resource for healthcare providers to educate parents about what to expect after their baby is born." The Thinking & Doing Study The Developmental Disabilities Research Laboratory at Colorado State University is conducting new research on executive function skills in children from 5 through 10 years of age with moderate developmental disabilities, including Down syndrome. Studies show that executive functioning better predicts academic achievement and independence in everyday life better than IQ. There have been very few comprehensive studies of executive function in children with developmental disabilities. The researchers aim to fill this gap and believe this research will inform future intervention. Most children find that participating in these developmental assessments and play-based assessments are a fun, positive experience. Researchers are willing to provide you with personalized recommendations for enhancing your child's development based on his/her performance. Children may be regularly seen at the Anschutz Medical Campus here in Aurora. For additional information regarding this research, contact study coordinator Laura Hahn at (970) 491-1969 or Laura.Hahn@colostate.edu or visit the study website. Autism and Other DD Interventions at Risk Help Make Sure that the Combating Autism Act gets Reauthorized - Time is Running Out. The Combating Autism Act (CAA) will expire at the end of this month. If it is not reauthorized before then, people with Autism and other developmental disabilities stand to lose appropriate diagnostic, early intervention, and support services. What Does the CAA Do? It provides funding to educate professionals about proper screening, diagnosis, and intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities. Take Action: Call your Representative today. Urge him/her to cosponsor H.R. 2005 (if he/she has not already done so - click here for current list of co-sponsors) and ask him/her to urge the House leadership to schedule a vote on it. |
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Members' Corner
 Dues Have Been Due! Membership renewals are due. Forms were included in the July newsletter. Print and complete the Membership Application and Advocacy Agreement , and mail them with your check to our office (address below). Call your advocate if you have questions about the advocacy agreement or Jean if you have questions about membership -- 720.213.1420. MANY thanks to those of you who have already completed this process. Parents' Group Board member and parent Myrrena Schwegmann is facilitating the next parents' group meeting on Tuesday, October 11, from 9:30 - 11:00AM at The Arc of Aurora office. Questions and/or RSVP to Myrrena at 303.750.4598 by October 10. The Arc of Aurora's Sunday Get-Together Bowling resumed on Sunday, September 11, and welcomes returning and new bowlers! Venue is the same: AMF Aurora Lanes at 16700 E. Mississippi Avenue. The price is $7.50 per week payable at the Lanes. The group bowls weekly (excepting holidays) at 12.30PM through May. Questions about the group may be directed to Dottie at dottiek2@juno.com. A Decade of Change: Raising Voices, Shedding Light, Giving Hope This year marks The Arc of Aurora's tenth year of actively working to address crime victimization of people with developmental disabilities. Our Legacy 2011 fundraising event, A Decade of Change: Raising Voices, Shedding Light, Giving Hope, honors that work. Saturday, October 1, is celebration evening, which will include a silent auction, live dramatic performance, voting for art, and social time. Invitations will arrive soon -- space is limited and RSVPs are required. All are welcome to come to this fun evening that offers many opportunities to financially support our ongoing advocacy work on behalf of crime victims with intellectual and other developmental disabilities. In the meantime, check out our online auction that goes live September 16 and bid, bid, bid! |
Spotlight On... Carolyn Henry
Member for many years and current Board of Directors' member, Carolyn graciously shares her artistic talent and time often and wherever needed. You are a star, Carolyn -- thank you!
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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? Call 303.238.5263 to schedule a pickup of your gently used items and also help The Arc of Aurora! |
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The Arc of Aurora
Mission
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The Arc of Aurora is a membership association that provides individual and systems change advocacy thorough information and referral; community education; and individual, family and class support for and with people with developmental disabilities and their families.
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