ArcNC.org

Now that Hurricane Florence has left North Carolina, the tedious process of cleaning up and assessing property damage begins. The staff of The Arc of North Carolina has established a response team to determine the needs in each region that we serve. We are learning of tremendous devastation and upheaval in Wilmington and the surrounding areas from our staff and the individuals and families we support.

Some self-advocates have been displaced and are now looking for a new long-term housing option, as their housing units have been condemned. Others have not (and will not) be able to work at their place of employment because they have no transportation or the place that they work has remained closed. We have staff of our own who are displaced and have their own individual needs.

We are asking you to consider a contribution to the Hurricane Florence Relief Fund for The Arc of North Carolina. Our organization accepts donations and will use these designated funds to provide a variety of supports and services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families who have been affected by Hurricane Florence.

Hurricane Florence has affected most of North Carolina. We are collecting a number of closings and resources you need to be aware of.

Hurricane Florence is expected to make landfall and possibly affect most of North Carolina. We are collecting a number of closings and evacuations you need to be aware of.

With Hurricane Florence expected to make landfall and possibly affecting most of North Carolina, the message is clear. The time to prepare is now. And we want you to be ready. As of this post, Florence is now a category 4 storm. It has the potential to bring devastating storm surge, coastal and inland flooding, high winds, rain and possible tornadoes. Many people are new to North Carolina and have never been through a hurricane and we want everyone to be prepared.

Written by: Bryan Dooley 

Last month marked the 28th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). I’m sure there was a celebration going on wherever you are reading this. I hope you attended one of those events because the passage of the ADA is worth celebrating. The story of how the law passed is still inspiring to me because it exemplifies what a country is supposed to do when we try and solve problems as a society. There was a vigorous debate about what the bill would entail, and of course, both parties had their partisan ideas. Due to work that was done by people inside and outside of the government, it became a bipartisan effort. It was supported by ideologically diverse politicians such as Tom Harkin, Ted Kennedy, Bob Dole and many more. The ADA was ultimately signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H.W. Bush.

Congressman Seth Moulton (MA-06) has just introduced the Healthcare Extension and Accessibility for Developmentally Disabled and Underserved Population Act, or the HEADs UP Act of 2018. This piece of legislation would designate people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) as a Medically Underserved Population (MUP). This designation is direly needed as people with I/DD experience poorer health outcomes, shortened life expectancies, and lack access to even the most basic forms of care when compared to the non-disabled population. The I/DD population meets every criteria to be designated as a MUP, and doing so would open access to over 25 federal programs that would expand access to primary care and specialist services, incentivize new research, and authorize more favorable reimbursement rates for providers who treat this population, among other programs.