One day a month you will find people with intellectual disabilities dancing the night away to music provided by a DJ at The Arc’s monthly dance, each with its own unique theme.

There have been requests to have live bands perform at our dances. If you are in a band or know of a band that would like to perform for a few hours on a Friday or Saturday night, please contact Jamey at the contact information below. It would be greatly appreciated by more than 75 to 125 people with intellectual disabilities that attend these dances each month.

 

Disability Rights Treaty gains support

In a rare show of bipartisan support, a group of senators said they want the United States to ratify an international convention on the rights of people with disabilities.

The U.S. already signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2009, but approval from the U.S. Senate is needed to make the move official.  President Barack Obama transmitted the treaty to the Senate last month and asked the body to ratify it.

Now, a group of seven senators representing both political parties is voicing support for the treaty as well.

The treaty calls for greater community access and a better standard of living for the estimated 650 million people around the world with disabilities.

Lawmakers coming out in support of the convention include Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del, Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa; Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.; Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill.; Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan.; Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo.; and Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M.  Currently, 153 countries have signed the disability treaty and 112 have ratified it, according to the U.N.

 “Achieving Inclusion Across the Globe”

Registration is now open for the 2012 National Convention and International Forum in Washington, D.C. Oct. 25-28.

This year, The Arc will be joined by Inclusion International, a global federation of family-based organizations advocating for the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This is an incredible opportunity to connect with others in the intellectual and developmental disability community at this annual gathering of The Arc’s membership, chapter staff and volunteers, professionals and experts in the field and individuals with I/DD and their families.

This four-day event filled with enlightening and informative sessions kicks off with The Arc & Sprout National Film Festival, bringing you a new slate of entertaining short films by and about people with I/DD.

The Arc will hold its Annual Business Meeting to adopt several revised position statements and hold elections for its Board of Directors among other important business. And, look for Entrepreneur Alley in the Marketplace where budding businesspeople with I/DD can showcase their entrepreneurial spirit.

Then, stick around for a closing event with D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray sharing the popular tradition of “Hand Dancing” (similar to swing dancing) with the crowd.

Register now at www.thearc.org and take advantage of early registration and hotel discounts.

Check out the full convention schedule and find out more about our beautiful host city at www.thearc.org.

Jamey Helgeson is the Program Director at The Arc of Mower County and can be reached at jamey@arcmowercounty.org or by calling 507-433-8994, Extension 102.  You can also visit our website (www.arcmowercounty.org) and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.