Newsletter November 2024

November 2024

November Training

We are pleased to announce that the November Training session is scheduled for November 20th at Cedar Lakes in Ripley, West Virginia. Registration is now open on the People First of West Virginia Facebook Page and is limited to twenty-five participants. A Zoom option will also be provided. Please note that the registration deadline is November 12th by the close of business.

This year’s training will focus on Effective Self-Advocacy: The Right and Wrong Ways to Advocate. Additionally, there will be an Advisory Board meeting following the training, so all State Advisory Board Members are requested to remain for this session. If you have any questions regarding the November Training, please do not hesitate to contact either Alexis or Morgan at (304) 422-3151. We look forward to seeing you there!

Your Vote Has Power!!

Voting is very important.

It is a way for you to help choose the people that will run our government.

Our government makes laws, decides how money gets spent, and much more.

Who gets picked to run the government makes a big difference for people with disabilities and their families.

If you do not vote, then you do not get a say in what happens.

Check out the resources below to make sure you have the information you need to make your vote count on November 5th!

Click Here
for that guide and other resources.

Click Here
for the WV Secretary of State page dedicated to voting.

Polling Place Survey

Is your polling place accessible?

People vote in many different places, such as libraries, schools, fire stations, churches, and even in shops or other private businesses and are known as polling places during elections.

These places need to be accessible to people with disabilities.

Every person has the right to cast their ballot privately and independently. If you have issues accessing your polling place on Election Day, we would like to know! Providing us with information on the accessibility of your polling place may help get any accessibility issues corrected in the future.

Together, we can make voting accessible for everyone!

Click Here
to take the survey!

Disability Matters

Join Morgan Spicer as he interviews Cydne Roush, a warehouse assistant at SW Resources. In this episode, Cydne shares how she applies her self-advocacy skills both at work and in her personal life. She also offers encouragement to fellow advocates, making this an episode you won’t want to miss!

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 you would like us 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.

American Diabetes Month

November is recognized as
American Diabetes Month
, a period dedicated to increasing awareness about diabetes and its significant impact on millions of individuals across the United States. This observance emphasizes education and advocacy, to promote healthy living and support those who are affected by diabetes.

Throughout the month, a variety of events and activities are organized to disseminate information about the disease and encourage positive lifestyle choices. This is an opportunity to highlight the critical importance of early detection, effective management, and prevention of diabetes, while also expressing solidarity with individuals and families managing this condition.

For more information on American Diabetes Month and ways you can help spread awareness, we encourage you to visit:
www.diabetes.org
!