ARC U.S.

[Guest guest]

Because the ARC's mission and IPADD's are so compatible, I believe they are a

great source of info, just as the experiences of the members. My opinion- post

them and we will scan through them for relevency just as we do for all the

others. I do not have time to go to all the different websites so I appreciate

the info here.

Lori

---------------------------------

Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now.

[Guest guest]

Yes I agree. But I recently joined Arc because I felt the info I received via

IPADDU was well worth the

check. Still I like only consulting one email.

Thais

--

WOW! Homepage (http://www.wowway.com)

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Lori.

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

egskb@...

Re:Arc U.S.

Because the ARC's mission and IPADD's are so compatible, I believe they are a

great source of info, just as the experiences of the members. My opinion- post

them and we will scan through them for relevency just as we do for all the

others. I do not have time to go to all the different websites so I appreciate

the info here.

Lori

---------------------------------

Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now.

[Guest guest]

Ok, thanks, Thais.

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

egskb@...

Re: Re:Arc U.S.

Yes I agree. But I recently joined Arc because I felt the info I received via

IPADDU was well worth the

check. Still I like only consulting one email.

Thais

--

WOW! Homepage (http://www.wowway.com)

[Guest guest]

I agree.

Suzanne

Re:Arc U.S.

Because the ARC's mission and IPADD's are so compatible, I believe they are a

great source of info, just as the experiences of the members. My opinion- post

them and we will scan through them for relevency just as we do for all the

others. I do not have time to go to all the different websites so I appreciate

the info here.

Lori

---------------------------------

Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now.

[Guest guest]

Thanks.

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

egskb@...

Re:Arc U.S.

Because the ARC's mission and IPADD's are so compatible, I believe they are a

great source of info, just as the experiences of the members. My opinion- post

them and we will scan through them for relevency just as we do for all the

others. I do not have time to go to all the different websites so I appreciate

the info here.

Lori

---------------------------------

Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Mobile. Try it

now.

[Guest guest]

I thought this was a good summary on what is going on in D.C. in regard to

individuals with disabilities.

Ellen

The Arc of the US

· Berns and Marty Ford were among those attending a While House

briefing with Kareem Dale, Special Assistant to the President on Disability

Policy. You can read more about the meeting in today's Monday Morning Memo from

. Among the more important of the topics covered was the issue of long

term services and supports for individuals with disabilities. The Obama

administration will not be proposing its own health care reform plan at this

time; instead they are offering technical assistance to Congress as they craft

their own proposal. If we want long term services and supports to be included,

we should communicate directly to members of Congress and do so now. I'll be

sending an action alert on this subject later this week.

· People Magazine, in the April 27 issue, is running the story about

families re-uniting with loved ones with developmental disabilities. The

National FindFamily Registry ( a project of The Arc and TheArcLink) is featured

in the story.

· The Arc of the US is working on revisions to the organizations

national award structure. More information will be forthcoming.

· Walgreens opened its newest Distribution Center in CT last week. The

company has made a commitment to increasing the number of people with

disabilities (of all sorts) throughout the workforce in the stores and in the

distribution centers. About 25% of the workforces at the centers will be

individuals with disabilities. These are regular jobs; those with disabilities

and without will be on the same work teams; everyone will be held to the same

standards; and in some areas, there are transitional work groups to help prepare

persons with disabilities to join the teams.

Randy , Senior VP of Logistics and Distribution, who has a son with autism

spearheaded the 3 yr Walgreen's project. When introducing it (the first site

was , SC) he noted,

" ...I've watched these kids grow up from the school system. Children with

cerebral palsy, mental retardation, autism-- all kinds of different

disabilities.

And I've watched them move through the school system and what happens for most

of these kids, they hit twenty-one and they're booted out of the school system

and have to fend for themselves against those who are much better prepared.

The disabled die a death of a thousand cuts.

As a parent and as an employer, I know this to be true.

They're unlikely able to drive or may have limited access to transportation.

They may not be as adaptable as we'd like them to be or as flexible.

They may have limits on hours. They may not learn the way we're used to

teaching.

