The Arc Connection

It’s Here! New Brand Identity for The Arc Arrives

The Arc is proud to unveil our new brand identity along with renewed energy and dedication to providing opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families. You’ll find a dynamic new logo on our website, building, and publications; and along with it a comprehensive new brand identity which will serve to unite affiliated chapters across the county under the banner “Achieve with us.” It’s at once an invitation and a command, as it represents our movement’s determination to achieve even more in terms of participation, inclusion, acceptance and respect for people with I/DD in the years to come.

In the logo’s design, you’ll see the energy and determination The Arc brings to supporting and embracing people with I/DD and their families across their lifetimes and across many diagnoses. You’ll notice a bold color combination of orange and yellow chosen specifically because it is unique in the realm of nonprofit organizations, and can be exclusively associated with The Arc much like a specific shade of pink is associated with breast cancer awareness or red with The American Red Cross. This identity was developed over the course of a year including in-depth research, professional brand consultants and a dedicated team of individuals (including an advisory group of chapter professionals) inside The Arc who understands our mission and goals.

With respect to our mission, the elements of the brand represent a strong, energetic organization working to provide opportunity for people with I/DD; opportunity for hope, opportunity for growth and opportunity for change. We know a thing or two about change as we have been on the front lines of a movement that has ushered in dramatic changes in the law, in schools, in health care, in communities and often on a very personal level affecting families as well as individual’s lives.

It’s also an identity designed to communicate the collective power of a group of like-minded people who are embracing, determined and experienced in promoting and protecting the civil rights of as well as providing the services and support needed by people with I/DD and their families across the arc of their lifetimes and across many diagnoses from Down syndrome to autism and many more. In fact, The Arc is the nation’s largest and leading organization for people with I/DD and their families with a 60 year history of fighting discrimination and providing people with I/DD the opportunity to live full, satisfying and self-determined lives as valued and contributing members of their communities.

As our brand becomes widely recognized and promoted on a national level, our local organization will benefit in terms of support from donors and volunteers and in the ease with which everyone will be able to identify with our mission. The new identity will take us forward as a movement and command the kind of respect and recognition on a national basis that our organization deserves. That respect and recognition, in turn, will allow us to continue to achieve our goals for people with I/DD. We invite you to Achieve with us, today!

Treasures II Thrift Store is NOW The Arc Thrift Store

In celebration of Treasures II Thrift Store’s 40th Anniversary and our new brand, we have changed the name of our thrift store to The Arc Thrift Store. Our hours remain the same: Monday—Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Located at 121 N. Central  between 5th and 6th in OldTown Medford!

Please join us on March 17th for our Open House and Ribbon Cutting  from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm!

Stop by to receive a free The Arc wristband— Food, raffle prizes, and price reductions will be available!

This first annual event will pair local ‘celebrities’ and ‘The Arc Stars’ for a dance celebration modeled after Paula Abdul’s ‘Live to Dance’ show KTVL (CBS). Our event will showcase all forms of dance, from waltz to hip-hop, in a totally inclusive format. The Arc of Jackson County is proud to host the 1st Annual Live to Dance with The Arc Stars on Saturday, March 12, 2011 at the Rogue Valley Country Club at 7:00 PM. The evening’s entertainment will begin with exhibition dancing during dinner by some of the Rogue Valley’s finest dancers followed by the dance competition. Tickets are $45.00. Tickets and more information are available at: www.thearcjackson.org, The Arc Thrift Store, Paddington Station.

Meet The Arc Stars of Live to Dance!

Matt May & Julie Brown: Country Western

Matt, a Member of The Arc of Jackson County,  Alma mater is Crater High, but his favorite college team is Oregon State. You can catch Matt down at the local YMCA and his training program helps keep him in shape for his favorite Special Olympic sport, “power-lifting”. Matt’s favorite team the Green Bay Packers and he was right in his prediction on their recent Super Bowl win.

Kama Kirby & Jerry Pariseau: Ballroom

Kama has a love for travel! She is a cheerful young woman who enjoys all that life brings her way! She loves the arts and is an acrylic painter at The Studio at Living Opportunities. Her hobbies are Special Olympics, riding quads at the dunes, friends and family, animals (mostly cats, dogs, and horses), and now she has added dance to her list of favorite things!

Esten Lindsay & Emilie Sampson: Fox Trot

Eston just celebrated his 27th birthday. He graduated from North Medford High School in 2003. He went to Nationals in Iowa in 2006 with his Special Olympics basketball team. Eston is employed with Living Opportunities. He enjoys all types of music, artwork, collecting older made cars and likes Peterbuilt trucks, trains. He has a great likeable personality and he has always wanted to work in a radio station…AND his passion has always been music, but now he’s adding Dancing!

Violet White & Troy Kelly: Modern

Violet, I work at the Medford Olive Garden. My favorite thing to do is dance. I go to the Easter Seals Program; they have a dance, they are so much fun! I do a lot of sports for Special Olympics, like volleyball and track and right now I’m playing basketball. The one dream I have had for a long time is to be a famous dancer or singer. I’m so excited to dance for Live to Dance with The Arc Stars.

