Alexa Blueprints and Routines

/in , , , , , /by Pam Katz

Talking to technology is something that most of us do every day. It’s become commonplace to ask a device to set a timer or turn something on or off rather than touching a button or flicking a switch. Amazon Alexa offers two new ways for students, educators, and parents to use their voice to interact with technology that can save time, deepen learning, and provide access to critical information.

With Alexa Blueprints and Alexa Routines, students can now track upcoming events on their calendar, create study resources, or even make appointments – all without needing to open their computer. Teachers can use Alexa to prepare for upcoming lessons, create quizzes and offer Q&A resources to students. And administrators can quickly access information needed for planning and communicate with faculty about dates, timelines and meetings.

With feedback from parents and educators, Alexa Blueprints now offers a feature that focuses on helping students regulate their emotions. Parents, educators, support professionals, and students themselves can access breathing and meditation exercises, calming music and even a “glow” that changes in color and intensity, all ways to help with self-regulation. It also features the capacity to build “social stories” that model desired routines and good behaviors.

For more information, check out this overview and this user guide to get started.

Town Hall: The Arc’s Response to COVID-19 and Plans for the Future

/in , , , , , , , , , , /by Pam Katz

We are in the midst of a global health pandemic that is wreaking havoc on all of our lives and has been particularly devastating for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families. While we battle COVID-19, we must also plan for the future and the challenges ahead. In the wake of this health emergency and economic crisis, we need to organize and advocate more than ever before. The human rights of people with IDD and the supports and services they need to both live in and be valued members of their communities are at stake.

This Town Hall delves into The Arc’s response to the pandemic, the progress we’ve made, and the threats that remain. We also unveiled the new Strategic Framework for the Future of The Arc¸ a dynamic plan to build a more powerful, nationwide disability community movement.

View Town Hall Presentation Slides here.

View a transcript of the discussion here. 

Emergency Planning: Preparing for the Unexpected

/in , , , , , /by Pam Katz

As we begin to come out of the current phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is a time for reflection. How can we plan for crises and emergencies? Emergency planning is tough but important. Planning ahead can help ensure that you, your family, and people with disabilities know what to do when crises happen. Now more than ever, we are learning to adapt when we are isolated, the importance of pre-establishing key relationships in the community, and pre-planning for any emergency. Our webinar speaker will provide tips and strategies that people with disabilities, families, and disability professionals can use to help plan for when disasters strike. Many of our tips will be applicable to the current COVID-19 pandemic, but we also will provide strategies that you can use to prepare for different types of emergencies.

Speaker Bio:
Jill Pidcock is the Executive Director of The Arc of the Central Mountains in Colorado. Jill serves on several Boards of Directors and Committees to further her efforts to increase awareness and put plans and services into action, including Colorado Collaboration for Autism and other Neurological Disability Options (CO-CANDO) and Family Supports and Services Program for the local Community Centered Board. She is also on the Early Dispute Resolution Advisory Board and is a facilitator for Parents Encouraging Parents (PEP), two programs managed by the Colorado Department of Education.

View the PowerPoint slides

Preparedness Workbook-English

Preparedness Workbook-Spanish

COVID-19 Resources-English

COVID-19 Resources-Spanish

Video: Preparing for Disasters

Strategic Framework for the Future of The Arc

/in , , , , , , /by Pam Katz

What does true inclusion and equity look like for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities?

As we look to the future of disability rights, The Arc is excited to meet this question head on with our new Strategic Framework for the Future of The Arc.

This document is also available in plain language and Spanish.

This framework is intended to be a guiding light for our work across the local, state, and national levels. It is the result of an exhaustive, two-year process—culminating in the middle of a global pandemic and human rights reckoning that will shape our advocacy for years to come.

Now more than ever, The Arc must do its part to strategically build the disability rights movement into a more diverse and powerful force for change. We are proud to present our Strategic Framework for the Future of The Arc, which will guide us along this journey.

 

Debunking the Myths of Supported Decision-Making and Guardianship

/in , , , , , , /by Pam Katz

Being able to make your own decisions about your own life is one of the most important rights that people have. People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have the same right to make decisions about their lives as people without disabilities. However, their ability to make their own decisions is often questioned by teachers, doctors, family members, and others. Research has shown that individuals with reduced self-determination have diminished quality of life outcomes and are less likely to live and be integrated into their community. Guardianship can be an obstacle to the development of self-determination skills. However, people with IDD are at an increased risk of being placed under guardianship, and guardianship is frequently still the only option presented and utilized by families and supporters of people with IDD. This webinar will describe guardianship and less restrictive decision-making alternatives, as well as help debunk some of the myths about guardianship and supported decision-making that persist.

View the webinar’s slide deck here.

See a Q&A with links and resources here.

