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The Arc’s Heart Breaks for Victims in San Bernardino

/in /by The Arc

Washington, DC – The Arc, the nation’s largest civil rights organization for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families, released the following statement on the tragic shooting at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, California:

“Our deepest condolences go out to the families and friends of those who lost their lives in this tragedy, the people suffering injuries, and the families impacted by this senseless act. The Arc’s collective heart is broken.

“The Inland Regional Center is one of thousands of service systems across the country for people with I/DD and their families. It’s a place where people with disabilities, their families, caregivers, and dedicated staff gather to access services, learn how to navigate the service delivery system, and enjoy functions like the holiday party that took place the day before the shooting. It’s not a place you would ever expect such violence.

“Today, and every day after, people with disabilities, parents, siblings, caregivers, and staff will walk into the Inland Regional Center. When will they feel safe again? They will live with this trauma, feel the pain like anyone else, and they must have access to services to support them to overcome it. Far too often in our society, the abilities of people with I/DD are underestimated. Appropriate supports must be available to them to process and heal after this tragedy, otherwise it will be an open wound. We owe all of those touched by this tragedy the dignity of healing,” said Peter Berns, CEO of The Arc.

Read The Arc of California’s statement.

The Arc advocates for and serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), including Down syndrome, autism, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, cerebral palsy and other diagnoses. The Arc has a network of more than 665 chapters across the country promoting and protecting the human rights of people with I/DD and actively supporting their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes and without regard to diagnosis.

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Only a Day? We Celebrate International Day of People With Disabilities All Year!

/in /by The Arc

Every year the International Day of People with Disabilities takes place on December 3. However, when you are an organization that has been around for as long as we have, you celebrate it every day, all year long!

This year the theme is “Inclusion matters: access and empowerment for people of all abilities.” There are an estimated one billion people with disabilities living in the world, all of which still face obstacles and barriers to inclusion, health care, and justice. Did you know that people with disabilities around the world also have less access to health care than the general population?

The CDC indicates that people with disabilities have poorer overall health and have less access to good health care. So how can we help decrease the barriers that face people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD)?

In our webinar, “Identifying and Improving Barriers to Healthcare for Individuals with I/DD,” Dr. Meg Traci, Ph.D., discusses the barriers that confront the I/DD community when accessing adequate health care. She not only addresses the barriers but offers techniques to resolve them. For further information, check out our other webinar on barriers in health promotion, “Barriers to Health Promotion for Persons with Disabilities.”

While there are plenty of barriers to health care, there are always ways that we can improve access for all people.

What about you? How are you helping to improve access and empowerment of people with I/DD? Although you can’t solve every issue in at one time, the important thing is to get involved!

Get involved by:

Here are some great steps to see your event come to life in your own community:

Good luck celebrating and organizing your community to promote inclusion of people with disabilities!

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Donald Trump Did What?

/in /by The Arc

Over the holiday weekend, social media and the airwaves were full of appropriate outrage over Donald Trump’s mocking of the appearance of New York Times reporter Serge Kovaleski’s, a person with a disability.

The disparaging treatment of people with disabilities by celebrities and other public figures is sadly not all that uncommon. The list of celebrities that The Arc has called out in recent years is long – comedian Tracy Morgan, football star Joe Flacco, to name a few.

Now we have a candidate for President of the United States to add to that list.

These recent events remind us that we need to hear from all candidates on where they stand on the issues facing people with disabilities as these voters prepare to vote for their next President in less than a year.

Where do all of the candidates stand on:

  • Ensuring Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security Disability Insurance, and Supplemental Security Income are there for qualified people with disabilities who need support?
  • Expanding opportunity for jobs in the community for people with disabilities?
  • Creating more affordable, accessible, inclusive housing in the community for people with disabilities?
  • Ensuring that the civil rights of people with disabilities are respected in the classroom, the criminal justice system, our health care system, and so on?

Roughly one in five Americans has a disability – and there are millions of Americans who are related to, friends with, or support a person with a disability in their lives. Their votes are up for grabs. And they are listening for substance from the entire field.

And to the media covering these candidates – start asking the tough questions on how those running to be the next President will improve the lives of people with disabilities. You are in a position to change this conversation. Use your power – just as people with disabilities will use theirs come November 2016.

