Advocacy:
The Arc is involved in two types of advocacy – personal, which involves making sure an individual client receives the services they need, and community, which involves making sure elected officials are informed about the needs and concerns of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Because our clients face a multitude of challenges, whether its navigating the complex medical, legal and educational systems, the Arc provides advocates. One-by-one, Arc advocates guide clients and their families through the processes necessary in order to receive needed information and services.
Medical Advocacy: Arc’s trained staff and volunteer advocates accompany individuals and families to doctor appointments and medical procedures 1) to ensure that the individual’s rights are protected and 2) to serve as a liaison between the medical professionals and the client. In this capacity, the advocate prepares clients and their families by explaining, reassuring and preparing the client and their families for what they can expect. For our clients, these advocates ease the anxiety that often accompanies a trip to the doctor’s office. This advance preparation means that appointments go more smoothly, which in turn encourages more physicians to accept patients with disabilities.
Legal Advocacy: Advocates are available to accompany individuals or families to legal proceedings, including courtroom appearances. Our advocates are often involved in researching cases or complaints to determine whether a person’s rights have been violated. They explain the processes that need to be followed and prepare clients and their families for whatever legal action may need to be taken. When the need arises, Arc advocates collaborate with local lawyers and disability law experts to make sure that the rights of Arc clients are respected and protected.
Education Advocacy: Advocates are available to assist clients and their families as they learn the ins and outs of the often difficult and confusing Individualized Education Program process. The advocate ensures that parents and children receive fair treatment, and works with school staff to ensure that Arc clients and their families understand the programs and resources that are available to them.
The Arc of Buncombe County provides a voice at the local legislative level for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We work with the national Arc as well as the state and other local chapters to advocate for the rights of our community through grassroots action and public policy. We track legislation and inform our members and friends about civil rights, education, employment, health care, and housing issues.
Assistance to Individuals:
Individuals with disabilities and their families have financial emergencies, as we all do, but they often have fewer resources to call upon when these times arise. Families or individuals may request financial assistance from The Arc of Buncombe County to help with rent or mortgage payments, utilities, groceries, medications, medically necessary equipment or procedures, heating oil, and clothing. These requests can be made directly, or they may be referred to us.
When someone with a confirmed intellectual or developmental disability requests emergency financial assistance, our Community Resource Specialist determines its cause, validity, and immediacy. The Resource Specialist then collaborates with other financial aid agencies to meet the need, usually within 24 hours. Monies are distributed directly to the vendors owed (i.e. landlord or utility company), rather than to the individuals themselves.
Follow up services are provided to individuals and families and their case managers to ensure that new financial crises are prevented wherever possible.
If the Community Resource Specialist determines that the crisis was due to an individual’s lack of adequate financial planning or income, an in-house financial counseling session is scheduled, and referrals are made to community programs such as On Track, Vocational Rehabilitation, or the Western Highlands Network.
The Arc of Buncombe County also offers financial assistance through our alternative respite funding, developmental summer camp scholarships, and Operation Santa.
HealthMeet and Health Education and Promotion:
HealthMeet
What is HealthMeet?
HealthMeet is a project of The Arc funded by a million dollar cooperative agreement with the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and the National Center on Birth Defects and Development Disabilities. It is the first project of its kind to focus on reducing health disparities and increasing the longevity and quality of life for people with intellectual disabilities.
Why is HealthMeet so important?
According to the National Institutes of Health, people with intellectual disabilities historically have not lived as long as others and have been at increased risk for health problems. For too long, children have all too often died because their condition wasn’t diagnosed early in the disease process. Up until the 1970s, it was common practice to institutionalize people with intellectual and physical disabilities. What treatments were available often proved to be be ineffective or harmful years later.
The Arc of Buncombe County also works closely with Buncombe County schools and local organizations to provide health education and adaptive exercises, and yoga to individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities.
Social Enrichment: The Arc of Buncombe County host social enrichment dances and other programs like Operation Santa supporting individuals with disabilities and their families.