Now is the Time for a United Voice – Join The Arc & Ask Others to Join

November 29th, 2011 by

The Arc has undertaken an end-of-year membership campaign, “Building Pathways with membership”, in response to a resolution adopted by the local chapters of The Arc at the annual meeting on November 1st.

This campaign will replace our annual drive that usually begins in February of each year, and we plan to extend this campaign through March 2012. But our big push is to “substantially increase” membership in The Arc statewide by the end of 2011.

At this year’s Appreciation Luncheon, Brent Cardin, Chairperson of our Member & Chapter Committee challenged local chapters of The Arc to, at a minimum, double their local membership. He further set a goal for membership throughout the state to double – from 10,000 to 20,000 by the end of December this year!

Can it be done?

Only if all of our chapters – and you! – help; but, Yes, it can be done!

Using the Blueprint for Change and its Guiding Principles we can align and grow together the Membership of The Arc in each and every Indiana community.

Guiding Principles for The Arc of Indiana’s Membership Blueprint 

  • Building Membership Pathways for All
  • Discover and Realize Individual Gifts and Talents that Members bring
  • Members are Supportive of the Resourcefulness of Individuals, Families and Communities
  • Using What You Need
  • Shifting the Power to What Works

You can do your part by joining, recruiting others to join, and encouraging your local chapter to do all it can to build membership. And, don’t forget, memberships can make a meaningful stocking stuffer!

If you are not already a member, join today! If you are a member, spread the word.

Join online at: Join The Arc.

Mark Kevitt is The Arc of Indiana’s Director of Program Services



Happy New Year! Join The Arc!

October 26th, 2011 by

Happy New Year! I realize it’s not actually the beginning of the new year, but (as I write this) it is the beginning of the new NHL hockey year/season. So let me join the ranks and say let the season begin.

You may wonder why I am rambling on about the new hockey season. In less than a week, on November 1, The Arc of Indiana begins a “new year” with the presentation and discussion of the Blueprint for Change at our annual conference.

A new beginning has been mapped out – new pathways on which to begin a new journey. As you’ve read here and elsewhere lots of work for a couple of years now has gone into the development of the Blueprint. It’s an exciting time as we face the future, a new beginning, a new year.

One of my responsibilities with The Arc is working with the local chapters in recruiting and supporting the individuals and families who are the members of The Arc – the voices and faces of our organization. During the last quarter of the year I usually am encouraging chapters to wrap up any last minute membership recruit efforts. Last year our statewide membership total was 10,000 members, the largest ever in the history of The Arc of Indiana.

We still need to have the end-of-year count. But it’s different this year – the “new year” begins with the Blueprint on November 1. On that date at The Arc’s Annual Meeting our chapter representatives are being asked to vote on a Membership Resolution submitted that calls on The Arc of Indiana and all of our local chapters to make a significant end-of-year push for members. In these challenging times as the Blueprint for Change is unveiled, a strong statewide membership recruitment effort is needed.

Next week we’ll be announcing to all of our chapters the efforts The Arc is undertaking to support our local chapters in significantly increasing our membership by the end of the calendar year. The Arc’s membership committee has meet to develop plans, there has been discussion with ICEArc, the organization of our local executive directors; and now it’s time to roll out the campaign and share with our chapters why members are important and how they might significantly increase their membership.  You can learn more about membership and join now by visiting, Join The Arc!

Be sure to join us at The Arc’s 2011 Conference & Appreciation Luncheon to learn more and see which chapters are being honored for their participation in our 2011 spring membership campaign – including the chapter that will receive The Arc’s version of the Stanley Cup, The Arc’s Membership Traveling Trophy.

“Happy New Year!”

Mark Kevitt is The Arc’s Director of Program Services



The Arc of Tomorrow – Family Support

September 23rd, 2011 by

I am continuing in my series of blog posts on the various components of The Arc of Tomorrow – a comprehensive plan developed over a two-year period by representatives from nine local chapters of The Arc. Today’s topic - ”Family Support.”   

