volume 45, issue 3 the arc advocate · 2017-07-12 · volume 45, issue 3 the arc advocate...
TRANSCRIPT
Volume 45, Issue 3
The Arc Advocate
ArctoberFest September 30, Downtown Harrisonburg *See page 5 for more event details
Like The Arc of Harrisonburg and Rockingham on
Upcoming Arc Events
Celebrations
Shop Talk News From the Simon-Edmondson Center
A ribbon cutting and dedication was held on
July 5, for the Simon-Edmonson Center. Joan
Simon and Frances Edmonson cut the
dedication ribbon and were presented with pictures of Day Support participants in front of the new outdoor
sign.
Members of the community were invited to celebrate 55 years of the Op Shop on May 5. The name of the Op Shop was changed to the Simon-Edmonson Center in honor of its founders.
Above: Heather, Dick and Reevie celebrated
birthdays in June.
55th Anniversary Celebration Breakfast and Fundraiser Kickoff
RIGHT: The Rocktown Ringers,
with Robbie McCoubrey on guitar, perform at The Arc in the Park annual membership picnic.
LEFT: Charlie (TOP) and Justin (BOTTOM) strum a guitar at an end of semester music concert.
The guitar was fitted with adaptive equipment by a class
of the JMU Engineering Department.
Ribbon Cutting and Dedication of The Simon-Edmonson Center
Events
LEFT: Founders Frances Edmonson
and Joan Simon address the group.
RIGHT: Heather Counter talks about
her experiences at the Op Shop.
We said farewell and good luck to Devin.
PAGE 2
T H E A R C A D V O C A T E SUMMER 2017
News From The Road Following SpArc, Our Community Engagement Program
LEFT: Charlie enjoys his time at the Valley Mall.
RIGHT: Kaitlyn and Claire meet a friend at the
Shenandoah Heritage Market.
BELOW: Hope and Aaron hold rabbits at Sylvia’s Pets.
SpArc takes people into the community in small groups to volunteer, explore the community, practice their skills in real-world environments, meet people and develop natural supports.
TOP LEFT: Justin volunteers at the
Sentara RMH Atrium putting
together patient binders.
BOTTOM LEFT:
Darrest assists at the Salvation Army
Thrift Store.
RIGHT (clockwise): Crystal, Tim, Robert and Jeremy deliver
orders for Blossoms of Springtime.
Special thanks to Charles and Helen Leach for presenting us with a grant from the Thomas Jefferson Citivan
Club!
ABOVE: Robert and Jonathon visit the Harrisonburg Fire Department Museum.
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T H E A R C A D V O C A T E SUMMER 2017
NOTES FROM THE BOARD
James Ward, President
THE DIRECTOR’S CORNER
Heather Denman, Executive Director
Say No to Medicaid Caps and Cuts
Your advocacy is making a difference! At time of writ-ing, the vote in the Senate on the Better Care Recon-ciliation Act, has been delayed until after the 4th of July recess. This gives us more critical time for advo-cacy work, so please keep up your efforts.
We commend the Members of Congress who stood up for the rights of their constituents with intellectual and developmental disabilities by opposing the Better Care Reconciliation Act. This bill showed a dangerous disregard for the wellbeing of people with disabilities and those with complex medical needs among others. This is a delay, not a defeat. The bill is still a threat to the rights of people with disabilities and our relatively new community based services system. A vote in fa-vor of this bill is a vote in favor of cutting health care coverage from at least 22 million individuals by 2026. Per the budget report, by next year, 15 million more people would be uninsured compared with current law. We cannot step backward. We must continue our efforts to change the hearts and minds of those who supported this bill and help them understand that their constituents rely on Medicaid for comprehensive health care coverage and long-term services and supports that enable them to live full lives in the community. Those are the Senators we need to reach; we need them to realize what is at stake. Our work is far from over, we will continue to work tirelessly in opposition to this bill. We encourage members of our network to share their stories with their Senators during the upcoming recess and, on the advice of proponent Senator Mark Warner, continue to inform your Congressmen of your opposition to Medicaid caps and cuts.
