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The Arc on Proposed Rule From Trump Administration That Would Impact People With Disabilities Legally Residing in the US and Seeking to Legally Immigrate

/in /by The Arc

Following the draft notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would impact people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) who are legally residing in the United States as well as people with I/DD who are hoping to legally immigrate, The Arc released the following statement:

“We are facing a civil rights crisis in our nation and people with disabilities are in the crosshairs with the proposed rule released by the Department of Homeland Security. If finalized and administered as is, this rule would discriminate against immigrants with disabilities, making it harder to legally enter or remain in the country. To deport individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are in our country legally or prevent them from immigrating, goes against the values of our nation.

“At The Arc we believe people should have a fair opportunity to legally enter and reside in the United States and become a citizen, without restrictions based on disability. This includes those needing protection as refugees, asylees, and victims of human trafficking.

“Focusing on an individual’s need for support is a form of discrimination against people with disabilities we have seen before. But Congress, in the past, addressed the problem by ensuring that people with intellectual disability are provided accommodations as they try to enter our country legally, become citizens, and achieve the American dream like their peers without disabilities. Broadening the criteria for excluding or deporting immigrants based on need for support will harm people with disabilities and their families who have much to contribute to our society.

“If a family is otherwise eligible to enter or remain in our country, they shouldn’t be turned away or turned out because their child or another family member has a disability and may need to access government services to live and participate in the community.

“We will be offering comments to this proposed rule and hope other organizations and individuals will do the same. It would be disgraceful if this were to be adopted as a final rule. We also call on Members of Congress, as they have done in the past, to stand up for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families as they seek inclusion in America,” said Peter Berns, CEO of The Arc.

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We Want your SSA Stories!

/in /by The Arc

The Arc and Justice in Aging are interested in speaking with people about their experiences with the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) failure to provide for reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities in the context of continued benefits. SSA requires that Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients who are facing suspension or reduction of their benefits file an appeal within 10 days in order to continue to receive their monthly payment while their appeal is pending.

However, SSA is not providing adequate assistance to people with disabilities such as mental health conditions, cognitive impairments, or intellectual disability, who may need help with filing their appeals so they can continue to get their SSI benefits while a decision on the appeal is pending. SSA fails to include with the suspension/reduction notice any information regarding the right to seek a reasonable accommodation (including more time to appeal), fails to inform individuals how to seek assistance at the local office, and even fails to include with the notice the form they need to fill out to appeal.

We are looking at whether SSA is providing help to people who need it and who didn’t get continued benefits. We are interested in speaking with SSI recipients who:

1. Received a notice from SSA that their SSI benefits were being reduced or suspended for reasons other than their disability (e.g., being over the income or resource limits, a change in their living situation). Note: this does not include people who are applying for SSI and are denied, or SSI recipients who are undergoing a Continuing Disability Review or who only received a notice of overpayment;

2. Would have sought continued benefits while their appeal was pending but were unable to do so; and

3. Had trouble processing and acting on information in the SSA notice due to a mental health condition, a cognitive impairment, or an intellectual disability.

If you or your clients are experiencing these issues, please contact Shira Wakschlag, The Arc’s Director of Legal Advocacy & Associate General Counsel to discuss further: Shira@thearc.org; 202-534-3708.

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September 25: National Voter Registration Day

/in /by The Arc

Tuesday, September 25 is National Voter Registration Day 2018! Across the country, organizations, like chapters of The Arc, will be working to register individuals, so everyone can fully participate in our democracy.

Find out how to get involved at NationalVoterRegistrationDay.org and check out the sample social media posts and graphic below to help spread the word online:

Sample Posts:

  • It’s National Voter Registration Day – are you registered? vote.gov
  • Recently moved or turned 18? Haven’t voted in a while? Update your voter reg at NationalVoterRegistrationDay.org #NationalVoterRegistrationDay

Sample Graphic :

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please contact Claire Manning, director of Advocacy and Mobilization with any questions.

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Talking about Dementia Guide

/in /by The Arc

Often, we avoid challenging conversations with our loved ones with intellectual disabilities. We may do this because the information seems scary, we don’t know if they will understand, or because we don’t know how to start the conversation. Talking about dementia is hard. It is scary to think about what will happen as dementia progresses. This fear makes it difficult to speak about with other people, especially adults with intellectual disability. This new guide by the National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices, created with input from The Arc, walks you through how to tackle t his difficult part of aging with your loved ones. Download your guide!

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Chapter Benefits Spotlight: Keep Your Data Current!

/in /by The Arc

Are you reading emails addressed to your predecessor? Are you a local or state executive director or state board president missing out on stimulating discussions in our Google Groups? Are Self-Advocates, family members and potential donors unable to connect with you because our Find a Chapter section https://www.thearc.org/find-a-chapter is out of date? Has your chapter changed its name? If your answer is “yes” that means our database eagerly awaits your updates! Please send any changes about your leadership team (name, email, telephone), offices (USPS address), social media account addresses (Website, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) or chapter name to membership@thearc.org.

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The Arc Responds to Norm Macdonald’s Down Syndrome Comment

/in /by The Arc

The Arc released the following statement in response to Norm Macdonald’s remarks about people with Down syndrome:

“It is disheartening that yet again we need to remind a public figure to show respect for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. What is particularly disturbing about Norm Macdonald’s comment is that in his attempt to explain away his insensitivity to the #MeToo movement, he chose to mock a group of people who have a much greater understanding of victimization than he does.

