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The Arc of
Northern Virginia Newsletter |
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Greetings!
My daughter, Lydia, is attending one of Fairfax County's many theraputic recreation sites this year for summer camp. She loves this camp, and so do I since I know she is in good hands, safe and having fun! I was quite impressed with the site this year when they announced a "project" that the entire site would particpate in. It is in essence - kids with disabilities helping other kids with disabilities. Please read below and see for yourself, and if you are in the area drop by for a car wash!
Hi my name is Gabe Ralston. I am the site director here at Cedar Lane Summer Camp Program for Therapeutic Recreation Services in Fairfax County. This camp is a six week leisure program for children and young adults with disabilities and we do our best to make sure the kids are safe and having as much fun as possible. As a site we have decided to do a car wash here at Cedar Lane next Thursday, July 31, 2008, taking donations to benefit a similar program called Stepping Stones. This program is
personal to me because I will soon be graduating from West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia where Stepping Stones is located. This organization goes year round and provides services to nearly 10,000 participants. Somehow though they make it through with only three full time staff members and a small budget especially when compared to the services the Fairfax County Government is able to supply to us here at Therapeutic Rec. With this in mind we are going to be sending whatever money we gain through the car wash next Thursday (7/31/08) to benefit Stepping Stones which can always use a little extra help. The kids here at Cedar Lane will be out in the sun waiting to wash your cars and collect donations from about 11 AM to 2 PM here at 101 Cedar Lane - Vienna, Virginia 22180. So if there is any chance you would be able to make it out here it would be greatly appreciated, not only by us but across state lines in a community less fortunate then our own. Thank you very much and we hope to see everyone there.
~ Gabriel Ralston
Hope to see you at the Car Wash!
Lynn Ruiz
Director of Community Relations
The Arc of Northern Virginia
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Your ad can go here!
Call 703-532-3214 x 114
for details!
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| Don't Miss Your Chance
Special Opportunity to meet with your Senator, Dick Saslaw, the VA Senate Majority Leader in VA!
Join the VA Association of Personal Care Assistants to share your story about why we need wage increases, helath care benefit, and better funding for home care services for our loved ones.
July 30th, 2008  , 8:45am Senator Saslaw's Office
5503 Cherokee Avenue, Suite 300 3rd floor
Alexandria, VA 22312
To RSVP:
call Melissa 410-919-8310
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Mark Your Calendar
July 30
Meet Senator Saslaw
410-919-8310
The Arc of Northern Virginia
September 27
Life Planning Tools Collaborative Workshop Kenmore Middle School 9-2
more details TBA
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Coming Soon to Parents' Mailboxes
2008 Special Education
PARENT INVOLVEMENT SURVEY
The Virginia Department of Education's third annual Parent Involvement Survey will be arriving in parents' mailboxes within the next several weeks. It is for all PARENTS & GUARDIANS of school-aged children who receive special education services in Virginia's schools.
This is an opportunity for parents to provide input to help guide efforts to improve services and outcomes for their children. Please circulate this information and actively encourage as many parents as possible to participate in this survey. THANK YOU!!
For questions regarding the survey, contact
Judy Hudgins
Division of Special Education and Student Services
Virginia Department of Education
P. O. Box 2120, Richmond, VA 23218-2120
Voice: 804-371-7421
TDD: 804-371-2822
Toll-Free: 800-422-2083
Fax: 804-371-8796
judy.hudgins@doe.virginia.gov
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| I Have a Name Update...
Emails are being sent weekly about a most important campaign,the "I have a dream, I have life, I have a name, Café"
This campaign is lead by a group of very talented self-advocates
with support from The Arc of Northern Virgnia staff. We have given self advocates in Northern Virginia the opportunity to take control; one legislator at a time.
We serve coffee and snacks along with our dreams, lives, names and legislative agendas. We have a breakfast, brunch and a late snack shift available each day - one or more legislator and his/her staff are invited to the Café.