55 years ago, the landscape was different for people with intellectual and develop-mental disabilities (ID/DD) and their families in Harrisonburg and Rockingham. At that time, people with ID/DD did not have many of the options and services that are available today: no special education, no accessible transportation, no communi-ty housing options; no recreational opportunities; no Special Needs Trusts; no Com-munity Services Boards, no Medicaid Waivers. Families were faced with the difficult choice of placing a loved one with a disability away in state-run institutions or caring for them at home without needed support from the state. Everything began to change with the grassroots efforts of families who believed that their children and loved ones with intellectual or developmental disabilities could thrive at home and in their community with the necessary services and sup-ports. From their efforts, The Arc of Harrisonburg and Rockingham began in 1962. From the beginning, The Arc of Harrisonburg and Rockingham established some of the earliest programs for people with ID/DD in our locality, including an employment program, a day support center, a summer day camp, and a transportation sys-tem. Many of these initial programs are still around today in the form of other non-profits and agencies while others still remain under the management and operations of The Arc. Today, The Arc of Harrisonburg and Rockingham represents thousands and provides direct services to over 50 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities—of all ages and stages of life—and their families. We continue to provide a broad array of programs, services, and advocacy that make a critical difference in the lives of people with ID/DD—such as autism, Down syn-drome, fetal alcohol syndrome spectrum, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and rare chromo-somal disorders—and their families:
Information & Referral for families, with a resource library and staff ex-perts fielding calls and emails helping address time-sensitive issues and solve difficult challenges.
In-home and Respite Services for adults Center-based Adult Day Support SpArc Community Engagement: Kids On The Block puppet shows: a unique group of disabled and non-
disabled puppets operated by people with I/DD that speak to chil-dren about tolerance and understanding of people with disabilities and other types of differences
An Annual Art Contest to celebrate the creativity of children, teens and adults with I/DD
Teen/Adult Canteens in collaboration with Harrisonburg Parks and Recrea-tion
Workshops and seminars with vital information for families to navigate systems and needs throughout the lifespan. Futures Planning and Management seminars which educate individuals to receive financial support to enhance their lives with-
out jeopardizing their public benefits (like SSI or Medicaid) while planning to meet lifetime needs.
Advocacy on the local and state levels for better funding and services for people with ID/DD.
Most of all, The Arc remains a key resource to families at all stages of life who want to create a life in the community for their loved one with an intellectual or develop-mental disability. … Please help strength The Arc of Harrisonburg and Rockingham as we embark on the next 55 years. As the father of a wonderful daughter with disabilities, I—like so many others—rely on The Arc of Harrisonburg and Rockingham’s mission, its essential programs, and its unparalleled staff. And as the organization’s President, I am proud to help grow the legacy that those founding families—including the Simon and Edmondson fami-lies—started so many years ago. I hope you will help create the future for people with disabilities that we all envision. Please make a generous donation today so that The Arc of Harrisonburg and Rocking-ham can continue this progress and ensure that our community is a better place for everyone with ID/DD. Your donation—which also makes you a member of The Arc of Harrisonburg and Rockingham—can be made online at www.hrarc.org. Together, we can achieve!
Membership includes membership in The Arcs of Virginia and The U.S. and, most importantly, you add to The Arc’s collective voice which is critical in shaping solutions to resolve the problems in Virginia’s I/DD service system. Our legislators listen when The Arc advocates on behalf of persons
with I/DD because we speak on behalf of our members – their voters. Please (re-)join us in attaining our vision of a community where people with disabilities are valued as classmates, coworkers, neighbors, citizens and friends! Name: _________________________________________ Address: __________________________________________________
City: State: Zip: Phone: ____________________________________________________________________________________
Email (for newsletter and event information): _________________________________________________________________
Individual/Family ($20) Business ($50)
Renewal New Membership
Please mail form with your check to:
The Arc 620 Simms Ave.
Harrisonburg, VA 22802
I would like to make an additional contribution
$25 ____ $50 _____ $75 ____ $100 ____ $250 ____ $500 _____ Other:_______
My gift is in memory of / in honor of: _____________________________________________
Send acknowledgement to:
Name:_______________________________________________________________
Friendly Renewal Reminder July: Marcia Kline, Gordon Magalis August: Susan Gier, John Krall, Emory Merryman, Yvonne Skingley
September: Donald Simon, Jim Spart
T H E A R C A D V O C A T E SUMMER 2017
PAGE 4
Become a Member of The Arc of Harrisonburg & Rockingham
Multi -Year Pledge/Gift Amount (check one) Be the SpArc Society Levels
______ $500.00 a year for 5 years Matchlight
______ $1,000 a year for 5 years Sparkler
______ $5,000 a year for 5 years Bonfire
______ $10,000 a year for 5 years Inferno
or a multi-year gift of my designation: or a one-time gift of my designation:
$_______ a year for ____ years $_______ in honor of the 55th Anniversary
My employer____________________________________________ will match my gift.