Although the “Tomorrow” Report was created independent of  the “Building Pathways to Empowerment” campaign and the “Blueprint for Change,” each of the “Tomorrow” components compliments and embraces the ”Blueprint.”  This is certainly true for “Family Support.”

 ”The Arc of Tomorrow” provides a pathway for local chapters to follow in shaping their vision, as chapters, for tomorrow.

In supporting families our local chapters of The Arc must reaffirm The Arc’s relevance and role on behalf of all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, regardless of diagnoses, at all stages of life, reaching out to empower parents, siblings and other family members to  provide them access to the information they need, when they need it, across multiple media and modalities. Chapters should provide families with information about their rights and provide them the tools and supports to protect their rights. 

Local chapters should have a presence and/or be a resource in all transitions of life, from birth to infant transition to school and from school to adult life and services; and  they should actively involve, organize, collaborate, support, and assist parent/family support groups.

Many of our chapters are achieving all or many of these goals. These  chapters should strive to achieve the following:

  1. Develop a resource network to offer parent to parent mentoring and provide as well as training in effective mentoring
  2. Provide support for students with an IEP, helping the student and family through the process of the development/modification of an IEP including attending case conferences
  3. Support families not currently receiving services by sharing stories of families who are engaged and active, building on natural supports on what can be done while waiting for funded services

If you are a follower of The Arc’s blogs or a frequent reader of  articles on our website you know that much is happening at the state and national level of The Arc. The Arc of the United States has issued The FINDS Report and our Blueprint for Change will be the focus of our conference on November 1. The Arc of Tomorrow report provides a framework for our local chapters to embrace these initiatives and continue to build on our history of being a leading organization that offers guidance and support to families.

Mark Kevitt is The Arc of Indiana’s Director of Program Services



Forecast for SAI Conference & Picnic – Heck of a Good Time (and a Dunk Tank)

August 4th, 2011 by

A week from today the Self Advocates of Indiana Conference will be underway – with the Annual Picnic to follow on Friday, April 12.

On August 11th at the Marten House in Indianapolis the conference begins with a great keynote speaker, Hillary Spears from Washington, D.C., and nine interesting workshops that will make it hard to decide which ones to choose.  And the conference planners  have an exciting Opening Celebration with gifts and informative exhibitors to kick the day off. There’s an awards luncheon program, a silent auction, dinner and a dance with E & S Classic Sounds. That’s Day 1!  

After breakfast on Friday the 12th, conference attendees will hear a program on the topic of great interest to self advocates – employment. And then it’s off to the annual picnic where the approximately 100 conference attendees will hook up with some 400 other self advocates for a great picnic at the Eagle Crest Picnic area at Eagle Creek Park.  

At the Picnic there will be great food… a “midway” with carnival games, prizes and a Dunk Tank… and more music from E & S Classic Sounds. Staff from INARF will once again serve snow cones and popcorn  and attendees will  play BINGO … decorate (and eat) cookies… make friendship bracelets… help create a masterpiece of art … and have a souvenir picture taken by that well known photographer J. Dickerson.  

Since I’ve been told that I’m to participate in the dunk tank I’m hoping for some nice weather. If you have registered for the conference and/or the picnic I look forward to seeing you there.

Everyone else, well you are going to miss one heck of a good time!

Mark Kevitt is The Arc’s Director of Program Services.



Exploring “The Arc of Tomorrow” – Outreach in the Community

July 15th, 2011 by

In a past blog post, I commented on “The Arc of Tomorrow.” I want to continue sharing information on this initiative that began more than two years ago and involved representatives from nine local chapters of The Arc.

The goal of The Arc of Tomorrow was to design a roadmap or pathway to the future for local Arcs, including how local chapters can remain relevant and vibrant in the future.  