"I have a dream, I have life, I have a name, Café"
98 N. Washington Street
Falls Church, VA 22046
703-532-3214 ext. 106
Nancy Mercer is the contact person for the RSVPs
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Special Needs Trust Meeting
Interested in starting a Trust? Need answers on how your existing trust should be funded? Need answers to SSI work incentives?
Join The Arc of Northern Virginia and SunTrust bank at The Arc offices on Monday August 25th. Marilyn Morrison of SSI/ SSDI work Incentive Programs will be on hand for questions.
Make your individual appointment today, contact:
Carrie Frey, Director of Programs and Services, at The Arc of Northern Virginia 703-532-3214 x102
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| NEWS From RICHMOND
Name Change for the Department
The Arc of VA is thrilled the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services (DMHMRSAS) is looking to change its name...They have come up with four options for review, but The Arc of VA has a proposal for a fifth name to the ones proposed by DMHMRSAS.
It was felt that people might not understand the role of the department if the name was too vague. Please share the five names with your friends, neighbors and staff, agency members with ID/DD and see what they think.
We need a quick turn around, by Friday of this week--so The Arc of VA can represent most effectively what our members want!
Thanks
Nancy Mercer
The Arc of Northern Virginia
Public comment on DMHMRSAS name change by July 31st DMHMRSAS has had its current name for more than 20 years. During that time, many states have updated their agencies' names to reflect current values and perceptions and to address feelings about certain language and biases. Also, during that time, many, many people, including legislators and advocates, have complained about the Department's name being unwieldy and far too long. Thus, the time for giving this department a new, more current name has arrived. The Department's partners statewide and general public are invited to review the options below and respond with a preferred choice by July 31, 2008. As you review the options below, please keep in mind the goals of the name change: To shorten the current name and acronym, To consistently use positive terms related to the impact of the Department's services, rather than listing disabilities or conditions addressed by those services, and To use terms that are more reflective of the Department's values and mission statement and more inclusive of current programs (versus exclusive 'silo' terms) and any future additions to the services the Department provides and the populations served. These choices are listed in no preferential order, only alphabetically: Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services (DBDS) Department of Behavioral Health and Supportive Services (DBHSS) Department of Behavioral and Supportive Services (DBSS) Department of Supportive and Recovery Services (DSRS) The Arc of VA proposed idea: Department of Developmental Disabilities and Behavioral Health Public comment on DMHMRSAS name change by July 31st DMHMRSAS has had its current name for more than 20 years. During that time, many states have updated their agencies' names to reflect current values and perceptions and to address feelings about certain language and biases. Also, during that time, many, many people, including legislators and advocates, have complained about the Department's name being unwieldy and far too long. Thus, the time for giving this department a new, more current name has arrived. The Department's partners statewide and general public are invited to review the options below and respond with a preferred choice by July 31, 2008. For more information, follow this link: http://www.dmhmrsas.virginia.gov/PressReleases/080711NameChange.htm |
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Special Education Regulation UPDATE!
Look at these numbers!
20,700 individual comments and still counting
2,231 individuals and organizations commenting
1,048 participants (not including children (??) at
9 Public Hearings Statewide
386 actual speakers including elected and appointed officials
The Virginia Department of Education had to hire 4 students from
The College of William and Mary to help document our comments and they're still not finished.
Well done Virginians!
But let it be known - our job is not done.
When the tallying is complete each commenter will receive a summary of the public comments from the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). A week before the September 25, 2008 meeting of the Virginia Board of Education (VBOE) the revised regulations will be posted on the VDOE website and the Town Hall.
Although we all have done a lot, we still need to do more. At the meeting mentioned below I did not get the feeling that we were being taken seriously. We asked to be equal members in our children's education. We asked that our parental input be valued. We asked to be a part of this on-going revision process. We were told that these requests would be presented to the VBOE president. But these requests need to come from us.
Part of the Virginia Board of Education's mission statement is that it, " serves as the primary advocate for a quality education for all children and youth in the state." Well, that is what we all do, too. Let your voices be heard again. Please find the time to write or call the individuals listed below. By taking thirty minutes out of your day you may influence the rest of your child's life.
