In 2011 The Arc of New Mexico received a grant from The Arc of the United States in Washington, D.C. to conduct a national search for best practices in the care, education and support of individuals with Down syndrome and conduct a needs assessment for individuals with Down syndrome living in New Mexico to identify existing services and programs and gaps in services and programs.
The following report is the result of individual interviews, focus groups, surveys and information gathered from national research. The Arc of New Mexico is already moving forward with recommendations listed in the report with the goal to develop statewide supports and services for individuals with Down syndrome.
Click here to download the report.
posted on April 6th, 2012 |
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The Arc’s Position Statement
Jackson et al. vs. Fort Stanton et al.
(Compiled by Sally Faubion, Director, The Arc Guardianship Program)
Approved by The Arc of New Mexico Board of Directors – February 2011
The Arc of New Mexico has been participating as an Intervenor in the Jackson et al. vs. Ft. Stanton et al. lawsuit in order to protect and insure the rights and quality of life for those protected people the Arc serves who are class members. In 1995, The Court invited parents and guardians to participate in the lawsuit to provide the Court with the perspective of parent and families. We believe that The Arc brings an unheard voice to the table—that of individual class members and others that we represent— to the negotiations between Department of Health officials and Plaintiff attorneys.
The Arc, through the guardians and other staff, witness the impact of many Jackson Plan of Action activities and outcomes. Day to day experience helping individuals find jobs, improve residential settings, access the community more often, seek better healthcare and become more integrated members of their communities sets The Arc apart from the other parties in Jackson. The Arc supported the movement of individuals out of the state’s institutions as a way to improve the quality of people’s lives and more fully include former residents into the larger communities. The Arc’s goals at the time of the lawsuit were individual freedom of choice in where to live and work; development of a system to insure quality outcomes for individuals with developmental disabilities; and an end to the segregation of persons with developmental disabilities into congregate living outside the community.
The Arc continues to believe in choice and person-centered planning and services. We continue to support a system of quality assurance and improvement within the DD service system. We believe that individuals with disabilities have a right to live in the community in their own homes and to be included within the larger community and be able to access the same services as anyone else with or without a disability. We believe in the current system of independent case management. We support the employment of any individual with a developmental disability who wants and needs a job. We support quality healthcare for all persons, including those with developmental disabilities and fair and equal access to all community services. We support self-direction and self-determination for any individual with a developmental disability who wishes to have a voice in their lives, with or without support.
The Jackson lawsuit cannot continue forever. The remaining issues must be narrowed and the parties must focus on reaching agreement about what constitutes an acceptable, high quality system of services for all persons with disabilities. Sixteen years after the institutions have emptied, class members need to move forward in their lives as people identified as other than class members.
posted on February 17th, 2011 |
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