The Arc of Southern Maryland consumers and staff and People on the Go of Calvert County members were on hand as Maryland Governor Larry Hogan signs HB431, the Maryland Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act. It requires the College Savings Plans of Maryland Board to establish the Maryland ABLE Program to help promote financial savings to support individuals with disabilities in maintaining health, independence, and quality of life; renaming the College Savings Plans of Maryland Board to be the Maryland 529 Board; requiring the Board to work in consultation with the Department of Disabilities regarding the Maryland ABLE Program; applying the Act to all taxable years beginning after December 31, 2015.
 

World Cerebral Palsy Day is a movement of people with cerebral palsy (CP) and their families, and the organizations that support them, in more than 50 countries.

Its vision is to ensure that children and adults with CP have the same rights, access and opportunities as anyone else in our society.

Robyn Cummins, “World CP Day” Manager explains: “Cerebral palsy is the most common physical disability in childhood and is also one of the least understood. There are over 17 million people living with CP and 350 million family, friends and supporters who care about them.”

“But in many countries, people with CP are ‘invisible’. They live out of sight, out of mind and out of options.”

“We talk to people with CP, their families and organizations around the world and find incredibly frustrating similarities. The same issues keep coming up again and again.”

“But the good news is we also hear about the success stories – individuals and organizations who are creating positive change in their communities and are willing to share their experiences, tools and tips. Our mission is to highlight the issues, unearth the success stories and encourage people to take action in their communities.”

Public awareness

CP is a complex, lifelong disability. It primarily affects movement, but people with CP may also have visual, learning, hearing, speech, epilepsy and intellectual impairments. It can be mild – a weakness in one hand – to severe – where people have little control over movements or speech and may need 24 hour assistance.

“People with CP across the world tell us that they face a range of responses in their communities,” explained “World CP Day” Manager, Robyn Cummins.

“A young woman with CP recently told me: ‘People either underestimate us, or overestimate us’. It may be through well-meaning but misguided sympathy or pity, which serves to undermine a person’s autonomy and independence. Or, it can be people who want to make a ‘hero’ out of someone who just wants to lead an ordinary life.”

In many countries, people with CP face superstition and they and their families live a life of exclusion. Other countries seem inclusive on the surface, but have a population who are not quite sure what to say to someone living with CP, so don’t engage at all.

There is nothing to be gained in blaming people for their ignorance about CP. Instead, World CP Day is working to put an end to it. Around the world individuals and organizations are working to dispel the myths and break down the barriers to ensure that people with CP, and their families, can live full, contributing lives.

For over 40 years, The Arc Southern Maryland has been committed to increasing public awareness of many types of intellectual and developmental disabilities,including CP.  Every day, we continue in our goal to create opportunities for independence and personal success for people with different abilities in inclusive communities.  Our hope is that one day, World CP Day can be a time to celebrate the success of our agency, and others like us, in creating awareness and promoting inclusion within each and every community.

World CP Day

It is time to close the gap between the everyday circumstance and the very real potential of those living with CP. To show your support in our mission, visit www.arcsomd.org to sign up for our newsletter, view our career opportunities, or donate to The Arc Southern Maryland.  Thank you.

Waldorf, MD –

On Sunday, October 30, The Arc Southern Maryland held its second annual “Achieving Together 5K” event.  Employees, community members, and people supported by The Arc Southern Maryland gathered in Waldorf for the “run, walk, or roll” for people of all abilities, which served as a way to raise both awareness and funds.

Jaxon Foote joined The Arc Southern Maryland as the Grand Marshal of the 5K event to lead the way for all the walkers.  Jaxon is an energetic 13-year-old boy with Down syndrome that resides in Hughesville.  According to his parents, Jaxon “is a ‘ham’ and loves being the center of attention.” When asked the reason for participating in the event, Jaxon’s parents said they wanted to “support The Arc of Southern Maryland and raise awareness.”  Raising awareness is at the core of what The Arc strives to do as an organization which advocates for the civil rights of people with IDD.

Recently, the Charles County Commissioners proclaimed the day of the 5K event, October 30, 2016, as the “Day of Achieving Together with The Arc Southern Maryland.”  In their proclamation, the Commissioners called for residents to “join in this special day by supporting the efforts and activities of The Arc Southern Maryland, and that every day be dedicated to the acceptance and inclusion of those with intellectual and developmental disabilities in our communities.”

