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November Training Recap
The November Training this year took place at Cedar Lakes in Ripley, West Virginia, as well as via Zoom. We had the privilege of hosting Max Barrows from Green Mountain Self-Advocacy and SARTAC, who delivered a presentation on Effective Self-Advocacy: The Right and Wrong Ways to Advocate. Additionally, we provided a Digital Literacy course focused on methods for avoiding scams.
During our Advisory Board Meeting, we conducted a vote regarding a potential replacement for the position of Secretary of the Advisory Board. Interested people need to contact Alexis Ullmann or Morgan Spicer by December 10th, 2024. You can contact Alexis at alexis.ullmann@thearcmov.org or 304-422-3151 ext. 114 and Morgan at morgan.spicer@thearcmov.org or 304-422-3151 ext. 129. The People First T-Shirt Design Contest is currently in progress, with rules and guidelines provided. Additionally, we deliberated and voted on the pricing and shipping considerations for a T-Shirt Fundraiser, aimed at supporting the success of the 2025 People First Conference. The pricing and design of the shirts were also subjects of our voting.
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Disability Advocacy Days
Due to the election this year, next year’s Disability Advocacy Days will be held on February 25th &26th in Charleston, West Virginia. For those who have not attended this event, the first day consists of a training, then the next day we will go to the Capitol Building to talk to our Legislators! After the training, there will be a People First Advisory Board meeting, so all Officers will need to attend.
Registration is not available at this time but keep an eye for the registration link on the People First of West Virginia Facebook Page! We look forward to seeing everyone there!
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Education Survey
Counsel from Mountain State Justice, Disability Rights of West Virginia, The Arc of the United States, the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, and the global law firm Latham &Watkins LLP, are pursuing federal litigation against Kanawha County Schools (“KCS”) for its policies and practices which deny students with disabilities a free appropriate public education. We are conducting this survey to better understand families’ recent experiences with special education within KCS. In particular, we are looking to speak with families whose children are not receiving the behavior supports they need to succeed in school. If you are comfortable sharing your experience, please fill out this survey by
clicking here
.
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Seasonal Depression Awareness Month
December is all about raising awareness for Seasonal Depression Awareness Month, also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, is focused on the experiences of individuals with disabilities. It’s important to recognize that many in this community face higher rates of depression due to factors like social isolation, physical challenges, and ongoing health issues. This month encourages us to shine a light on their unique struggles while promoting understanding, support, and access to mental health resources. By spreading awareness, we can help remove the stigma surrounding depression and motivate those who need help to reach out. You can celebrate Seasonal Depression Awareness Month by checking in with friends, family, or community members who might be feeling down, sharing stories that can make others feel less alone, and taking time to educate yourself about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of depression to better support those around you.
For more information we encourage you to visit
www.nami.org
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Disability Matters
Join Morgan Spicer as he interviews Marina Maddow, a dedicated self-advocate from Mannington, West Virginia, who actively participates in her community and is a member of the local People First chapter. Marina shares insights on how she applies her self-advocacy skills both in her personal life and while engaging with her community.
For the past three years, we have focused on legislative advocacy through our program, Legislative Matters Now! We are pleased to announce our new show, Disability Matters! This name change allows us to broaden our discussions to include a variety of relevant topics that impact individuals with disabilities, as well as their coworkers, friends, and family.
If you have a topic or you would like to consider for a future episode, please feel free to reach out to Morgan at
morgan.spicer@thearcmov.org
. You can also contact The Arc at (304) 422-3151, extension 129.
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US Senators:
Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R):
Senator Joe Manchin, III (D):
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US House of Representatives:
Carol Miller (R) – District 1:
Click Here
Alex Mooney (R) – District 2:
Click Here
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To find your State Representatives:
Click Here
for members of the State Senate
Click Here
for members of the House of Delegates
For more information, log on to www.peoplefirstwv.org
or use the contact information below:
Contact Information:
*********************
The Arc of West Virginia
People First of West Virginia
1917 Dudley Avenue
Parkersburg, WV 26101
Phone: 304-422-3151
Toll-Free: 877-334-6581
Fax: 304-865-2072
Email:
info@peoplefirstwv.org
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