The Arc of Tomorrow includes six components all Chapters should be engaged in:

  • Outreach in the Community
  • Self Advocacy
  • Family Support
  • Membership
  • Participation in State Activities/Partnership/Collaboration 
  • Public Policy Participation

Each of these core components includes two tiers of activities that chapters can be engaged in.

The first “tier” begins with the statement, “If a chapter is meeting the responsibilities of a local Arc Chapter and remains consistent with The Arc of Indiana initiatives then the Chapter should be fulfilling the following minimal guidelines.”

For the component, “Outreach in the Community,” the guidelines to be met by local chapters include promoting increased public awareness of people with I/DD, their needs, issues and concerns; and using a common brand that makes the local, state and national Arc known as the leading advocacy and/or service organization ”the place” to go. 

The Arc of Indiana LogoThat “common brand” is now beginning to be adopted by chapters throughout the country including here in Indiana.                                        

The second guideline for chapters within the “Outreach in the Community” component is that chapters use technology, including audio and visual tools, to more effectively communicate with members, self-advocates, families, volunteers, donors, news media and the community-at-large. 

The second “tier” of  activities that local Arcs should “strive to achieve or fulfill” under the “Outreach in the Community” component include:

  • Serve as a clearinghouse and information center on disability issues.
  • Increase services, supports and opportunities for people with I/DD to participate in civic, cultural, religious and other community organizations.
  • Position the organization as the leading resource for the media and the general public about intellectual and developmental disabilities by showcasing the positive role and contributions of people with I/DD in society.
  • Create a welcoming community by collaborating with culturally focused groups and faith based organizations ensuring people with I/DD from diverse populations are embraced.

In developing The Arc of Tomorrow the participants recognized that local chapters of The Arc are very likely engaged in many of the activities and efforts identified under “Outreach” and other components, and that not all chapters have the resources to do it all – and that wasn’t the intent.  The goal for this particular component is to lay out a pathway chapters can begin to follow to bring The Arc to everyone in the community.

I am excited that chapters are embracing the report and that chapters are beginning to embrace the idea of having a united front and image so that whether a family or individual lives in Elkhart or Scottsburg or Loogootee, when they reach out to their local chapter of The Arc they can be secure in knowing they are seeking assistance from the very best.

Look for future blog posts outlining the other core components of The Arc of Tomorrow.

Mark Kevitt is The Arc of Indiana’s Director of Program Services



Inspiration from Austin, a Young Self-Advocate, from the Autism NOW Midwest Regional Summit

June 30th, 2011 by

At last week’s Autism NOW Midwest Regional Summit in Indianapolis I had the opportunity to lead four sessions on the question, “What does self advocacy mean to you?”, as well as sit in on discussion groups on “self advocacy,” “language” and “community based employment.”  It was a wonderful experience and it was fascinating to listen to the different perspectives on each of these topics.

While I came away with a number of memories, one person stood out – Austin, a 13 year old with autism. Austin discussed self advocacy from a very personal perspective.  To him, self advocacy is being involved with his life and future. One can wonder how any 13 year old might have a vision of his or her life, yet Austin talked about his own self advocacy.

It began more than two years ago when he had had enough of bullying at school. If you are a hockey fan like I am you know that it’s usually the player who retaliates that ends up in the penalty box. Austin’s experience was no different. He had had enough of the bullies and so he retaliated. And he was sent to the penalty box – the principal’s office. No matter what he said he was the one in trouble.

And while to this day it still irks him that he was the one in trouble, he decided to approach his life a little differently. And he quickly identified he wanted a say in his school IEP case conference. So two years ago he began participating in his case conferences.

In his case conference, Austin shares what he wants from school, what his goals are and how he’d like to reach them. He says he’s learned to be a strong voice for his positions and yet tries to listen to all sides. He seems pleased that school is going better. He has suggested some anti-bullying approaches and believes he is listened to.

