Spotlight: The Arc of Benton County
by Tara Collins, Administrative Assistant
The Arc Benton County’s Access and Empowerment Department is busy! Their team has been working on some major projects and we want to share about them.
CommCard Program
The CommCard program supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to be empowered when communicating. It focuses on communication with law enforcement and helping professionals like healthcare providers and educators.
The program gives participants both a physical card and education. The card has information about the participant, such as:
- ways to contact their advocate
- behaviors that may make communication difficult, and
- accommodations that may help the participant communicate and cooperate.
The card is very customizable! The participant chooses what they want to share and how it should be framed. The CommCard team works one-on-one with each person to make sure that it suits their needs.
Focus on education makes The Arc Benton County’s program stand out from similar ones across the country. All participants work with the CommCard team to develop skills to communicate and advocate for themselves. Some people find that the education program is enough to help empower them, but the card can be a good backup.
The education program emphasizes encounters with law enforcement. People with IDD are more likely to be involved in the criminal legal system as both victims and suspects. Interactions with law enforcement are also much more likely to have severe negative outcomes.
The community has responded very positively to the program. The Arc Benton County partners with Corvallis Police Department, Linn and Benton county sheriffs departments, and the Oregon State Police. Participants have also said that they have better experiences at doctor’s offices and airports. “Transportation security personnel handled me much more gently when I showed them my CommCard,” says Erika, who has autism.
If you’re interested in getting a CommCard, you can find more information here or email Misha Marie at mmarie@arcbenton.org.
Justice Consultation and Advocacy Program
People with IDD are more likely to become involved in the criminal legal system than others. When this happens, the Justice Consultation and Advocacy Program can help consult and advocate for accommodations. While they’re not victim advocates or attorneys, they can work with them to make sure individuals’ civil rights are upheld. They support individuals through the entire process.
The Americans with Disabilities Act requires that the legal system make accommodations for people with disabilities. These accommodations help make sure they can fully participate in the process. Attorneys, judges, law enforcement, and jail or prison staff are required to respect and uphold them. The program’s team advocates for these accommodations and educates prosecutors and judges about them. While some people have been resistant to these accommodations, they often become more receptive as they learn more.
Advocates work with individuals to write a Personalized Safety and Success Plan. This is like an IEP or ISP and very individualized. It takes into account legal accommodations, but also other parts of someone’s life. The plan helps ensure that individuals will be successful and safe.
The Arc of Benton County’s program is modeled on similar advocacy by The Arc of New Jersey and on The Arc of the United States’s National Center on Criminal Justice and Disability (NCCJD). It’s a small program but hopes to grow. Its planners and advocates want it to be a seed for creating more national programs like it. They also want it to inspire certification programs for advocates.
If you or someone you know needs assistance from the Justice Consultation and Advocacy Program, you can email them at justice@arcbenton.org.
Life Skills Program (Smart Living, Learning, and Earning with Developmental Disabilities)
Benton County has good programs to help people with IDD transition from youth to adulthood. Unfortunately, they end based on age, not the skills someone has learned or their development. It can be difficult to receive training after. Some people can access more training through Developmental Disabilities Services, but not all. Plenty of people who need this education don’t even qualify for Developmental Disabilities Services.
This is where the Smart Living Learning Earning with Developmental Disabilities (SLLEDD) steps in. The Arc of Benton County purchased curriculum from Smart Living, Learning, and Earning with Autism (SLLEA) and modified it to encompass other forms of IDD. They just launched a 22-week pilot program with eight participants, which will run from January 28 through June 26.
The curriculum is customized to an individual’s starting place and needs, but the pilot program focuses on five areas:
- Personal wellness
- Social connections
- Community resources
- Money management
- Benefits management
These categories are a mix of one-to-one mapping to SLLEA’s 17 modules and combinations of multiple ones. After the pilot, SLLEDD may expand to offer more modules. They are also looking ways to customize the options for those who may not want to take all modules.
The community has received SLLEDD very well, and The Arc of Benton County is always seeking feedback from the IDD community on their needs and what works for them. They’re hoping to have the full program start in early to mid September. If you or someone you know might be interested, contact The Arc of Benton County by early July. You can do so by filling out the form here, and you can learn more about the program here.