SIBLING SPOTLIGHT
Preparing Yourself and Your Sibling for the Upcoming Election
The midterm election is around the corner and it’s important to make your voice heard at the ballot box. Learn more from Hannah Roundtree about how she and her brother, Nick Green, are preparing for the upcoming election.
Why is it important for siblings and self-advocates to advocate?
I think that it is extremely important for siblings and self-advocates to advocate for disability rights because no one understands the current issues at hand (and often just how critical they are) than individuals with disabilities and those closest to them. It is so important to advocate for all the supports and services that your sibling will need throughout their lifetime. For many siblings, that means planning years—sometimes even decades—ahead in anticipation of future needs.
How have The Arc’s advocacy resources helped you and your sibling be better advocates?
Resources from The Arc’s national office and The Arc of Texas have helped me have a better understanding of the major legislative items that are currently at stake at both the federal and state level. They have also given me tools and tips for reaching out to my representatives at the state and federal level. I never thought I would have the courage to do outreach in this manner as I have always completed advocacy at more local levels in the past or by grouping with other self-advocates or families.
How are you and your sibling preparing for the upcoming election?
My brother, Nick, and I both attended a local rally for Beto O’Rourke in Mineral Wells, Texas this summer. Nick really enjoyed the rally and found the excitement in the air really thrilling as we stood with other disability advocates.
Visit thearc.org/vote to download voting resources, and make a pledge to vote this November! Questions? Contact Liz Mahar at mahar@thearc.org.
NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL OFFICE
Health Education for Your Sibling!
Is your sibling with a disability interested in receiving health education? Does your sibling live in California? If so, The Arc’s Health and Fitness for All project will provide a health promotion program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in California. As part of this program, participants with IDD (18 and older) will engage in an hour of physical activity and an hour of health education. Classes will start early next year. For more information, please contact Lindsay Wytkind at wytkind@thearc.org.
Guiding The Arc Through Lived Experience With Disability
“Nothing about us without us” is a theme of the disability community, reminding the world that people with disabilities expect and deserve autonomy over their lives. With this guiding principle in mind, The Arc established its National Council of Self-Advocates (NCSA) in 2012. NCSA abides by the “nothing about us without us” motto by creating a space where people with intellectual and developmental disabilities can provide guidance to The Arc and offer their unique perspectives. Read more.
Talk About Sexual Violence: Real Stories From Real People
Sexual assault and violence disproportionately affect people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). It’s a crisis, yet the topic is not often talked about. There’s nothing that demonstrates urgency better than storytelling from real survivors. Learn more about the stories shared with us by two survivors, James and Kecia. Then visit our website to find practical tools to help spread awareness, better support survivors, and prevent future victimization.
PUBLIC POLICY & ADVOCACY
Share Your Story to Urge Congress to Raise SSI Asset Limits
The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program provides critical support for millions of people with disabilities to be able to afford necessities like food and rent, but it has many rules that make it hard for people to save money and get out of poverty.
SSI has asset limits that have not been updated since 1989. Assets include money in bank accounts, retirement accounts, and savings. Right now, people who get SSI can only have $2,000 in assets. Married couples can only have $3,000. These asset limits mean that people cannot save money and force people with disabilities into poverty.
How does the SSI asset limit impact your family? Share your story now to urge your U.S. Senators to support people with disabilities by cosponsoring the bipartisan SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act (S.4102), which would raise these asset limits.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Advocacy Power Hour at The Arc’s National Convention
Join us for a fun “power hour” in Denver, Colorado on Friday, November 11 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm! We will gather to share stories and learn more about the resources available to self-advocates and siblings of people with IDD so they can advocate for services to thrive in the community. Register now to attend Convention—and please check the National Convention mobile app for more details closer to the event date.
Know another sibling who would be interested in receiving this newsletter? Forward this email to them so they can sign up! SIGN UP HERE
For people with intellectual and developmental disabilities The Arc promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.
See the full newsletter here.
The Arc of the United States
1825 K Street, NW Ste 1200 Washington, DC, 20006, US
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