Newsletter October 2024

Monthly News &Updates

October 2024

Youth Self-Advocate Spotlight

Jaden Jones, a senior at St. Mary’s High School, has immersed himself in this year’s Summer Day Program and our Youth Advocacy Conference—he has been a fantastic addition! When he is not engaged in those activities, he assists the St. Mary’s Football Team by ensuring that the players stay hydrated. Jaden also volunteers in his community and works in his community. We are also thrilled to announce that he recently received the Barbara Becker-Cottrill Autism Achievement Award and had the incredible opportunity to speak at the Autism Across the Lifespan Conference at Marshall University! What an accomplishment!

People First Conference 2024 Recap

Last month we had our 31st Annual People First of WV Conference. We had 125 people in attendance. We hope next year we can have even more people attend. We had it at the beautiful WVU Jackson’s Mill. We started our conference off with our Key Note Speech from Erin Thompson, who we greatly appreciate coming and staying for some of our classes. We had a variety of classes this year. We extend a heartfelt thank you to our wonderful class instructors for the fifteen classes we offered! We also had a range of guest speakers this year. We also appreciate our guest speakers: Treasurer Riley Moore, Senator Shelly Moore Capito, Secretary of State Mac Warner, and Expectations Matter!

During the closing ceremony on Friday, advocate Lynsay Frye received her gold-level certificate! Additionally, we would like to thank this year’s vendors: Disability Rights, Fair Shake Network, the West Virginia Developmental Disabilities Council, and WVABLE! We thank every self-advocate, family member, and caretaker who attended the 31st Annual People First Conference!

National ADHD Awareness Month

National ADHD Awareness Month is observed in October and aims to raise awareness about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This month-long observance seeks to educate the public about ADHD, eliminate stigma, and encourage understanding and support for individuals living with ADHD. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that can affect both children and adults, impacting their ability to focus, control impulses, and regulate their energy levels. Through National ADHD Awareness Month, advocates hope to promote early diagnosis, effective treatment, and improved quality of life for individuals with ADHD. This observance serves as a platform for advocacy, education, and support for the ADHD community.

For more information and how you can help spread the word, you can visit
www.cdc.gov/adhd
!

Disability Matters

For the past three years, we have covered topics of legislative advocacy on Legislative Matters Now! We invite you to check out our new show Disability Matters! The name change allows us to explore many more topics that matter to people with disabilities and their coworkers, friends, and family.

If you have a topic you would like covered on a future episode, do not hesitate to reach out to Morgan! He can be reached at
morgan.spicer@thearcmov.org
! You can also call The Arc at (304) 422-3151 ext 129!

This month we had the honor of speaking to Erin Thompson, this year’s Keynote Speaker at the People First Conference! She talks about her advocacy journey and offers encouraging words to keep you grounded in your advocacy journey!
Click Here
to watch previous episodes of Legislative Matters NOW! and
Click Here
for Disability Matters.