Summary: At a meeting of the Coalition on Students with Disabilities last week, parents agreed that we all need to do the following PRIOR TO THE SEPTEMBER 25th VA BOARD OF ED MEETING when the final draft will be considered:
1. Ask your state legislators (delegates and senators) to write letters similar to Speaker Howell's addressed to the Sec of Ed with cc's to the Board of Ed and the Governor. Once the special session on transportation ends Virginia legislators will be ready to hear their constituents' concerns on this issue. You can find your state legislators by putting in your address at this site: HYPERLINK http://conview.state.va.us/whosmy.nsf/main?openform http://conview.state.va.us/whosmy.nsf/main?openform
2. Contact members of the Joint Commission on Administrative Rules that Speaker Howell has requested meet. This Commissions reviews proposed changes to rules and regulations within government and makes recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly. Attend the upcoming public meeting. Check out their website for the names of members, choose one near you and locate their contact info: HYPERLINK http://dls.state.va.us/JCAR.htm http://dls.state.va.us/JCAR.htm
3. Contact your individual school board members and encourage passage of supportive resolutions. The email that will reach all members is HYPERLINK "mailto:SchoolBoardMembers@fcps.edu" SchoolBoardMembers@fcps.edu HYPERLINK "http://www.acps.k12.va.us/board/contactsb.php" http://www.acps.k12.va.us/board/contactsb.php or schoolbd@arlington.k12.va.us
4. Send a letter/email to Attorney General Bob McDonnell (who is running for Governor in the next election) expressing your concerns about the regulations. His website is HYPERLINK http://www.oag.state.va.us/ http://www.oag.state.va.us/
5. Send a letter/email to Delegate Brian Moran (also running for Governor) expressing your concerns about the regulations. His website is HYPERLINK http://www.brianmoran.com/ http://www.brianmoran.com/
6. Contact VA Board of Ed members, especially the Chairman. Encourage them to listen to consensus parent comments in the public hearings. The Board's website is HYPERLINK http://www.doe.virginia.gov/boe/index.shtml http://www.doe.virginia.gov/boe/index.shtml and the staff person who handles the Board's correspondence is Margaret Roberts: HYPERLINK "mailto:Margaret.Roberts@doe.virginia.gov" Margaret.Roberts@doe.virginia.gov
7. Contact the President of the Board of Ed -- Dr. Mark Emblidge -- to request PARENTS participate in the redraft -- there is precedent for this from the revision of the regulations done in 1991 and 2000. Again, contact Dr. Emblidge through Margaret Roberts HYPERLINK "mailto:Margaret.Roberts@doe.virginia.gov" Margaret.Roberts@doe.virginia.gov
The bottom line is that there are still ways for parents to be involved in the process and we must take action quickly since there is only a short time left for us to impact the redrafting stage, which will end in mid-September. Please make the choice to take action and speak out for our children.
Tia Marsili, Director of Projects and Community Navigation, The Arc of Northern Virginia, & Sheree Brown Kaplan, Chair, Fairfax County Council of PTAs
HYPERLINK "http://www.TheArcofNoVa.org" www.TheArcofNoVa.org
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 The Arc of Northern Virginia is known as the leader in providing effective advocacy and indispensable direct services for families, children and adults living with intellectual and developmental disabilities to enable full, welcoming community participation. Celebrating its 45th year, The Arc of Northern Virginia serves people with cognitive, intellectual, and developmental disabilities and their families in Northern Virginia by providing services to individuals and families with supports for independent living such as: Personal Support Trusts, Developmental Disability Medicaid Waiver support coordination, Developmental Disability Medicaid Waiver Service facilitation, Guardianship program, Information & Referral, Education & Training, & Individual and Systems Support Advocacy. If you have received this email from a friend, please feel free to go to our website and add your own email address to our "Sign up for our e-Newsletter" box. You will receive the latest news about disability in Northern Virginia directly in your mailbox! Sincerely,
Lynn Ruiz  Designation #14617 Lynn Ruiz The Arc of Northern Virginia |
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