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Arc Happenings April 18, 2012

In this issue

 

Inclusive Communities Survey

 

DDD Eligibility Policy

Sensory Friendly Film

Action Club Bowling

FICC-Transitions
Youth Leadership Forum
Parent Advocacy Training

 

About The Arc

The Arc of Snohomish County

2500 Hewitt Ave, Suite 300

Everett, WA 98201

info@arcsno.org

425-258-2459

Shayne Nagel, Executive Director
Shayne@arcsno.org

JamieCoonts, Program Director

Jamie@arcsno.org

Website

www.arcsno.org

Legislative Updates

www.snocopfc.blogspot.com

Like us on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Arc-of-Snohomish-County/265812323451958

Mission Statement

To empower persons with developmental disabilities to increase their independence and quality of life, while offering encouragement and support to their families.

 

 

The content of this email is for informational purposes only; inclusion does not constitute an endorsement by The Arc of Snohomish County or any of its programs.

Coming up at The Arc

April 20th - Padres Unidos; A support group in Spanish for parents; 6-8 pm. Meets at The Little Red Schoolhouse 14 East Casino Rd. Building A, Everett WA 98208. For information contact Sugely Sanchez Sugely@arcsno.org (425)258-2459 x106

April 23rd - SASSIE (Snohomish Autism Spectrum Support Information & Education) “What Is Anxiety”- Dr. Grant Martin 7-8:30pm. Held at The Arc office. For information contactTracie Diemert at Tracie@arcsno.org (425)258-2459 x111

April 24th - Men’s Self-Advocacy Networking Group; “Crockpot Cooking and Apples to Apples Game”, 6-7:30pm Held at the Arc Office. RSVP to Sally Grube at Sally@arcsno.org (425)258-2459 x109

April 26th - Fathers Network 7-8:30 pm. Held at The Arc office. For information contact Jeff Atkins at atkii913@yahoo.com (425) 258-2459x104

April 27th – Traxx Sibshop for Boys; ages 8-13 yrs; $10 Per Sibling; 6pm-8pm. 4329 Chennault Beach Rd,Mukilteo 98275; Registration required contact Sugely Sanchez Sugely@arcsno.org (425)258-2459 x106

April 28th- Behavior Workshop;**FULL** waiting list 9am-4pm.Snohomish County Bldg.; 3000 Rockefeller Ave, Everett 98201; Registration required contact Tracie Diemert Tracie@arcsno.org (425)258-2459 x111 * *Professional clock hours request has been submitted we are just waiting final approval.

Community Resources & Events

 

 

 

 

 

Inclusive Communities Survey

Please take a moment to fill out this survey so that we can have a better understanding of what recreation and leisure activities individuals with disabilities are participating in, what is working in our community, as well as what barriers that you may face.

 

Your feedback is important to us. Please complete this survey by May 1st

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CInclusiveC

 

Please share with others. We would like to get as much feedback as possible. Care givers, parents, teachers etc.. are encouraged to help individuals complete the survey.

 

The survey can be completed online with Survey Monkey. A hard copy is also attached and can be mailed to address listed on bottom of page.

 

The Coalition for Inclusive Communities will review your feedback and see what we can to do to address barriers and promote more opportunities in our community.

 

Thank you for your feedback.

 

The Coalition for Inclusive Communities

Snohomish County

 

 

New Department of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) Eligibility Policy Affecting People with Autism, Epilepsy and Other Conditions Who Were Denied or Terminated from DDD

Effective April 16, 2012, the Division of Developmental Disabilities has a new Management Bulletin (MB) reinterpreting eligibility rules that affect DDD clients or applicants with autism, epilepsy, or other conditions similar to intellectual disability. In response to Northwest Justice Project's concerns that DDD's eligibility rules discriminated against people who are dually diagnosed with mental illness and a developmental disability, DDD is now allowing its eligibility and intake staff to consider evidence of functional limitations prior to the onset of mental illness. Previously, DDD would reject applicants or terminate eligibility for people in these eligibility categories if they had a mental illness that also affected their adaptive or functional skills.

 

NJP's client had been a lifelong DDD client with autism, but had developed mental illness during her teenage years. DDD terminated her at age 18 because they claimed she could not prove evidence of functional limitations that was not impacted by her mental illness, even though she had clearly qualified for DDD services in her youth. NJP informed DDD that this eligibility barrier violated the Americans with Disabilities Act and made a demand that DDD stop enforcement of this rule. The new MB is DDD's response.

 

The new MB allows eligibility caseworkers to use evidence of functional impairment prior to the onset of the person's mental illness to show that the person has a qualifying developmental delay. NJP suspects that many DDD clients were terminated or potential clients were denied eligibility due to this rule. This rule is most likely to have affected people with autism, epilepsy, or an "other condition" and who were also diagnosed with a significant mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression. Functional impairment is typically proven by one of three tests, which are commonly abbreviated VABS, ABAS, or SIB-R, and these are the tests likely to have been rejected by DDD.

 

These clients should be encouraged to apply again, and to contact legal services for assistance if they were terminated, denied, or encounter new difficulties enrolling with DDD.

 

Contact::

Scott Crain

Northwest Justice Project

401 Second Ave. S #407

Seattle, WA 98104

Tel. 206-464-1519 extension 258

scottc@nwjustice.org

 

 

SENSORY FRIENDLY MOVIE

To honor Autism Awareness Month, Seattle Children’s Autism Center would like to invite you a sensory-friendly movie on Saturday April 21st. This special event is FREE of charge for the autism community—family and friends welcome!

