Pics from our Mitch Herman Golf Tournament

Some pictures to share with you from the Mitch Herman Memorial Golf Tournament we held last month. Here’s one, and see the rest on our Flickr page.

 

Thanks to Times Herald for covering Knights of Columbus fundraiser

If you caught the June 25th issue of Times Herald, you might have seen the article covering board member Mike Marsh receiving the fundraiser check from the Knights of Columbus. Thanks to the paper for featuring us!

 

Action alert: Support positive measures to correct bad student behavior

If you have a child in school, you might want to pay attention to a new federal bill called the Positive Behavior for Safe and Effective Schools Act (H.R. 2597). It would let state and local education agencies use federal education funds to increase the use of school-wide positive behavior support (SWPBS) for all students — including those with developmental disabilities.

What’s PBS? It’s a positive approach to promote good behavior among all students. Almost every K-12 classroom has its share of misbehaved kids. Schools typically take punitive measures to correct students’ misconduct (detention, etc.). But that can often ignite the rebel inside, and cause kids to continue misbehaving.

PBS, on the other hand, creates and maintains a safe and effective learning environment by clearly teaching students what behavior is expected of them. They are rewarded for good behavior and making good decision. PBS has been shown to decrease the number of discipline referrals, increase academic performance, raise student attendance, and improve school climate.

U.S. Rep. Phil Hare introduced the Positive Behavior for Safe and Effective Schools Act in the House of Representatives. The bill doesn’t require schools to use PBS. But many schools want to implement it, and don’t have the funds to do so. This bill is a step in the right direction. But now, we need your support too!

No Pennsylvania representatives are co-sponsoring the bill. Please, call your federal representative and tell them you want them to support and co-sponsor the Positive Behavior for Safe and Effective Schools Act. It can mean a more positive, healthy, and productive learning environment for your child.

You can find out who your representative is and how to contact them by visiting the House’s Web site.

You can read the full text of the bill at the Library of Congress’s Web site.

Thank you for your support!

 

Rest in peace, Rosa B.

Many individuals over 65 years of age, with and without a disability, have no living or involved relatives. When an individual’s judgment is affected, appropriate assistance is of utmost importance to assure that outcomes of life-affecting decisions are properly considered.

But where will this assistance come from? Here at The Arc, our Advocacy Services identifies service needs and gaps and seeks to find solutions through other entities or, when necessary, by directly addressing the need.

I bring this up after an unfortunate event. Recently, Rosa B. was found unconscious on the floor of her room in a personal care boarding home, and was admitted to the hospital. It was later determined that Rosa had a massive stroke.

Over the next few, days the medical intervention team could not improve her condition and there was consensus among her medical team that she was not going to improve and her situation would begin to further deteriorate. For a woman in her 70’s the prognosis was extremely poor. Rosa never regained awareness of her surroundings, and she appeared to be in general discomfort.

The hospital social work staff was contacted to locate next of kin to help establish a course of treatment under the current circumstances. Determining that there were no involved family members, the hospital staff turned to Arc Advocacy Services. We accept guardianship for others when no other persons were willing or available to take on the responsibility for making appropriate end of life decisions.

Once the Court of Common Pleas granted Arc Advocacy Services emergency legal guardianship, Arc staff began consultation with the physicians and medical personnel to develop an appropriate course of treatment. Arc Advocacy staff became the point of contact for Rosa’s treatment team, and was able to sign the required medical release forms and documents to provide specific medical care and comfort for Rosa.

Arc Advocacy’s overall philosophy is to address the needs of individuals who have a disability, and because of it, Rosa and others have support. Where would folks turn if this option was not available?

Rosa recently passed away. The only people who attended her services were the staff from the Arc and the staff from the funeral home. No one should be this alone in life. But it happens. And when it does, The Arc steps in so there is someone there to support them.

Please join us in saying a prayer for Rosa. And if you have questions about Arc Advocacy Services, you can learn more by visiting or Web site or calling us.

