Our Wheelchair Basketball Tournament was great!

We wrapped up our “March Madness” events Saturday with our 13th annual Wheelchair Basketball Tournament at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church. We had 14 teams from local businesses take to the court Saturday morning to duke it out for the championship, with the Hershey Company’s Team Icebreakers defeating the Twizzler Tweeterz to claim the trophy (pictured to right).

We want to give special recognition to all the other teams that participated as well. They were:

• Sam’s Club of Bartlett


• Sam’s Club on Getwell


• Sam’s Club on Winchester


• Sam’s Club on Covington Pike


• Sam’s Club Southaven


• Shelby Residential & Vocational Services (SRVS)


• Shelby County Sheriff’s Office


• Hershey’s Company


• FedEx (Internal Audit Division)


• Tact Unit


• Memphis Fire Department


• The Arc of the Mid-South

We want to give a special thanks to The Rollin’ Grizzlies, who not only participated as a team, but also donated the wheelchairs for our teams to use. We certainly couldn’t have pulled off such a great event without their support.

All in all, March Madness was a big success for us. We met with our legislators on Capitol Hill, received recognition from local government, exposed area high school students with disabilities to job opportunities, and helped raise awareness and funds with the Wheelchair Basketball Tournament over the weekend. Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time, energy, and talents to help make all these events possible. You really did help make a difference in somebody’s life.

Wheelchair Basketball Tournament Tomorrow!

Hey everybody, just a real quick reminder that we are hosting out 13th annual Wheelchair Basketball Tournament tomorrow at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church. The first game tips off at 9:30. We hope to see you there.

We are also hosting an Agency Informational Fair to provide information to people who need help in finding outlets to motivate and help individuals withdisabilities. It will provide parents, caregivers, and self-advocates an opportunity to learn about the various disability-related organizations and agencies available in Memphis and surrounding area.

Come out and enjoy fun, food, and excitement as 14 teams compete for the title of 2009 Champions.

3-Day Job Readiness Workshop and Career Fair was a Huge Success

We had a busy week last week, but it was well worth it. Students from eight area high schools and some of our Career Development and Job Placement (CDJP) students gathered at Anointed Temple of Praise (ATOP) last Wednesday through Friday for our annual Job Readiness Workshop and Career Fair.

On Wednesday and Thursday, the students broke into small groups and listened to our guest speakers present sessions on relevant topics such as “Goal Setting”, “Interview Skills”, “Work Ethic”, and “Dressing for Success”. On Friday, local companies came and talked with the students about some employment opportunities that they had available. There were also mock interviews arranged with some our CDJP staff so the students could have a better idea about what to expect.

All in all, it was a great time for everyone involved. All the feedback we received from the teachers and students was wonderful. With the employment numbers so low for individuals with disabilities, last week was a great chance to really make a difference in somebody’s life.

Don’t forget, this Saturday is our 13th Annual Wheelchair Basketball Tournament at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church. We’d love to see you there on the court, as a volunteer, or as a spectator. Be sure to call (901) 327-2473 or email Ruth Kirby for more information.

March Madness is Here!

March Madness is off and running this week, as we’ve had two events at City Hall. Tuesday afternoon, we were presented with a Resolution from the Memphis City Council, acknowledging March as National Disability Awareness Month. Councilman Harold Collins was wonderful as he gave a brief background of The Arc and its mission to advocate for the disability community before presenting Carlene Leaper, our Executive Director, with the Resolution. This was a great step for The Arc and much needed public attention was given. Mrs. Leaper ended the presentation with a warm thank you that included the purpose and mission of The Arc and National Disability Awareness Month.

Earlier today, we headed back to City Hall to receive a proclamation signed by Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton and Shelby County Mayor A.C. Wharton. Allison Fouche’, Communications Specialist for the Office of the Mayor, presented me with the resolution in a small ceremony in The Hall of Mayors. I spoke a little about The Arc of the Mid-South and the other events we have coming up this month. We also have received proclamations from Sharon Goldsworthy, Mayor of Germantown, and Keith McDonald, Mayor of Bartlett.

We certainly want to thank everyone who attended these events or helped make them possible. March is a very important month for us and our missions, and we couldn’t do it without your support. We look forward to the rest of the month.

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.