 

What: Sensory-Friendly Movie

Movie: Gnomeo and Juliet

When: Saturday, April 21st 4:00 pm

Where: Seattle Children’s Hospital – Wright Auditorium

4800 Sand Point Way NE Seattle WA 98105

Each child who attends will receive a special prize!

Feel free to bring your own drinks, but be sure they have a lid and are contained. Drop in—no RSVP necessary. Any questions, please call Kylie at 206.987.1616.

 

 

 

Aktion Club Bowling

 

Sunday, April 22nd

12:00 noon

Strawberry Lanes

Cost: $2.25 (you can bring extra money for snacks and drinks)

 

Marysville Aktion Club is a community service group for adults (18 and over) living with disabilities.

 

Sponsored by the Marysville Kiwanis Club

Please contact Jim Strickland for more information – (425) 870-1631 livedemocracy@hotmail.com

 

 

 

FICC - Transitions

The Snohomish County FICC (Family Interagency Coordinating Council)

Parents and Providers are invited to attend a discussion about:

Transitions

Debbie Jackson

Parent Participation Coordinator, PAVE

For families to help guide them through the transition process of moving from early intervention services to the “services, people, places and activities” appropriate for their child’s development at age three.

Join us for interactive presentations about transitions for young children.

 

Monday, April 30, 2012

9:30 to 11:30 AM

Children’s Village 14 E. Casino Road Everett, WA Building A (Closest to Casino Rd.)

Snacks/Beverages Provided

 

What is the FICC?

The Snohomish County Family Interagency Coordinating Council is a local group of parents of young children age birth to six, community agencies, school districts, service providers, and advocates who share a common interest in children with special needs in Snohomish County.

There are two co-chairs who serve on this Council and a steering committee that helps plan the meetings.

In partnership with...Early Intervention Service Providers, Non-profit agencies and School Districts who serve families in Snohomish County.

For more information about FICC please call: (425) 3887402 or email InfantToddlerProgram@Snoco.org

 

 

Youth Leadership Forum Accepting Applications

The Governor's Committee on Disability Issues and Employment (GCDE) is inviting students with disabilities to apply to Washington State's Eleventh Annual Youth Leadership Forum.

The Forum is designed for incoming high school juniors, seniors, and high school graduates with disabilities (as of July 1, 2012) who want to be or are leaders in their schools and communities. The project is funded through donations from state agencies, non-profit organizations and private sector donors, so there is no cost to students.

 

To receive the online YLF Student Application form, request a paper application, or get other assistance, contact Debbie Himes by phone (360) 486-5894 or email.

Completed applications need to be submitted and postmarked no later than May 25, 2012.

 

 

Parent Advocacy Training Program

Date: Tuesday, July 10

Time: 8:00 am – 4:30 pm

Refreshments: Continental breakfast, morning and afternoon breaks

Location: Seattle University School of Law

Registration Fees:

· $30 for Morning OR Afternoon Program

· $50 for Both Programs (includes lunch)

 

Online Registration:

http://www.regonline.com/parentadvocacyskillsbullyingmediation

 

Program Details:

 

Morning: 9:00 am – Noon

 

Bullying and Children with Disabilities

James D. Gerl
Scotti & Gerl
216 South Jefferson St.
Lewisburg, WV 24901-1317
(304) 645-7345
jmgerl@yahoo.com
http://specialeducationlawblog.blogspot.com/

Jim Gerl is a special education law consultant and is licensed to practice law in West Virginia, Illinois and the District of Columbia. Jim is the author of the award winning Special Education Law Blog, http://specialeducationlawblog.blogspot.com/. He has served as a mediator and a hearing officer for West Virginia since 1989, and he now also serves as a hearing officer for Utah; Washington, DC (also mediator); Pennsylvania (five counties and one IU); and Alaska (conflict cases only). He has spoken on special education law topics at numerous state, regional and national conferences, and he is a regular faculty member for the conferences of the National Association of Hearing Officials. Jim has trained hearing officers from all states, and works with a number of state departments of education. He has consulted with federal officials, including the Secretary of OSERS and the Director of OSEP, concerning rural special education issues, and he has served on a dispute resolution review panel for OSEP. Jim has received a B.A. from the University of Illinois-Urbana with departmental distinction in political science; a masters degree in public policy analysis from the University of Illinois-Chicago; and a law degree from the University of San Francisco.

Afternoon: 1:15 – 4:30 pm

 

Mediation of Special Education Disputes

Greg Abell
Senior Partner
Sound Options Group LLP
P.O. Box 11457
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110-5457
(800) 692-2540
grega@somtg.com

As the senior partner of Sound Options, Greg coordinates the design, implementation and delivery of all services. His particular area of expertise is in assisting agencies, organizations and communities in designing and implementing systems for more effectively managing conflict, and facilitating productive and collaborative work environments. He is experienced in mediating highly contentious, multi-party community and institutional disputes. Greg’s practice as a conflict resolution professional is driven by a core belief that everything of importance happens within the context of interpersonal relationships. He believes that one of him strengths is his ability to weave his experience into his consulting and teaching as he assists individuals and organizations in reducing the costs of conflict. His background in psychology led to an interest in mediation, and in the late 1980s he served as a founding member and the first Board President of the Kitsap County Dispute Resolution Center. During the last 10 years, he has been a senior consultant to the Consortium for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education (CADRE) and Board President for the Washington Mediation Association.

 

 

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The Arc office is open by appointment only

Monday - Friday from 10am - 3pm

127 E. Intercity Ave. Suite C
Everett, WA 98208

(425) 258-2459