 

Former Philly teacher dedicates self to The Arc and developmentally disabled

Our board members all have their own personal reasons for joining The Arc and dedicating themselves to the developmentally disabled. Many have children with disabilities, and they get involved to give them a better life. But in doing so, they become part of something greater: helping bring opportunity and hope to many other disabled people in our area.

It’s an endeavor 35 years in the making for Michele Mailman. She’s one of The Arc’s board members, and we interviewed as part of our Meet the Boards series. Our e-mail Q and A is below, unedited, so you can get Michele’s unvarnished take on how and why she got involved with The Arc, and why it’s important to her. Her story is an inspiration to anyone who’s considering getting involved, and everyone who already is. Enjoy!

Introduce us to Michele Mailman. Tell us a little about who are and what you do.

I have been married to my husband Steve for almost forty years. We have two children, Holly and Scott, and one grandchild, Evan. In 2006 I retired from the School District of Philadelphia after teaching for over thirty years. I found that I missed the kids and my colleagues, so I began substitute teaching the very next semester.

I usually work about six to eight days a month and I only work at the middle school that was my last assignment. I also spend two to three days a week babysitting for my grandson so that his mother could return to work as a speech/language pathologist. My schedule is almost as busy now as it was before I retired.

How did you get involved with The Arc board, and why?

Thirty five years ago, when I was still living in Philadelphia, I was asked to join a fund raising group of women called the PARC Aides who generated money through fundraisers for the Philadelphia Arc. After being a member for a year, my son Scott was born. He was diagnosed with a seizure disorder and developmental delays when he was eight months old.

While the Philadelphia Arc had spun off its infant stimulation programs years before, they were able to help me with my search for programs for Scott. To this day, I am still a member of that PARC Aides chapter that will, sadly, disband at the end of this year.

Twenty one years ago we moved to Montgomery County. I was approached by Ginny Conway to come on the board of the Arc of Montgomery County as she was beginning her presidency. We had known each other well when we both lived in Philadelphia since our sons were enrolled in the same KenCrest early intervention program. I was honored to be asked and felt that I would benefit from knowing more about how the system was accessed in Montgomery County.

Through the years I have been a general board member, chairman of several committees, president of the Foundation Board, and have held several offices on the parent board before assuming the presidency in June 2007.

I have maintained a sustained presence with the Arc because I feel that in some way I am giving back to the agency that has the mission of inclusion of people of all ages with developmental disabilities into the fabric of our general society and to remove barriers that prevent this from happening.

Why are you dedicated to the developmentally disabled community?

My initial reason for dedication to this community would, of course, be my son Scott. As any parent of a child with a disability, I have had my own experiences and have also shared them with others who have enlightened me with tales of their journey in this unique and challenging position.

Because I can look back at the progress that has been made and can envision where we need to go, I will remain involved in the endeavor to make our intellectually challenged community of adults and children gain access to all aspects of life, work and family they deserve.

What are some of your biggest concerns for the developmentally disabled right now?

I am concerned that the financial crisis facing our country will have a negative affect by making the funding needed to maintain and build programs for this community more difficult, and possibly, in some cases, cancel plans for the expansion of supports that are greatly needed at this time. I am afraid that the waiting list will not be addressed in a way that will provide services for families already long in need.

Besides the work The Arc is doing, are you doing anything else personally to help the disabled?

My son Scott lives in the community with two other young men with similar disabilities. Neither has a mother who is alive, and only one has a father, who is in poor health. I have made it a goal to create the kind of home in which I would like Scott to live by meeting regularly with the provider and staff, ranging from the director to direct care staff.

I am committed to request and, sometimes, demand improvements in both the physical condition of the home and the level of care the men receive. In doing this, I hope to improve the lives of all three.

I accompany staff to shop for the other men, make purchases for their rooms, and help identify programs that make their lives more complete. When I decorated and made new purchases for my son’s bedroom, I also made similar plans for upgrading the other two residents’ rooms. They are a family and I am proud that I can serve all three as a mother and a surrogate parent.

What can readers do to help out?

There are many ways people can help. We are always looking for and welcoming people to our boards that have the expertise and knowledge to help us grow. If serving on a board is not your thing, volunteering in activities such as sports and community outings is a great way to interact with people with intellectual disabilities. I believe by doing any of the above, they will feel enriched.