Name: ____________________________________________________________
Address: ___________________________________________________________
City: _______________________________________________________________
Email Address: ______________________________________________________
_____ My check is enclosed (please make payable to The Arc Harrisonburg and Rockingham).
My Pledge
In honor and celebration of 55 years of programs, services and advo-
cacy for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD)
and their families, I would like to pledge a gift that will further The Arc’s
efforts to ensure that people with I/DD have a sense of belonging in
the community through inclusion and engagement. My gift will allow
more SpArc teams to have access to the community.
PAGE 5
T H E A R C A D V O C A T E
Your generous contributions allow us to continue our mission and to help create a better life for persons in our community with intellectual and other developmental disabilities.
SUMMER 2017
Deb Armentrout Bethlehem Brethren Church WMS Stephen Boots
Emily Bowman Jennifer & Larry Bridges Jeffrey Brown
Ronald & Edith Carrier Susan Clague Heather Denman
The Denton Family Tish Dunn Frederick & Gail Fox
Richard Garner Terri Gibbs Sharon Grandle
David & Amy Harris Iva Kenney Charles & Helen Leach
Emory Merryman Richard Moore Devin Nesselrodt
Martin & Tillie Offenbacker The Ornstein Family Jan & Ted Rhodes
Shalom Mennonite Congregation Emily Shifflett Dean Simon
Claire Steiber Shelby Sweeney Donald & Florence Turner
Kara Westerbeek Walmart William & Debra Zwanzig
C O N T R I B U T O R S
ArctoberFest First Annual
German Beer and Wine Festival
September 30, 2017
3pm-8pm
Turner Pavilion, Downtown Harrisonburg
Board meetings are held on the 3rd Monday of each month at 6:30 PM.
Meetings are held in the conference room at the Lucy F.
Simms Continuing Education Center. The public is invited to
attend.
Save the Date Entertainment
Music
Food Trucks
Family Activities
Photo Booths
1k & 3k
Fun Runs
Thank you for your generous donations of cans throughout the years.
Now that we are serving more people (we’ve expanded the program area) and
since many are volunteering and exploring the community with SpArc, we no longer
have the space or the time for can crushing. We will continue to recycle and trust that you
will too.
Deborah Armentrout, Transition Coordinator
Loren Breeden, Administrative Director
Emily Burke, Direct Support Professional
Susan Clague, Direct Support Professional—QIDP
Heather Denman, Executive Director
Patricia Dunn, Administrative Assistant
Penny Fong, Direct Support Professional—QIDP
Terri Gibbs, Director of Support Services
Sharon Grandle, Director of Operations
Gina Hitch, Direct Support Professional—QIDP
Chase Imoru, Direct Support Professional
Carolyn Jackson, Direct Support Professional
Cambry Martin, Direct Support Professional
LonDreher McCornell, Direct Support Professional
Katherine Penn, Direct Support Professional
Gayle Peterman, Direct Support Professional
Emily Roberts, Assistant Director of Support Services
Emily Shifflett, Direct Support Professional
Dick T. Simon, Office Assistant
Rebecca Wiggins, DSP—Transportation Director
Nikki Wood, Direct Support Professional
Lori Yost, Direct Support Professional
President
James Ward
Vice President
Carroll Ward
Secretary
Jennifer Bridges
Treasurer
Jan Rhodes
Directors
Betty Jo Acker
Ben Entsminger
Jonathan Ischinger
Vanessa Keasler
Patty Knicely
John Krall, Esq.
Linda Magalis
Sandy Minskoff
Kate Renalds
Dick Simon
Kara Westerbeek
Phone: 540.437.9214
Fax: 540.437.9217
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.hrarc.org
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
US POSTAGE PAID
HARRISONBURG, VA 22801
PERMIT #36
Return Service Requested
Community Partner
620 Simms Avenue
Harrisonburg, VA 22802
-Breakfast bars -Bandaids -Napkins -Plastic forks & spoons -White copy paper -Individually packaged snacks -Large clear storage tubs w/ lids -Trash can liners (13 & 45 gal) -Non-violent computer games -Colored Pencils -Paper towels -Insect Repellent -Sunscreen
-Ziploc snack bags -AA batteries
The Arc of Harrisonburg
and Rockingham, Inc.
Wish List The Arc Board The Arc Staff