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The Arc Family is Thankful for You!

/in /by The Arc

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, we here at The Arc have a lot to be thankful for and one of the main things is YOU!

The Arc is incomplete without you and your dedication to our mission to ensure that those with intellectual and developmental disabilities live a fully inclusive life. You breathe life into our mission and together we will be successful.

From the board and staff of the National office of The Arc, please accept our sincere and deep appreciation of YOU and your ongoing support of our cause nationally, statewide and locally.

We could not have accomplished all that we did this year without you, so this holiday season we wanted to THANK YOU for your commitment, support and generosity to The Arc.

From all of us here at The Arc, we wish you a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

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The Arc Joins #GivingTuesday

/in /by The Arc

#GivingTuesday_Shareable_ImageThe Arc is joining the national #GivingTuesday movement again this year and we need your help!

As part of The Arc’s family, please help us kick off the holiday season by joining millions in taking collaborative action to improve their local communities and give back in better, smarter ways to the charities and causes they support to help create a better world.

Join us in harnessing the power of social media to demonstrate and expand the vibrant community that makes up The Arc’s Family. Please show your support on social media to inspire and encourage your family, friends and network to take action as well this #GivingTuesday.

Millions of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families are depending on The Arc. This #GivingTuesday, show that they can count on you by participating in one of the following ways:

  • Donate
  • Share your support by posting our “I Support The Arc” Button on Facebook or Twitter and tag The Arc and #GivingTuesday
  • Encourage your friends and family to do the same.

The Arc recognizes that all the work we do would not be possible without our family and that not all support comes in the same way. Thank you!

Help The Arc kick off the holiday season today and Achieve with Us!

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Congress Passed Legislation That Will Enable Military Members to Name Special Needs Trusts as Beneficiaries of Survivor Benefit Plan; Retiree Action Possible Soon

/in /by The Arc

by: Theresa M. Varnet M.S.W., J.D. (Spain, Spain & Varnet, P.C., Chicago, IL and Fletcher Tilton, P.C., Worcester, MA)

On December 15, 2014, Congress passed the Disabled Military Child Protection Act which allows military families to protect their Survivor Benefit Plans (SBP) by allowing the benefits to be directed to a qualified special needs trust. If there are any funds left in the trust when the disabled beneficiary dies, the funds are paid back to Medicaid for the cost of Medicaid funded services provided to the individual over his/her lifetime.

The Military allows military members who have children with disabilities to participate in the SBP. SBP permits monthly benefit stipends of up to 55% of the military member’s pension to be paid for the benefit of a disabled adult child. Prior to the passage of this Act, benefits had to be paid directly to the adult child. The Disabled Military Child Protection Act will allow the survivor benefit to be paid directly to a “payback special needs trust” for the benefit of a child with a disability. If the benefits are distributed directly to the trust, the beneficiary will remain eligible for needs-based benefits such as SSI and Medicaid.

Beneficiaries of a parent’s SBP can now retain eligibility for Medicaid by assigning the military pension to the qualified special needs trust. A qualified special needs trust is sometimes called a ‘payback’ trust, first party trust, self-settled trust, d4(a), d4(c) trust, or an OBRA’93 trust. It is not the typical 3rd party special needs trust that parents provide in their wills and living trusts. By assigning benefits to a qualified special needs trust, these individuals will now be able to remain eligible for Medicaid which is the primary payer of long term supports and services available to persons with disabilities. Up until now, individuals who received SBP were often locked out of Medicaid funded support programs because their income was deemed too high. If the pension benefits caused him to be over income for Medicaid but did not provide sufficient income for private care, the beneficiary of a SBP was often in a worse off position because of the receipt of this pension. S/he had too much income to qualify for Medicaid but not enough income to meet one’s medical and personal care needs.

