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.

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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: arc@hrarc.org

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