Juliana Faulkner & Adam Kightlinger: Hip Hop

Julianna works at Old Navy in Medford and at the YMCA in Ashland. Besides dancing, which has been a love of hers all her life, she enjoys music; movies; working out with her trainer; travel; hanging out with family and friends; and carrot cake! She has also enjoyed skiing for the past 20 years and has won several medals in downhill slalom with the Special Olympics.

Elena Norris & Jim Norris: Waltz

Elena is the oldest daughter of Jim and Jane Norris. Elena loves books and has a library of selections in her room. She also enjoys playing games on the computer and Wii. Elena has an incredible memory and can remember even the smallest details about a person, place or conversation.

Vote for Your Favorite The Arc Star!

You can help The Arc of Jackson County raise money to improve the quality of life for people who experience intellectual and developmental disabilities by voting for your favorite dancer or dance couple performing at our upcoming INSPIRING event “Live to Dance with The Arc Stars”!

The voting will continue until the day of our event, March 12th. Our star and celebrity dancers will be competing for various awards including the "People's Choice Award" for the most money raised via web-based voting.

Vote now with a $10 donation for EACH VOTE.  For EVERY VOTE you cast, you will receive GIFT CARD from The Human Bean for a 12 oz. drink of your choosing (your card (s) will be sent by US Mail).

Vote for as many dancers as you like and vote as many times as you like. The more money raised the more services The Arc of Jackson County will be able to provide for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Please log on to www.thearcjackson.org/vote.html and vote! We sincerely appreciate your support!

Celebrate Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

Thanks to the advocacy efforts of The Arc in the 80’s, President Ronald Reagan officially declared March to be Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in 1987. For nearly a quarter of a century, The Arc and its network of 700+ chapters across the country, including The Arc of Jackson County, have fostered respect and access for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We have made tremendous progress in promoting and protecting the rights of people with I/DD and creating opportunities for them to live, learn and work as valued members of their communities.

However, it’s time more people became aware of the challenges faced by more than 7 million Americans as they strive to be fully included in society. There’s a lot you can do as an individual to raise awareness about I/DD in your community.

• Get involved. Contact The Arc of Jackson County to volunteer or donate. The Arc has 700+ chapters nationwide working on the front lines of grassroots advocacy efforts and providing the services and supports essential to people with I/DD and their families. Often they are lifelines for struggling families and they need your help to accomplish their goals.

• Speak out. Since many people with disabilities rely on publicly funded services to fully participate in their communities, policy makers need to know you are concerned about continuing those services in the face of budget cuts during tough economic times. Contact your legislator today and let them know you expect them to enact public policy to assist people with I/DD.

• Speak up. Talk to your employer or the businesses you frequent about their practices for recruiting and hiring people with I/DD. Many employers don’t realize just how much an employee with I/DD can contribute to the workplace. The Bureau of Labor Statistics released a report for the end of 2010 showing the unemployment rate for people with disabilities is at 14.3 percent, compared with 8.9 percent for the general population.

• Spread the word. Educate yourself about issues important to the I/DD community then tell the world what you found out. Use March as a great excuse to post your positive thoughts about the I/DD movement on your Facebook page or Twitter account. Follow The Arc on Facebook and Twitter and express yourself. Or go “old-school” with a good, old-fashioned letter to the editor of your local newspaper explaining to your community why they should care about I/DD.

Join us during March to help raise awareness. Find out more about I/DD and what you can do at www.thearc.org today.

DD Awareness Month offers an opportunity for taking a crucial step toward improving the quality of life for people with developmental disabilities, but awareness activities should run year round. It is, after all, often attitudinal barriers that affect everyday life for these individuals. In addressing those barriers, fears and negative attitudes can be replaced with awareness and understanding.

Medford’s Grocery Outlet and Ashland Shop N’ Kart will be participating in bringing public awareness to our community. The community will have an opportunity to give monetarily if they so choose at these locations as well.

9th Annual Pour Your Heart Out for Children Tea Party to Benefit The Arc’s Lifespan Respite Program

Enjoy an afternoon with our featured speaker Emilie Sampson, Parent and Advocated of a child with Autism. Also enjoy entertainment, food, silent auction, and fun to support Lifespan Respite services in Jackson County.

Become a table sponsor (contact us for the details) or purchase tickets for $15.00. Please call Sarah at 541-840-2938.

Program times and other info...

Lifespan Respite The Social Club—In Medford!

Lifespan Respite The Social Club—Now in Ashland!

Thank you to all of you who attended our 3rd Annual Sentimental Journey at Skylark in Ashland!

It was a very unique evening of entertainment by Stephen Krause and Seth Adaida; Ashland High School Theatre Performing Arts performing selections from Chicago; Don Dolan performing “Does What He Does”; Richard Heller, Douglas Martin Young, Mya Ewing, and Rose Blackford performing in “The Joy of Sudden Disappointment “; and Poet Claudia Alick.

A VERY special thanks to our sponsors:

Skylark Assisted Living & Memory Care, Asante, Woollard Ipsen Management, LLC, Signature Home Care, Anna Maria Creekside,  Page One Productions, and Interim Health Care!