The Arc of the Mid-South in Nashville

Last Wednesday, The Arc of the Mid-South joined other disability organizations and self-advocates from west Tennessee for Disability Days on the Hill 2010. Executive Director, Carlene Leaper, along with thirty-eight parents, self-advocates, and staff took a bus to the Capitol in Nashville and had the opportunity to speak with legislators about issues facing the disability community.

This year, we focused on the potential budget cuts facing TennCare and cuts in funding for community-based health services provided by DIDS. Each senator and representative that we spoke with was very receptive to what we had to say and offered their support for the disability community when the budget is presented to the House and Senate.

We also had an opportunity to attend a press conference led by Carol Westlake of the Tennessee Disability Coalition and Andy Imparato, president of AAPD, demonstrating solidarity in our concerns for the harmful effects that TennCare cuts will have on people with disabilities.

As always, we encourage you to call, email, or write your legislators and let your voice be heard. Visit the Tennessee General Assembly website to find your legislator.

Click here for a WSMV-TV video news story on the possible TennCare cuts.

Disability Days on the Hill 2010

 

We're headed to Nashville Wednesday, February 24 for west Tennessee's Disability Day on the Hill! Disability organizations throughout Tennessee will be meeting at the Capitol to advocate for the needs of individuals with disabilities and their families. With your help we can ensure that every legislator gets to hear from a constituent with a disability or a family member.

Accessible bus transportation is available. There is still time to register if you would like to attend! Contact Megan Long at mlong@arcmidsouth.net or 901-507-8568.

Let's make a difference!

2009 Disability Days on the Hill

We had a great time in Nashville yesterday at Disability Days on the Hill. We were just one of several organizations that work with individuals with disabilities there meeting with our legislators, discussing important issues to the disability community. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who didn’t have a good time and feel that it was time well-spent.

Our main focus fell on two issues: The Open Doors Home Health Care Act and preserving the Family Support Program.

The Open Doors Home Health Care Act (Senate Bill 851/House Bill 1114) is a simple 1-page bill that would remove the 2008 TennCare restrictions on home health care and re-open doors to the community. The current rules generally forbid home health care aides and private duty nurses from leaving an individual’s home while providing services to them. These rules prevent them from taking their clients to church, classes, work, community activities, or even a doctor’s appointment, effectively isolating them from the community and world around them.

The Family Support Program is a program that helps individuals with severe disabilities and their families stay together in their homes and communities. It is a critical service that helps preserve the family unit and lessens pressure that may lead to institutionalization, divorce, neglect, and child abuse. About $1M has already been cut from the program in the current fiscal year and there is talk of cutting as much as an additional $2M more, which would be nearly 40% of the budget cut from one of the state’s most successful program.

We received positive feedback from all the senators and representatives we spoke with. If you weren’t able to make the trip with us yesterday, it’s not too late for your voice to be heard. You can find your legislator here. We encourage you call, email, or write and let your voice be heard.

Check back later for pictures from our trip.

Less Than One Week Until Disability Days on the Hill

Our celebration of National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month kicks off next Wednesday as we head to Nashville for the West Tennessee Disability Days on the Hill. Disability Days seeks to empower people with disabilities, their families, and friends, offering a unique opportunity for constituents to connect with their legislators to discuss issues important to their families and the disability community.

Our main focus will likely be preserving Tennessee’s Family Support Program. The Family Support Program has endured pretty significant budget cuts and it looks like more may be coming in 2009. This is the only state program that gives money to individuals and family members with disabilities. There is already a notable shortage of services for the disability community in TN. With a small program like Family Support receiving cuts, this does nothing but harm the disability community at large.

We would like every legislator to hear from someone in their community. Since not everyone can make the trip to Nashville, we encourage you to reach out to your legislators this month with phone calls, emails, or maybe a personal visit in your hometown. Click here to find your legislator.

As a community, the general public must join together to develop and implement public policies that will promote individual worth, self respect, and dignity so that each individual is valued as a contributing member and citizen of its community.

Middle Tennessee Disability Days on the Hill is Wednesday, March 4th, and East Tennessee is Wednesday, March 11th. For more information, please visit the Tennessee Disability Coalition.

March Madness 2009 Events

March is National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and to celebrate the month and its importance, The Arc of the Mid-South has put together a series of events open to the general public.

Disability Days on the Hill
Wednesday, February 25th

Though technically a few days before March begins, Disability Days on the Hill is a key component of the March Madness celebration. The Arc of the Mid-South will be hosting a bus trip to the Capitol in Nashville. This is your chance to speak with legislators about issues important to you and your family. For more information, please contact Megan Long in our Advocacy Department at (901) 507-8568 or mlong -at- arcmidsouth -dot- net.

March Madness Kick-off
Thursday, March 5th

Join The Arc of the Mid-South as we kick off National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month at Memphis City Hall with the local mayors’ proclamations on display as well as other information about our organization. For more information, please contact Jennifer Buchanan at (901) 327-2473 or jbuchanan -at- arcmidsouth -dot- net.

Job Readiness Workshop
Wednesday-Friday, March 11-13
Anointed Temple of Praise

The Arc of the Mid-South's Career Development and Job Placement (CDJP) program will host a three-day job readiness training for students with disabilities. Wednesday and Thursday will feature classes that help prepare the students for everything from the interview process to time management to goal setting. Friday, local employers will be on site to talk with students about available opportunities. Please contact Jennifer Buchanan at (901) 327-2473 or jbuchanan -at- arcmidsouth -dot- net.

Wheelchair Basketball Tournament and Information Fair
Saturday, March 21
Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church

The 13th annual Wheelchair Basketball Tournament will once again take place at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church. Teams from city and county government, local businesses, and other Arc supporters will come together to play wheelchair basketball in honor of Developmental Disability Awareness Month.

This year, we're also hosting our Information Fair during the basketball tournament. Other organizations in the area that work with those with disabilities will be on site with information about themselves and services they offer.

To register a team for the Wheelchair Basketball tournament or to find out more about the Information Fair, please contact Ruth Kirby at (901) 507-8569 or rkirby -at- arcmidsouth -dot- net.