The funds raised by the 5K event will help The Arc Southern Maryland to continue its support and services for people with IDD and their families.  Amongst the many services provided by The Arc Southern Maryland are residential services, in which The Arc Southern Maryland provides adults with safe and supportive housing; vocational support services, in which individuals receive assistance with skill development, on-the-job training, and job placement; Autism Waiver services, providing individualized in-home support to children with Autism; and Pre-employment Transition Services(pre-ETS), which assists students between the ages of 14-21 in developing skills that will be needed to successfully transition from school to employment.

The Arc Southern Maryland plans to continue to create awareness through their 5K event annually.  Their hope is that events like these will continue to promote inclusion and acceptance, while celebrating the value of people with IDD within the communities where they live, work, and play throughout Southern Maryland.  To find out more about events like these, or to show your support, The Arc Southern Maryland invites you to visit their website and connect on social media.

About The Arc Southern Maryland:

The Arc Southern Maryland is a non-profit organization affiliated at the states level with The Arc of Maryland and at the national level with The Arc of the United States, which is the world’s largest grass roots organization of, and for, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), including Down syndrome, autism, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, cerebral palsy and other diagnoses.  Since 1975, The Arc Southern Maryland has provided quality support and programs aimed at creating opportunities for independence and personal success for people with different abilities in inclusive communities.  For information about The Arc Southern Maryland, call (410) 535-2413 or visit www.arcsomd.org.
 

During Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, The Arc was proud to be a part of a Transportation Summit, along with members from the Calvert County Chamber, the Non-Profit Alliance, and other community members gathering to discuss the transportation challenges we face for the people we support throughout Calvert County. Work groups were formed to speak about challenges for the youth, the elderly, people with disabilities, and others in our county.
 
The Arc was proud to be a part of the conversion, bringing awareness to the challenges posed to people with developmental disabilities in regards to accessible and affordable transportation which may assist them in continuing to become active and included members of our community. We hope this conversation will help The Arc find additional ways to continue to support the needs of these individuals and their access to our community. Additional meetings are scheduled in the upcoming months to turn these conversations into actions.

April 12, 2017 — The Arc Southern Maryland looks forward to the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs’ visit every year.  This year marks the Blue Crabs’ 10^thAnnual Community Caravan, when players take time away from their practice schedules to visit with fans and organizations throughout Southern Maryland, finding various ways to give back to their community.  For six years, the Blue Crabs have joined The Arc Southern Maryland at the park to play a game of pick-up baseball which is inclusive and fun for people of all abilities.

Each year, The Arc invites employees and people they support to join in, with everyone getting a turn to “run” the bases – whether they’re running, rolling along in their wheelchair, scooting along with their walker, or even being supported by their favorite staff person.  For these individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, there’s no barrier that keeps them from playing ball, and no limit to the number of smiles on the mound!

Six members of the Blue Crabs team came out on Wednesday for the Community Caravan visit with The Arc.  “We have lots of friends here today,” Katie Wood said of the Blue Crabs players. Katie began receiving Community Learning Services with The Arc last year.  This was Katie’s first year attending the Community Caravan event and she is already looking forward to their next visit.

The Blue Crabs give back in different ways for each place they visit during their Community Caravan tour.  While The Arc Southern Maryland just asks that they play a little ball, the Blue Crabs do so much more than that – helping people to run the bases, teaching them the best batting stance, and cheering them on as they hit the ball across the field or make their way through the bases.  The Blue Crabs team members also make time to sign autographs and do a “meet and greet” for a crowd that has grown to well over 100 attendees from The Arc.

Employees of The Arc that have been around year after year attest to the absolute joy and excitement brought to the individuals they support, with just a couple hours of baseball. Matthew Hoepfl, a program manager for The Arc, said, “To see the excitement on the faces of the individuals we support from all three counties was truly something.”  “It’s great to see the players connect with the individuals,” says Jennie Parran, The Arc’s Executive Assistant.  She says the individuals supported at The Arc “look forward to this day of fun” each and every year.

To support the Blue Crabs, visithttp://www.somdbluecrabs.com/ to get your tickets for an upcoming game.  Opening day is Thursday, April 20^th, with the first pitch at 6:35 PM.

The Arc Southern Maryland creates opportunities for independence and personal success for people with different abilities in inclusive communities. Since 1975, The Arc has become the leading advocate for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities living and working in Southern Maryland.  For information about The Arc Southern Maryland, call 410-535-2413 or visit www.arcsomd.org