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9/2/2010 Maryland Department of Disabilities Presents....The Employed Individuals with Disabilities (EID) Program: Free Webinars..click here to read more

9/2/2010 National Lifespan Respite Conference: "Respite:Create It!" October 24-27...read more

9/1/2010 OSEP Verification Visits November 2010...read more

9/1/2010 The Arc of Maryland Goes Green! The Arc of Maryland has partnered with Planet Green Recycle...read more

8/25/2010 Florida Closes Institution Doors: Florida’s Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) now has only two developmental disabilities centers left in the state. The agency officially closed the doors of Gulf Coast Center in Fort Myers June 30 in compliance with the settlement of the Brown vs. Bush lawsuit, a departmental announcement said. The Center’s phasing down plan began June 2005...read more

8/25/2010 PLEASE CIRCULATE/FORWARD WIDELY: USDOE getting ready to rollout a nationwide survey re school busing and "how it effects student learning." ...read more here

8/24/2010 Adult Issues Workshop Series: Sponsored by Pathfinders for Autism and The Howard County Autism Society...click here to read more!

8/24/2010 The Arc has now heard from more than 3,500 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families on The FINDS (Family and Individual Needs for Disability Supports) Survey—thank you for your help so far in getting the word out! But, we MUST request that all chapters continue to promote and disseminate this opportunity to your networks. If you are from one of the states listed below, we need YOU in particular since your state has fewer than 100 responses to date: AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, ME, MH, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, ND, NE, NH, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PR, RI, SC, SD, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, and WY. The more your networks are activated and engaged, the more data we have and the more information we can share with you! Thank you for promoting this opportunity to our most important stakeholders.

8/20/2010 Back to School Tips by Dawn Koplos, Director of Education Policy & Children’s Issues

The following are a few tips for starting the new school year right: Maryland’s General Assembly passed a new law to help ensure that families are prepared to fully participate in their child’s IEP (Individualized Education Plan) meetings. Schools are now legally required to provide copies of all documents to be discussed at an upcoming IEP meeting five (5) business days in advance...read more

8/16/2010 ACTION ALERT :Celebrate Social Security's 75th Birthday! Protect it from efforts to reduce federal deficit...read more

8/16/2010 The Arc of Maryland has just released its 2010 Annual Report..click here to read now!

8/13/2010 The Arc of Maryland has created a step-by-step guide to planning an interactive student demonstration to help negate the power of the “R” word. This guide can be used by schools or community groups looking for creative ways to address bullying and raise disability awareness. Please CLICK HERE for a copy of Shredding The “R” Word Toolkit. The Arc of Maryland staff are available to assist with planning a demonstration and to serve as guest speakers. A copy of the video used during the presentation (“Offense Taken”) may be borrowed at no charge by contacting Shaneka Harris sharris@thearcmd.org.

8/6/2010 Nickels for Non-profits Drive for The Arc of Maryland at the Annapolis Wholefoods Market! Nickels for Non-profits program benefits local 501c3 non-profits in Anne Arundel, Prince Georges & Kent Counties. For each reusable bag that is brought in by customers, Whole Foods will give a .05 bag refund to them or give the option of taking a wooden nickel and putting it in the donation box for The Arc of Maryland. The donation cycle will run through the end of the year and once it is complete, Whole Foods will cut a check to The Arc of Maryland for the amount that was donated by customers!