I, along with the rest of the participants in that session, was impressed. We “professionals” talk a lot about self advocacy;  here with us is a 13 year old who lives it.

You can listen to Austin talk about bullying in his interview with Michelle Fischer, host of The Arc of Indiana’s audiocast, “A View from My Window.”
Listen Now!

It’s a great feeling, knowing that Austin symbolizes future leaders in the self advocacy movement. All of this got me thinking about the upcoming Self Advocates of Indiana Conference and Annual Picnic on August 11 & 12 in Indianapolis. Not everyone with a disability has the confidence and comfort level in speaking up like Austin. The workshop sessions and presenters at the conference will talk on a variety of topics that are meant to instill and inspire such confidence.

If you are a self advocate – or a relative, staff person, or advisor to a self advocate group – I encourage you to get the word out about the conference.  And please come! We need more Austins. 

Check out complete information on the 2011 Self Advocates of Indiana Conference and Annual Picnic and register today!

Mark Kevitt is Director of Program Services for The Arc of Indiana



The Arc of Tomorrow

June 23rd, 2011 by
Evansville ARC

Evansville ARC

In a recent blog I made a reference to “The Arc of Tomorrow” and have been asked just what is The Arc of Tomorrow?   

In 2008 The Arc gathered representatives from nine local chapters from around Indiana to begin to talk about, “What can and should The Arc be?”  That effort became known as “The Arc of Tomorrow.”  Participants included self advocates, family members, volunteers and staff. Throughout Indiana our chapters are organized and conduct their activities in a variety of ways. We made sure we had representation from a diverse group.  

The Arc of Dearborn County

The Arc of Dearborn County

We began with the premise that the model for The Arc local chapter and the state chapter has remained relatively unchanged in how we are organized and operate since the early days of our organization back in the 1950s.  We have had great success over the years, and our focus has remained on representing families and individuals with developmental disabilities. Yet, the landscape has changed dramatically, both the world we live in and the environment in which we operate.  Our chapters struggle with this change, and we too struggle with an ever increasingly difficult environment in which we must operate.  

Gateway Services / The Arc of Johnson County

Gateway Services / The Arc of Johnson County

The challenge to the group that came together was to consider what should The Arc of Tomorrow look like.  Do we continue to evolve and develop in response to our environment and see what we become; or do we develop a concrete vision of what we should be in conjunction with our chapters and begin implementing The Arc of Tomorrow in a conscious effort to be what we believe we should be. 

For more than two years the group brought in speakers, traveled to hear others and went as a group to a national convention of The Arc. During this same period The Arc of the US was also examining its strategic framework and we kept abreast of their efforts to ensure we weren’t traveling in different directions. And indeed the finished products of our efforts indicate how similar our journeys were. 

The Arc of Bartholomew County

The Arc of Bartholomew County

For our chapters which provide services the “Tomorrow Report” outlines that chapters providing services should be engaged in providing quality services and adhering to best service practices (which we believe chapters are indeed doing).  

For The Arc of Tomorrow there are six components all Chapters should be engaged with:

  • Outreach in the Community
  • Self Advocacy
  • Family Support
  • Membership
  • Participation in State Activities/Partnership/Collaboration
  • Public Policy Participation

In the coming months we’ll be traveling around the state, sharing with our chapters the work from The Arc of Tomorrow and in this space I’ll periodically share more in-depth information.

Mark Kevitt is The Arc of Indiana’s Director of Program Services



Membership…Golf…Self-Advocates…

June 16th, 2011 by

Since the early days of The Arc members have played an important role and function with local chapters of The Arc as well as having an impact on our state and national organization.

When The Arc of Indiana began a project three years ago – The Arc of Tomorrow – one issue that was to be discussed – is membership relevant in The Arc today? The conclusion was that it is. 

The Arc, and many of our local chapters in Indiana, has recently completed the annual membership campaign and chapters are reporting on the numbers of new members recruited. We are close to reaching our goal of 1,000 new members statewide with a couple chapters still to report.

