Thursday, March 27, 2014

Let's Go Out: A Day for Developmental Disability Awareness

It’s Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Let’s all go out on March 29 to raise awareness.
Find out more at www.thearc.org/lets-go-out.



Let’s Go Out on March 29

National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month is coming to an end, but there's one last huge day we can all play a role in just by "going out."
Let's Go Out Day on Saturday will help raise awareness about people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

What should you do? 

Simply make plans to go out somewhere in public on Saturday, March 29. Plan a day out and about with friends and family ( maybe to the  Southern Women's Show) or just enjoying activities. While enjoying your day out, raise awareness and generate some conversation about people with I/DD. 
As the Arc puts it in its statement on National Let's Go out Day:
This one-day movement will serve to harness our collective power to gain allies, foster understanding, dispel myths and encourage people without disabilities to recognize that we’re not so different after all.
This March 29, let’s all go out and start breaking down those social barriers.. This is your chance to personally help raise awareness about people with I/DD just by being yourself and participating in the things you enjoy alongside others in your community without disabilities. If you are a person with I/DD, make plans to hit the movies, the park, your local shopping center or restaurant for a day out and maybe spark some conversation in the process. Or, if you are a friend or family member of a person with I/DD, make plans to enjoy a fun activity together in public.
Spread the word using the hashtag #DDAware on social media during the month of March. And, follow us online on Facebook and Twitter and be sure to show us what you end up doing on March 29 by sharing your photos using the hashtag #DDAware.
Don't forget to RSVP to our March 29 Facebook event, and please invite your friends on Facebook as well!

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Progress Staff Celebrated for 'Employment First' Efforts



We have a great team here at Progress, and we were thrilled when Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Commissioner Debbie Payne took note of that in her recent OpenLine newsletter.

Susan Hutchison and Paula Daniels were two of the Progress team members commended for attending a recent training on employing people with disabilities.

Debbie gave special kudos to Progress Associate Director of Day Services Susan Hutchison, Supported Employment Coordinator Paula Daniels and Client Funds Administrator Lisa Zekany, who all attended the weeklong Incentives Counseling Initial Training Program at the end of February.

The training will help the three Progress team members guide us into broader approaches to employing people with disabilities.

"We would like to commend Progress Inc. for successfully registering three of their staff members and attending the training session," Payne wrote in OpenLine. "This demonstrates Progress’ dedication to the Employment First initiative and people they support."

We are so proud of Susan, Paula and Lisa for their commitment to improving our already valiant efforts to employ people with disabilities.

Progress is working towards providing more job training, vocational services and other employment support to people with disabilities through the "Ticket to Work" program. 

 Watch the short video below to learn more about this program.)


Please share this good news with your friends by clicking the Facebook, Twitter or Google+ icons on this page.

 

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Online Registration is now OPEN for Camp Progress 2014!



Progress' Camp Progress for youths with intellectual disabilities opens June 9. Registration is open now!

Though the cold persists, parents - and especially their sons and daughters - are already thinking about warmer days. So, Progress  is inviting families to register their child online now for Camp Progress.
The secure website portal is held by the experts at Eventbrite, and allows parents to fill out information about medication and dietary needs, review camp deadlines and policies and securely and conveniently pay for registration and camp fees.
We are excited to bring Camp Progress back to even more young people with intellectual disabilities this summer. Art therapy, water play and tennis camp will return this summer. We have also learned that the wonderful folks at the Nashville Ballet will offer lessons and learning opportunities for campers this summer! Thanks to Nashville Ballet, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Metro Parks, Kroger and numerous other partners in helping us create a summer full of  “cans” instead of the “cannots.”
The 6-week camp will be held from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. June 9, 2014-July 18, 2014. To register visit, https://campprogressnashville.eventbrite.com
For more information on Camp Progress, call 615-399-3000.