 

See Pottstown Mercury for latest on state budget cuts

Writer Lynn Gladieux put together a follow-up piece in the Pottstown Mercury about the hardship The Arc is facing in light of recent state budget cuts. Thanks so much Lynn for covering our story again!

Click over to her article or turn to today’s issue of the Pottstown Mercury to read about Lynn’s latest interview with Arc Executive Director Paul Stengle. Lynn covers how state money gets funneled through organizations like the Arc, and where some of the biggest issues lie in getting this funding to the developmentally disabled.

 

Knights of Columbus presents Arc with fundraiser check

After weeks of hard work raising funds for The Arc, local Knights of Columbus chapters have gathered all monies raised, and doled them out this week. A big thank you goes out again to all the Knights who helped support The Arc!!

On Tuesday, Mike Marsh, President of Marc Children’s Services, received The Arc’s check from the Knights of Columbus’ Pope John Paul I Council (#7565) at the Visitation Church. Here’s a shot from the event:

 

Happy birthday to The Arc of PA

The Arc of Pennsylvania is 60 years old this year, so we wanted to send special birthday wishes their way. Happy birthday! The Arc of PA created a short video to celebrate the occasion, and you can watch it on their Web site. It features people who have been touched by The Arc of PA, and the difference the organization has made for the disabled in our state since 1949.

 

SB 850 squashed: Funding for waiting list and MR services safe for now

Those receiving or about to receive state and federal mental retardation services can breath a sigh of relief. The Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee voted down Senate Bill 850 this week. If passed, the bill would have significantly cut funding for services for people with developmental disabilities and their families.

The Arc is breathing a sigh of relief too. Rejecting this bill is an important step in preserving the services we need to support the developmentally disabled. If you take a look at what this bill would have done their well-being and livelihood, the importance of its defeat comes to light. If passed, SB 850 would have:

• Cut $37.72 million from Medicaid-waiver-funded community services, ending services for 550 people.
• Eliminated $12.117 million in state-only funds for county MH/MR programs. Three thousand families would not have been served.
• Cut $15.286 million in state and federal funding for autism services. Up to 50 percent of people waiting for services would not have gotten them.
• Eliminated the emergency waiting list and institution diversion initiative, denying services to 780 people.

You can learn more about the bill and how it would have affected the developmentally disabled community in Pennsylvania by checking out The Arc of PA’s testimony before the House Appropriations Committee in May.

 

Arc mother’s letter to Gov. Rendell: Good things happening since son graduated Early Intervention

We’ve often written about the struggles the developmentally disabled face in Pennsylvania. From funding cuts to lack of equal opportunities, it seems it’s always an uphill battle for those affected by disability. However, there are bright spots amidst the difficulties, and it’s helpful to share them, to keep our spirits up, and know that our efforts to support the disabled are working.

Linda of Montgomery County is one of those bright spots, and she felt strong enough about her story to write it in a letter to Gov. Rendell. Linda’s son is one of the recent graduates of Marc Children’s Services Early Intervention program. In her letter, which she also shared with us to share with you, she describes how The Arc significantly helped improve her son’s development.

She notes three particularly impactful people at The Arc: Connie Vienz, Program Coordinator; Julie Fisher-Pisa, Occupational Therapist; and Shanna Neumann, Special Instructor.

Below is a copy of Linda’s actual letter to the governor. You can click the image to see it enlarged, and read it first hand. (Linda’s contact info has been censored for privacy.)

Linda also thanks others who made a big difference for her son. Her story shows that by working together, we can made great strides in giving our disabled children a better life from the start.

Many thanks goes out to everyone who worked with Linda’s family. And thanks also goes out to Linda, for sharing her story and putting in front of Gov. Rendell to prove that programs like those provided by The Arc are working, and are essential in our community.

If you have a story to share, please feel free to write a letter to the governor or your congressman, like Linda did. Simple actions like that can help show our leaders the importance of providing enough funding to support programs and services for the developmentally disabled. It can make the difference for your family, and others in your neighborhood. We also encourage you to share your story with us here on the blog. We’d love to hear about it!