They unlikely interview well. And they may even look different. "

Since the company was investing in new technology to make distribution more

efficient, they decided to create opportunities for people with disabilities

and intentionally used universal design concepts appropriate for employing

persons with disabilities while manufacturing the new equipment. Walgreen met

with agencies in SC that provide employment services to people with disabilities

to help plan a pipeline of qualified applicants for the 2007 opening of the

center. The last step was to create training opportunities for the new managers

to help insure an inclusive workplace. Eventually all of the Distribution

Centers will be configured this way and all managers will receive training.

There are no Walgreen's Distribution Centers in CO but that may happen soon. Go

to www.walgreensoutreach.com for information.

· Directors reported on state legislative funding situations for DD

services: MN is looking at graduated sales tax increases to particularly benefit

persons with developmental disabilities and the elderly. In MD, a legislative

proposal to increase the state alcohol tax to deal with the WL was defeated in

the last days of the session. MA is expecting severe cuts in family support

programs. MI is experiencing devastating reductions in state revenue and program

funding. VA is restoring cuts previously made to waiver programs as a result of

an overturn of a gubernatorial veto and The Arc in VA is working on a new Autism

waiver (Carol—Betty, you may get a call.) NY is still waiting for the last shoe

to drop re: state funding for DD services. They do not expect any outright

reductions but, for the first time in 25 years, do not expect any increases.

DPC

· HHS named Henry Claypool as Director of Office on Disability. Many of

you may know him…after sustaining a spinal cord injury more than 25 years ago,

he graduated from the University of Colorado, spent five years working for a

Center for Independent Living and became the Director of the Disability Services

office at the University of Colorado-Boulder. He has served in various roles in

federal agencies and, most recently, as policy director of a managed care

provider in NY. His appointment is very good news indeed.

· President Obama will nominate M. for Deputy Director

of Office of Personnel Management. She has been a member of the U.S. Equal

Employment Opportunity Commission and is noted for leadership in the area of

employment for persons with disabilities.

· The Senate Finance Committee is scheduled to vote tomorrow on Kansas

Governor Kathleen Sebelius as the Secretary of the Department of Health and

Human Services. Because of the extended discussion regarding her appointment,

many HHS staff positions have gone unfilled.

· Appointments in the Dept. of Labor and the Dept. of Education have

also been slow. We do not yet know who will be appointed as director of Special

Education.

· DPC staff participated in the above mentioned briefing with Kareem

Dale and also in a special briefing with Ann De Parle, President Obama's

Health Care leader. Again, we learned that the issue of long-term services and

support needs some help. You can watch the C-Span recording of the meeting

at:http://www.c-spanarchives.org/library/includes/templates/library/flash_popup.\

php?pID=285170-1 & clipStart= & clipStop. Marchand speaks to the long term care

issue about 1 hr into the recording.

· HR 1913­ would expand the federal definition of hate crimes to those

against individuals with disabilities.

· HR 1255, backed by Voices of the Retarded, is—according to DPC—a

thinly veiled attack on P and A groups—e.g. The Legal Center. It would prohibit

such groups from filing class action lawsuits against ICF-MRs and could have a

chilling effect on future Olmstead litigation. We were told not to take any

action on this bill now---it may die on its own. I will learn more next week

and will report back.

· Social Security eligibility determination: If you know of any county

that has laid off SS eligibility personnel, please let me know. Some states

have, mistakenly, included these individuals in plans to reduce state

workforces. These positions are covered by the SS Administration and should not

be affected by state or local decisions.

I will be attending the DPC seminar in Washington next week. I will provide an

update when I return.

Have a good week.

Marijo Rymer

Executive Director

The Arc of Colorado

1580 Logan--Suite 730

Denver, CO 80203

303-864-9334 ext 11

303-229-9499 (cell)

Support SB 228--it's time to end the 6% excuse.

Go to www.leg.state.co.us for telephone numbers and e-mail addresses of members

of the House of Representatives

Please contaact your own representative and urge support.

End the Colorado Wait List for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities NOW

12,000 Children and Adults with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome and Mental

Retardation Need Your Help

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