“People with intellectual and developmental disabilities are seven times more likely to be victims of sexual assault than those without disabilities. Mr. Macdonald’s comment is doubly offensive and shows his ignorance about the disability community. We welcome the opportunity to educate Mr. Macdonald about the disability rights movement and hope that in the future he will show more respect for millions of people with disabilities, their families, and all victims of sexual assault,” said Peter Berns, CEO of The Arc.

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NCE at Convention!

/in /by The Arc

 

Professional Development Seminar

 

Wednesday, November 7, 2018 | 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Join Dr. Arie Nettles and Dr. Donna Ford from Vanderbilt University as they discuss the importance of being a culturally responsive workplace and the impact it can have on our constituents. They will lead group discussion on racial disparities in services for people with I/DD, personal introspection on biases, and the impact on racial biases behavior. Come and network with other organizations as you continue your professional development.

In addition to the NCE Professional Development Seminar, NCE is bringing additional opportunities for you to bond and engage with your fellow chapter leaders, including a chapter leader reception and more:

NCE Awards Luncheon

The NCE Distinguished Professional Achievement Awards recognizes leaders across The Arc nationwide who demonstrate the skills, dedication and passion that has come to exemplify an executive at The Arc. The NCE Awards Luncheon celebrates those leaders who strive for excellence, put our clients first, and deliver great results. Join us to celebrate your colleagues and revel in the accomplishments of all of us who make The Arc great! The NCE Awards and Professional Development Seminar can be registered for when you complete your Convention registration. If you’ve already registered for Convention and would like to add on either event, please contact Robin Powers at robin@cmig.com.

The 2018 NCE Silent Auction is now Open!

As the premiere fundraiser for the National Conference of Executives, we have solicited an amazing collection of items from donors around the country! Are you interested in jewelry, fashion, travel, dining out, art, culture, sports, memorabilia, or something else? We have the perfect item for you!

It’s easy to get started:

  1. Click the link 2018 NCE Silent Auction  and bookmark it on your phone
  2. Register to be able to begin bidding
  3. Start bidding!
  4. Come back often to see recently added items and check on your favorites.

The Silent Auction closes on Friday, November 9, 10pm CST!

If you are coming to Nashville, TN for our National Convention, come by and visit the auction in person! The Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center is our gracious host. Silent Auction hours at National Convention are:

  • Thursday, November 8, 12pm – 6pm
  • Friday, November 9, 12pm – 10pm

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You’re invited to be an Arc Tank 2.0 Community Partner!

/in /by The Arc

The Arc Tank competition by Northeast Arc has been designed to elicit creative and ‘game-changing’ ideas from people to better the lives of people with disabilities. The concept is simple: Think big. Think bold. Be the change.

Last year over 100 applications from around the globe were submitted. Seven applications were selected to present to the Panel of Experts and to over 250 business, non-profit and foundation leaders in attendance. Three finalists were awarded funds. Each of the finalist from last year are meeting all their deadlines in developing and implementing innovative ideas that have the potential of positively affecting thousands of lives of people with disabilities, their families, and the people that support them.

As a Community Partner you will receive: 

  • Business, organization or name listed as a Community Partner on The Arc Tank website and in The Arc Tank program book.
  • Vote in our ‘Fan Favorite’ poll day of event.
  • If inspired, to have representative mentor a finalist and receive a direct introduction.

Community Partner Responsibilities:

  • Promote the contest and event through social media networks, tagging the Northeast Arc’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and/or Linked In pages at least 2x’s.
  • Have a representative attend The Arc Tank on November 27th, 2p–5p at the JFK Library.

Thank you for considering joining this fun and exciting event that will continue Northeast Arc’s vision of Changing Lives through Innovation. 

Please notify Tim Brown of your interest in serving as a Community Partner via email to TimBrown@ne-arc.org.

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Join our Sibling Scene!

/in /by The Arc

Siblings play an important role supporting their brothers and sisters with I/DD, and The Arc values and supports their contributions in many ways . The Arc’s Siblings Scene is an online community that keeps siblings informed about I/DD-related policy updates and developments, and national resources.

Sign up for the Sibling email list if you’re interested in periodic updates on our work as it relates to siblings across our network. We also invite you to contact Liz Mahar, Director, Family and Sibling Initiatives (mahar@thearc.org) to discuss your ideas about becoming more involved in The Arc’s sibling network

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New Supplemental Security Income Data Brief Released

/in /by The Arc

The Arc and University of Minnesota are excited to release a new Supplemental Security Income Data Brief. This brief looked at the experiences of individuals who provide supports to adult family members with I/DD who receive SSI. Consistent with other research, the brief highlights that adult SSI recipients with I/DD on average require significant levels of supports across a wide range of activities.

This data brief examines a subsample of data from the Family & Individual Needs for Disability Supports (FINDS) Community Report 2017. The intent of this one-of-a-kind survey conducted by The University of Minnesota’s Institute on Community Integration, in collaboration with The Arc, is to understand the experiences of families who provide supports to a family member with I/DD.

FINDS respondents reported that their adult family members with I/DD who receive SSI face major unmet needs for services such as accessibility and employment support, transportation, in-home supports, specialized therapies, and medical services. Alarmingly, nearly half of FINDS respondents (48.5%) indicate that the support services in their community available to their adult family member with I/DD who receives SSI are decreasing. Learn more about FINDS and download this brief.