It is anticipated that military regulations will be written by the end of this year or by early 2016. Early indications are that the designation to a trust can be made by the military member anytime during his lifetime, but also assignable by the benefit recipient if or when the benefit is being received. Retirees cannot make the assignment now, but hopefully will be able to do so by early next year. We were initially told that there was going to be a narrow window of opportunity to change the beneficiary designation from the disabled child to a trust. We are now told that there will not be a restriction as to when the designation to a trust can be made. Of course, until the regulations are written, we will not know for certain what will be allowed. If you know anyone who may be receiving SBP benefits or could be eligible in the future, it is important to get this information out to them so they are ready to make the change in beneficiary as soon as possible. It is important to meet with an attorney knowledgeable in drafting a ‘payback’ trust. It is critical that the correct type of trust be designated as a beneficiary. If a typical 3rd party special needs trust is used that does not contain the restrictive language required in a payback trust, the assignment will not qualify the beneficiary of the trust for Medicaid and SSI. Parents can find the name of an attorney familiar with drafting qualified payback special needs trusts through the websites for the Academy for Special Needs Planners (ASNP) or the Special Needs Alliance (SNA). ASNP AND SNA are two professional organizations for attorneys who concentrate in this very unique and dynamic area of law.

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American Diabetes Month: Healthy Lifestyle Choices and Exercise

/in /by The Arc

Type 2 diabetes affects a staggering 23.6 million people or in another light an astonishing 7.8 percent of the American population. Studies suggest that adults who have autism are at a higher risk for diabetes, obesity, and heart complications.

In light of November being American Diabetes Awareness Month we wanted to highlight some risk factors of diabetes as well as some healthy eating tips to help decrease the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Risk Factors

In order to prevent diabetes, it is important to know that there are certain risk factors that increase your chances of developing diabetes. While there are more risk factors, below is a list of some of the more prevalent hazards:

  • Being overweight or obese
  • Not getting enough exercise or extended physical inactivity
  • Having a high cholesterol count
  • A history of heart disease
  • Hypertension

Healthy Lifestyle

The only way to be healthier is to live a healthier lifestyle! Combating the risk factors of diabetes can include eating healthier and increasing and maintaining regular exercise.

Did you know that adults with disabilities who don’t exercise are 50% more likely to develop chronic diseases? Getting more exercise doesn’t mean you have to sign up for a marathon or triathlon, try adding a new physical activity to your routine. Remember to stay active for 30 minutes, 3 times per week.

Eating healthier is a great way to maintain a healthy weight, as well as protect against the onset of diabetes. Try a couple of the tips below:

  • Drink plenty of water
  • Choose foods low in salt
  • Cut down on sugary food and candies
  • Eat lean meats (fish, chicken, or even vegetarian alternatives)
  • Eat balanced meals

Other Resources

Check out these other great resources to keep healthy and prevent developing diabetes!

Diabetes booklet for Self-Advocates

Healthier Eating Ideas

Diabetes Risk Factors Test

Diabetes Health Resources

NCHPAD Diabetes Resources

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Autism Now’s New Service: Public Speaking Engagements

/in /by The Arc

By: Amy Goodman, Director of Autism Now

What’s new with Autism Now, you ask? Well, one of my new roles as director is doing consulting work that involves public speaking. Public speaking is something that is difficult for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but in order to overcome my fear of people and being social I decided to try something new. I decided it was time to for me to take my expertise from working on Autism Now and make my public speaking debut by offering services to anyone who wants me to come speak about autism, ASD, bullying, employment, or anything else related to Autism Now or TheArc@Work, our employment initiative here at The Arc.

I recently spoke at the 2015 Alabama disABILITY conference in Orange Beach, Alabama. I believe I was a success because I was able to connect with my audience of individuals with disabilities by presenting from my own experiences. For example, I was talking about dating, relationships, and marriage and I was able to use examples from my life of how I as a person with a disability was able to overcome challenges in order to be married. I was able to have a long term relationship because I was ready and needed it at that time in my life. I found someone who needed me as much as I needed them and it worked out for both of us.

Preparing for speaking engagements is a lot of work, but if done effectively can help build the confidence of the speaker. I prepare over a long period of time, like 2 to 3 months in advance, by reading the information, putting the information into an outline, and writing out what I want to say. Then writing note cards with less information and finally putting just enough information on the power point slides to remind me what to say. Usually that isn’t even full sentences.

I have learned relaxation techniques to help me with anxiety and after this first speaking engagement, I decided I will probably change how I deliver my message. Next time, I think I will share a story, a poem, or quote that has something to do with the topic I am presenting that day. The most important thing is to be able to grab your audience’s attention before starting your presentation. If you can make them laugh or smile then they will tend to be more attentive to what you have to say.