Two chapters that have recruited members in each of the past six years since we renewed the membership campaign are Jayland Arc (Jay County) and The Arc of Bartholomew County.  At tomorrow’s Steve Green’s Annual Golf Tournament members from those chapters are playing together, and it is my pleasure to be part of the foursome.  Rogers and Janice of Jayland Arc are long time members and Janice served six years as chairperson of the state membership committee. Thanks to her great volunteer leadership, our membership has grown statewide. 

The foursome is rounded out with Brad, a board member from The Arc of Bartholomew County, who also is an officer with Self Advocates of Tomorrow (SAT).  Brad, a Special Olympian, and other local self advocate leaders have done a great job in recruiting self advocates to their membership. In July SAT is expected to report the largest membership for a group that has ever become a chartered Aktion Club. 

Just as we’ve seen a growth in membership in The Arc in recent years, the self advocate organizations have been growing as well. The successful partnerships that the state group, Self Advocates of Indiana, is developing with Aktion Clubs/Kiwanis and Special Olympics is evidence that membership and advocacy are so very important. 

So as I hit the links I’ll be in the company of volunteers who understand the importance of membership and have recruited members to our organizations. I thank them for all they do. And I thank all of our members of The Arc throughout Indiana; thanks for supporting your local chapter. And if you are not a member please join. I invite you to check The Arc website for the chapter in your community or join as an at-large member. 

And while I’m sure my golfing companions will be appreciative of this acknowledgment and “thank you” to them, I have a feeling they may prefer that I just hit some balls straight.

Mark Kevitt is The Arc of Indiana’s Director of Program Services



People with Disabilities CAN and WANT to Work

May 19th, 2011 by

The May 18th  statewide meeting of Self Advocates of Indiana (SAI) once again reinforced something that I’ve known for a long time – employment is important to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  

About 65 self advocates and others attended the quarterly SAI meeting in Indianapolis to learn and share about the topic for the day,

.

“Employment – Is it a Big Deal?” A panel of self advocates, state officials and professionals discussed the topic – sharing their stories, information on available services and ideas on pursuing employment and the policies needed to support work.  Those attending the meeting shared their employment perspectives and stories with the panelists.  They asked some tough questions and sought answers on how to make work “work.”  

Individuals at the meeting shared that while they like receiving a paycheck, what they really enjoy is working with friends and people that like and help them. This reflects some similar national studies on what people in all types of employment settings look for in a job.

One individual who attended the SAI meeting wrote on the meeting evaluation form, “The meeting was good because there are so many people coming together to help people or make people with disabilities find jobs.”  Another individual wrote about “finding jobs you like and can do and getting there on the days you work,” and also wrote about the importance of “keeping the jobs you get away from where the workshop is.”  

The SAI program topic on employment provided a follow up to the Regional Self Advocate Summit that took place in Columbus, Ohio at the end of April. At that program the Indiana delegation, led by Melody Cooper, President of SAI, developed an action plan for Indiana on steps to strengthen self advocacy.  After discussing many possible areas of focus, the group decision was to focus on employment, with an emphasis on educating the business community and others that “People with disabilities CAN and WANT to work.”

Tonight the local self advocate group in my hometown of Columbus, Indiana is hosting a cookout for those who are completing their high school careers this spring. We’ll probably learn that some of the students have jobs in place that will continue after they leave high school and some will be moving on to new educational or training opportunities, but we will also meet graduates who will be waiting for services and uncertain as to what is in store for them.

The message I keep hearing is that everyone can and should work – not a difficult concept to understand, just difficult to implement. We must all join with self advocates in ensuring that real jobs with real pay are available for all individuals with intellectual and development disabilities, whether they are just now completing school or they are or have been out of school for some time and are looking for opportunities to work.

Mark Kevitt is The Arc of Indiana’s Director of Program Services.