Live United, By Mary Goetz

The United Way of Freeborn County is a powerful ally in working with our agency, The Arc of Freeborn County, to facilitate change. Our focus as an agency is to seek out, help and advocate for those who cannot do this for themselves.  One of the main focuses as an advocacy supporting agency is to increase the awareness of legislative proposals and pending proposals. If you would like to join in on this cause and be a member of call to action send your email to office@arcfreeborncounty.org. In the subject line, write “add to call to action.” During the legislative meeting sessions you will be alerted  to key issues, provided with key background information so that you can send off a message to your county representative and/or senators on the appropriate legislative matter. Our legislative advocacy work is geared toward helping individuals and families on behalf of children or adult self-advocates increasing their voice in how they live, work and play within our communities. Inclusion matters, and it is everyone’s business to be involved to improve the outcomes for today and future generations.

Did you know that The Arc of Freeborn County offers programming for youth, adolescence, young adults and adults on a regular basis, day and evening activities, outings and educational opportunities? We would love to expand our participation in Special Olympics by increasing the number of Unified Sports activities offered. Unified Sports reflect individuals without a disability playing alongside a person with a disability. The ultimate goal of our sports activities is to increase friendships, acceptance and development of a sense of belonging to all in the community. A typical unified sport will be completed in one training session per week over 12 weeks. (The office will work with you to adjust scheduling to fit your calendar.) If you would like to become a coach connect with our office to get started, the training is completed online; level one is the basics on keeping participants safe, and the level 2 training is specific to which sport you will be a coach for, covering the rules and how to present information to participants.

We are looking for high school students interested in working with Count Me In puppets for presentations to preschool, first or third-grade students. It is a fun presentation on acceptance and inclusion.  This is a great way to build up your community service hours within the community and meet other caring high school students. This puppet show will go on the road to other schools within the county.  Come join in on the fun, call 507-377-3469 and be a part of the show.

Other important program offerings include a regional conference titled, “I have a Dream … It is a Possibility”  on person-centered thinking and person-centered planning. This will take place at 4:30 p.m. Monday, April 25. Register for this event by calling 507-377-3469 or emailing office@arcfreeborncounty.org.  Registration fee is only $10 and scholarships are available on a first come basis.

 

Mary Goetz is the executive director of The Arc of Freeborn County.