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      Oct. 2010                                                                                                                            

The President Signs Rosa's Law

On Friday afternoon, President Barack Obama presided over a celebration of Rosa’s Law which was enacted on Tuesday; the law substitutes the term “intellectual disabilities” for “mental retardation” in many federal laws.

Self-advocates William Washington (The Arc’s national office receptionist), Jill Egle (Co-Executive Director of The Arc of Northern Virginia) and Jeremy Jacobson (son of The Arc’s Chief Development and Marketing Officer Trudy Jacobson) joined Paul Marchand, Director of the Disability Policy Collaboration, to represent the intellectual and developmental disability community whose advocacy resulted in this bill.

 Read on.
 

This Just In
  • The rock band Flame, a group of musicians with developmental and physical disabilities, is featured in the current issue of People Magazine. Their debut CD will be released in December and available for sale at www.flametheband.com.
  • Welcome! The Arc has a new chapter – The Arc of Southeast Missouri in Cape Girardeau, MO.

    

 


Countdown to Convention 2010

We’re pleased to honor Margaret-Lee Thompson as the 2010 Advocacy Matters! Award winner and welcome Administration on Developmental Disabilities Commissioner Sharon Lewis, both of whom will address the 2010 Convention Plenary session on Friday morning, November 5th.

And, that’s just what we have in store for Friday morning! Register now so you don’t miss out on what these accomplished women have to share.

Read on.

Boycott "Pennhurst Asylum"

The opening of “Pennhurst Asylum," a commercial horror house attraction on the site of the Pennhurst State School and Hospital in East Vincent Township is anything but the amusement its developers hope it to be.  Pennhurst, which closed in 1987, is one of the nation’s most notorious institutions where residents with disabilities suffered neglect, abuse, beatings and sexual assaults.

In a joint effort of advocacy, action and communication, The Arc partnered with The Arc of Pennsylvania and The Arc of Chester County to call for a boycott of the site.

Read on. 

Paul Marchand, Self-Proclaimed "Lifer" to Retire

Paul Marchand, long time Director of the Governmental Affairs Office, is retiring in January after a 38-year career with The Arc.

This year’s Convention closing dinner will celebrate Paul and all he has accomplished during his time with The Arc. Register now to celebrate with Paul.

Paul, a self-proclaimed “lifer” in the intellectual and developmental disability movement, has played an instrumental role in most of our national disability policy.

Read on. 

 

 

Do You Know Ari Ne'eman? You Should.

Check out wired.com for a fascinating article on Ari Ne’eman, the first presidential appointee with autism.

The article details Ari’s views on the difference between treating autism as a pitiful disease to be eradicated and treating individuals with autism with respect and acceptance…and the harm that comes from divisiveness in the world of advocacy.

 

  

October 15 Crucial Deadline for Some Nonprofits

Some small nonprofit groups are at risk of losing their IRS tax-exempt status for failure to file required returns over the past three years.

The IRS has offered a one-time extension for compliance which will end October 15.

There is a special list of at-risk organizations and guidance on how to file the correct forms at www.irs.gov. October 15 is also the deadline for individual taxpayers who requested an extension for their 2009 tax returns.

 

  

 

 

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