 

“Building Bridges” archive: How to start and run a parent support group

Parent support groups can be a vital resource to gain insight, find connections, and learn ways to help your special needs child grow and socialize. You might have one in your community and perhaps you’re already a member. If so, you probably know about the benefits of staying active in your parent support group.

But if you aren’t in a group, or if there aren’t any around your home, don’t worry! This is the perfect opportunity to start one of your own. It might sound daunting at first, but remember: Parent support groups are created and run by other parents just like you. All it takes is commitment and a few key steps to successfully start and run a parent support group.

And in our latest episode of “Building Bridges in the Community,” we got the download. You can watch the archived version below.

Moderator Cat West was joined by Camille Desnoyers to discuss how parents can be empowered, and become more active in their disabled child’s education and socialization through parent support groups. Cat helped form a group, the Upper Merion Special Education Parent Resource INterest Group (UM SPRING), and Camille spearheaded the Norristown Education and Advocacy for Children with Differing Abilities (NEACDA).

Both are successful, and you can learn exactly how these two women started their groups and have kept them going by watching the show. Hats off to Cat and Camille! You can also learn more about their groups and how to join by visiting their Web sites:

UM SPRING

NEACDA

The next episode of “Building Bridges in the Community” airs live July 2 at 11 a.m. on BCTV.

 

Thanks to ABC 6 for featuring our Children’s Services graduation

ABC 6 (WPVI) featured our Children’s Services graduation on their newscast Friday. Thanks so much to the film crew for coming out and sharing our event with TV viewers! We appreciate it!

 

Say cheese! Photos from Marc Children’s Services graduation

We’ve gathered our best shots from the Marc Children’s Services graduation on Friday. Check out the ones below for a sneak peek, and then hit up our Flickr album for the full monty.

 

Congrats to all Marc Children’s Services grads

The Arc’s graduation ceremony for Marc Children’s Services went very well Friday evening, with family, friends, and Arc members and staff all coming out to celebrate the children’s achievement at the Elmwood Park Zoo. We snapped pictures from the event, and will be sharing them on the blog soon!

 

Meet the man behind The Arc’s Web site

His name is Rob DiMarco, and he’s on The Arc’s Board. We talked to him recently as part of our Meet the Boards series, and learned about how his background in software and Web development brought him to The Arc.

Take a listen to hear him tell the story of when he met Paul Stengle, our Executive Director, and found out The Arc was in need of a tech guy to work on its Web site and blog. Rob proved to be the man, and now he’s the go-to source for anything tech.

Also hear Rob explain what it means to be a part of The Arc’s board, and why he thinks education is probably the biggest challenge facing developmentally disabled children.

 

Arc disapproves high school graduation exams

Gov. Rendell has gotten negative feedback after recently signing a $201 million contract with Data Recognition Corporation to develop a high school graduation exam. The problem is the Senate hasn’t approved the test, which is seen as fiscally irresponsible by Senate Republican leaders.

The letter that the leaders sent to Gov. Rendell details their disapproval, and you can read it here.

The Arc is in support of the General Assembly and their dislike of the exam. Not only is it financially irresponsible, but most of the alternate forms of the exam don’t address the concerns that we have for students with disabilities.

More on this issue can be found on Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Action News, The Pennsylvania State Education Association,

 

KYW gives us the world, and now our PSAs for developmental disabilities

You know the KYW jingle: You give us 22 minutes, we’ll give you the world. Well, now they are also giving support to help spread the word about the warning signs of autism and developmental disabilities.

KYW News Radio, the most popular radio station in the Philadelphia area, has been very gracious to us, and will be airing public service announcements we wrote to raise awareness about early detection of developmental delays, and the importance of paying attention to the warning signs. Many thanks to KYW for your generosity and support!

Keep your radio tuned to 1060 AM to hear our PSAs — as well everything you need to know going on around the Delaware Valley! KYW will start airing the PSAs in the next few days.