Speaker Bios:

Morgan Whitlatch
Morgan Whitlatch is the Legal Director of Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities, a non-profit advocacy organization that has advanced the interests of people with developmental disabilities since 2002. She is also the Lead Project Director of the National Resource Center for Supported Decision-Making. Morgan has devoted her legal career to working with and on behalf of people with disabilities in matters involving capacity, guardianship and alternatives, and the right to self-determination; community integration; living free from abuse and neglect; and accessing public benefits and services. Prior to joining Quality Trust in 2009, Morgan was an attorney at Disability Rights Rhode Island, the state’s protection and advocacy program for people with disabilities. Morgan graduated with honors from Georgetown University Law Center, and with honors, Phi Beta Kappa, from Wesleyan University.

Shawn Ullman
As Senior Director of National Initiatives, Shawn Ullman leads The Arc’s individual and family support initiatives, which seek to provide reliable information and assistance to people with I/DD, their family members, and the professionals who support them on topics such as navigating special education and disability services, healthy aging, housing, decision-making, financial planning, and healthy relationships. Prior to joining The Arc, Shawn was a staff attorney with Disability Rights DC, the protection and advocacy agency for the District of Columbia, for 11 years where she advocated for children and adults with developmental disabilities to obtain the services and supports they need to live, learn, and work in the community. Shawn received her bachelor’s degree in political science from DePauw University in 1997 and her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 2001.

Fulton v. City of Philadelphia

/in , , , , /by Pam Katz

State: Pennsylvania

Filed: August 20, 2020

Court: U.S. Supreme Court

Overview: Amicus brief in support of City of Philadelphia’s argument that government contractors are prohibited from discrimination. The brief argues that allowing government contractors to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation by asserting a religious justification for doing so would cause significant harm to people with disabilities and older adults, including those who are LGBTQ.

Excerpt: “Older adults and people with disabilities—including those who identify as LGBTQ—need non-discriminatory access to social services in order to live in the community with dignity and respect. These individuals are particularly reliant on services and supports from government contractors, which provide community-based programming, healthcare, meals, transportation, housing, and other resources…Should the Court rule otherwise, organizations providing important services to older adults and people with disabilities would be given free rein to refuse care, to disrupt services and supports, and to otherwise discriminate based on their religious views, causing severe physical, emotional, and psychological harm to disabled people and older adults.”

Case Documents

Amicus brief

Staying Connected During COVID-19: Tech Resources for Providing Support at a Distance

/in , , , , /by Pam Katz

In this panel-led webinar, learn about different solutions available to chapters who look to connect and provide supports remotely to the individuals they serve. The 70-minute webinar includes information on technology platforms, best practices in virtual supports, and other vital insights.

 

Presenters

Abe Rafi, Rafi@TheArc.org
Senior Director, Technology Strategy & Programs, The Arc

Topics: Free and low-cost technology | Online Coaching Services

View The Arc’s Online Coaching Service document here.

 

Doug Meeker, doug.meeker@3rbehavioralsolutions.com

CEO, LifeSherpa

Topic: Overview of the LifeSherpa app, which uses video calling, notifications, reminders, and step by step routines that provide effective, secure solutions to managing remote teams and supporting people clients virtually

View LifeSherpa’s presentation here.

 

Maulik Trivedi, MD, maulik.trivedi@stationmd.com

Chief Strategy Officer, StationMD

Topic: Leveraging telehealth technologies to connect remotely to individuals in need of in-home medical care

View StationMD’s presentation here.

 

Byran Dai, hello@daivergent.com

Co-Founder & CEO, Daivergent, Inc.

Topic: Using remote technology to engage people, tap into remote work interfaces, hosting training and delivering curriculum for people during stay at home orders

View Daivergent’s presentation here.

 

If you have questions about these programs, please contact Stephane Leblois at Leblois@TheArc.org.

 

Alternative Day Programs During the COVID-19 Pandemic

/in , , , , /by Pam Katz

Hear from five chapters of The Arc as they describe their steps for redesigning their in-person day programs to virtual learning platforms. This 90-minute webinar includes information on technology platforms, curriculum, staffing, and funding.

Interested in having your own copy of the presentation and documents it mentions? You can download it here.

 

Presenters

Tyler Frazee, tfrazee@stonebelt.org, Lifelong Learning Coordinator
Stone Belt Arc, Indiana
Topic: Facebook Live events

Gabrielle Szarek, gszarek@slarc.org, Director of Transition Services St.
Louis Arc, Missouri
Topic: Inspiring, Engaging and Motivating Virtually

Amber Nelson, anelson@arcofthecapitalarea.org, Director of Art and Education
The Arc of the Capital Area, Texas
Topic: Virtual Education during COVID-19

Joshua Weidenhamer, jweidenhamer@minutemanarc.org, Director of Day Habilitation
Minute Man Arc, Massachusetts
Topic: Who’s Zooming Who? Providing Remote Services Which Keep People Active and Engaged

Susannah Eaton-Ryan, Seaton-ryan@thearcofdelaware.org, Director of Employment and Outreach
The Arc of Delaware, Delaware
Topic: Supported Employment in the Time of Coronavirus

If you have questions about this program, please contact Karen Wolf-Branigin at  wolf-branigin@thearc.org