So, the next time you need someone to speak at your event or conference, who are you going to call? Amy Goodman, Director of Autism Now – I’m ready and at your service to share my story and experience your event. Contact me at agoodman@autismnow.org or 202.600.3489.

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Planning for a Future in the Workforce: Jobs, Skills, and Supports

/in , /by The Arc

Planning for a Future in The Workforce: Jobs, Skills, and Supports

To mark Disability Employment Awareness Month, The Arc’s Center for Future Planning convened thought leaders on a webinar to discuss how people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families should plan for a future in the workforce. If you missed it, you are not out of luck – check out this quick summary.

Planning

An ideal person-centered plan provides an accurate picture of the skills and interests of a person with I/DD. The plan should also outline the support a person with I/DD needs to be successful and be used as a document to lay the foundation for a successful career in the workforce. As Anne Roehl, Institute on Community Inclusion, University of Minnesota, noted, “We should be exploring opportunities before the old job gets boring. We should always be asking what the person wants to learn next.”

Exploring Employment Opportunities

In addition to exploring job-training programs, we should provide people with I/DD with the same tools and resources that people without disabilities use to get jobs. John Kramer, PhD, at the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts Boston pointed out that “people without disabilities try out jobs, get paid, and if they don’t like it, they leave. In the disability employment world, we don’t often think of it that way. People with disabilities also benefit from getting a variety of experiences.”

It is important for people with I/DD to get an understanding of different employment opportunities and they should be encouraged to explore these possibilities during high school. People with I/DD should also be encouraged to pursue internships and informational interviews in order to continue identifying jobs that might be of interest to them.

Understanding Rights and Responsibilities in the Workplace

The Americans with Disabilities Act bars employers from discriminating against people with disabilities and provides for reasonable accommodations in the workplace. Melanie Whetzel, Lead Consultant at the Job Accommodation Network highlighted the importance of people with I/DD and their advocates understanding their rights and responsibilities under the ADA.

Challenges can arise when an employee gets a new supervisor. Melanie pointed out that the likelihood of continuity increases if accommodations are put in place for the person with I/DD through a formal process rather than informally with a supervisor. Use of a formal process increases the number of people who know about the accommodations for the person with I/DD and understand why they are effective.

Support in the Workplace

Thought leaders agreed that it’s critical for people with I/DD to strengthen workplace relationships, which will help with integrating them into workplace teams. A person with I/DD’s supporters should always be looking at how to improve conditions and training in the workplace.

For example, once a person with I/DD is in a job they may be interested in other workplace duties and express an interest in training. Acquiring additional job skills is important not only for the person with I/DD, but it’s also beneficial to the employer when employees learn new skills.

Technology

Technology is advancing and webinar panelists emphasized the importance of access to technology in all aspects of the person’s life. Even if it isn’t relevant to the job today, it could be in the future.

The panelists agreed that use of technology in the workplace should be a priority so that people with I/DD are not left behind. We should remind employers that there might be a need for on-the-job-training. Breaking down a process can enable a person with I/DD to learn the essential elements of what is needed to use a piece of technology on the job.

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The Arc Reacts to House Passage of the Two-Year Federal Budget Deal

/in /by The Arc

Washington, DC – Following House passage of a bipartisan two year budget deal that raises the debt ceiling, increases discretionary spending that benefits people with disabilities (I/DD), and avoids a cut to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, The Arc released the following statement:

“We commend the House for passage of the compromise Bipartisan Budget Act to keep the government open, prevent default, provide sequester relief for many programs that help people with disabilities and their families, and avoid the imminent, harmful cut to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. With so much at stake, our nation cannot afford more stalling on these critical issues.

“Remedying the uncertainty caused by inaction on federal funding and the impending debt limit crisis is good for all Americans, including people with disabilities. While recognizing that the bill is a result of numerous compromises to reach agreement, we are deeply disappointed that the solvency of the SSDI program, a lifeline for people with disabilities, is not extended to 2034. However, we encourage the Senate to move forward with this overall package,” said Marty Ford, Senior Executive Officer for Public Policy, The Arc.