Flame on Good Morning America

Flame, who performed at a Delarc Staff Retreat a couple years ago and received rave reviews, was recently featured on Good Morning America.

Flame is a band from upstate New York and is made up of 11 people with disabilities. The band from Lexington Center, Fulton County Chapter, NYSARC, Inc., wants to change the world through music.

To view the Good Morning America video, click here:
http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerindex?id=9188643

To learn more about the band Flame, click here:
http://www.flametheband.com/

Rosa's Law: "...what you call people is how you treat them."

U.S. Senators Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and Michael Enzi (R-WY) have introduced a bipartisan bill, “Rosa’s Law.” Modeled after a recently enacted law in the state of Maryland, this legislation would substitute the outdated, stigmatizing terms “mental retardation” and “mentally retarded” with the terms “intellectual disability” and “individual with an intellectual disability” in federal health, education and labor policy statutes.

In Senator Mikulski's statement to the U.S. Senate, she explains that the name Rosa is in reference to a young girl whose mother shared a compelling story of her family’s efforts to give Rosa an opportunity for an education and to be treated with respect and with dignity. When it was time to bring the bill before the Maryland General Assembly, Rosa's then 13-year-old brother spoke up for his sister and explained, "What you call people is how you treat them. What you call my sister is how you will treat her. If you believe she’s ‘retarded’ it invites taunting, stigma. It invites bullying and it also invites the slammed doors of being treated with respect and dignity."

To hear more about Rosa and her family, read Senator Mikulski’s statement to the U.S. Senate upon introduction of the bill at: http://mikulski.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=319975&.

What Are You Thankful For?

Arlene Goedel shared her feelings about working at Delarc with The Daily Star for their "What Are You Thankful For?" story.

Arlene wrote, "I have said this before, but believe me, I will say it again! Words cannot express how thankful I am to have found the Arc of Delaware County. To be among staff that care so much for people with disabilities is certainly something to be thankful for! To help those people acquire their hopes and dreams is truly a blessing. Every day is Thanksgiving at the Arc of Delaware County!"

When asked if her quote could be posted online and shared, Arlene responded, "Yes! Sometimes I just get so overwhelmed by what I feel working for the Arc, I just have to spread the word!!!"

Visit The Daily Star's website to view Arlene's quote by clicking the link below:

http://www.thedailystar.com/archivesearch/local_story_325043008.html

Check out new Youtube Videos featuring Delarc Staff!

Several staff members recently shared what brought them to Delarc and what inspires them to continue working here. To see their stories, visit our YouTube site at http://www.youtube.com/user/ArcDelaware

These videos are being done as part of a major Employment Recruitment effort - please share them with others and help us to expand our Delarc Family. For info on current career opportunties with Delarc or a job application, visit our website careers page at http://www.delarc.org/careers.htm

Staff stories will continue to be captured and shared, so stay tuned for more!

SUNY Delhi & Delarc Join Together

Seventeen students from Dr. Amber Tatnall's Psychology Courses will be participating in individualized Service Learning Projects at Delarc. For example, Kristen Guerriero, (pictured below, left, with Cheyenne) is studying to become a Speech Pathologist and will be working with Delarc Speech Pathologist and staff. You can follow the activities of the SUNY students on our Delarc Community Forum.