As a head’s up, here’s the copy KYW will be airing:

The number of children classified as having autism spectrum disorder is rising. The United States Department of Education anticipates autism diagnosis will grow 10 to 17 percent annually. Some studies suggest one out of every 150 children has an autism spectrum disorder. Twenty years ago, the number was one in 10,000. But are autism cases growing, or are we just getting better at helping physicians and parents identify the warning signs earlier? Early detection and intervention are the key to helping children be their best. If your child didn’t babble, point, wave, or grasp by age one; didn’t say single words by 16 months or two-word phrases by 24 months; avoids eye contact; or loses any social skills at any age, contact Marc Children’s Services, a non-profit early intervention service that’s free to qualified area families. Call 877-4-TheArc. That’s 877-4-TheArc. Don’t delay. Call today.

 

Reminder: Mitch Herman Golf Tourny June 6

Just a reminder to get your golf clubs ready and your registration form in the mail if you want to play in the Mitch Herman Memorial Golf Tournament. We tee off Saturday, June 6 at the Willow Hollow Golf Course for a day of golf, friendly competition, prizes, gifts, food, drinks, and more.

And of course, we’ll be doing it all in honor of Mitch Herman, a local golfer who passed away in December 2001. The Arc joins us in remembrance because Mitch’s brother Matt has Down syndrome. All proceeds from the tournament will benefit people in Berks County with developmental disabilities, and their families.

If you’d like to join us, here are the details:

WHAT: Mitch Herman Memorial Golf Tournament

WHERE: Willow Hollow Golf Course
619 Prison Road
Leesport, PA 19533
Directions

WHEN: Saturday, June 6. Shotgun start at 8 a.m., runs until 2 p.m.

COST: $85 per individual, $340 for a group of four

REGISTRATION: Fill out this registration form.

 

Our little ones graduate next Friday!

It’s the season for graduation, and here at The Arc, it’s no exception. Next Friday we’ll be hosting our Marc Children’s Services graduation ceremony at the Elmwood Park Zoo, and the entire Arc family is invited to take part.

Graduating will be children from The Arc’s Early Intervention program. We’re so proud of all of them! They’ve come a long way in improving their language and motor skills. We’re also very proud of our Arc parents, who’ve stay committed to their children’s education and development.

We have a full agenda lined up for the evening. We’ll have a cap and gown ceremony, complete with Pomp and Circumstance and pictures. Dinner will be served, and there will be plenty of free time to meet the animals and play on the playground.

We’ll also be swearing in new officers elected to The Arc’s board of directors. Congrats to board members! The list of who we’ll be honoring is on The Arc’s Web site.

If you’re interested in joining us for the event, check out the details below:

WHAT: Marc Children’s Services Graduation Ceremony for children in Montgomery County and Annual Membership Meeting

WHERE: Elmwood Park Zoo, Norristown, Pa.

WHEN: Friday, May 29 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

COST: Adults are $15 each; children 12 and under are $5 each. Price includes admission to the zoo, catered BBQ dinner, the swearing of the officers, and the graduation ceremony.

REGISTER: Online at The Arc’s Web site.

 

Plymouth Rock Studios buddies up with Best Buddies

For those who haven’t yet heard of it, Plymouth Rock Studios™ is a brand new film and television digital studio complex in Plymouth, Mass., set to open in 2010. As the ROCK (as it is fondly referred to) staffs up, they knew they had the opportunity to create a movement that changes the game for people with disabilities when it comes to employment.

That’s why they’ve partnered with Best Buddies, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for friendships and integrated employment. As it is, there’s an 80 percent unemployment rate for people with disabilities. Like the Arc, Best Buddies and now Plymouth Rock Studios are working to change that.

The ROCK is committed to working with Best Buddies to be a leader in its jobs program through the ROCK Educational Cooperative, and is proud to introduce the newest ROCK employee, Peter Johnson.

Have a look at this short video created by the gang at Plymouth Rock Studios, as part of their daily webisodes, aptly titled The Series.

Thanks to everyone at Plymouth Rock Studios and The Series. We greatly appreciate your work towards employment equality.