The Arc of Mississippi

Programs and Services

Advocacy
Contact  -  The Arc of Mississippi

The Arc of Mississippi advocates on behalf of individuals with mental retardation and developmental disabilities by supporting families, furthering the implementation of legislation on behalf of persons with disabilities, empowering self-advocates, identifying best practices and working within the system to affect change.

Member Chapter Services
Contact  -  Cindy Dittus

Local chapters and their members are the grassroots of The Arc of Mississippi. These local chapters are the organizations that make a difference in their communities and it is the task of the state office to gather and distribute pertinent information in a timely manner.

Supported Employment
Contact  -  Maryann Robinson

Securing an appropriate job match is vital to successful employment. However, all efforts are in vain if thorough, personalized support services are not permanently available. The mission of the Supported Employment program is to provide that ongoing support to people with disabilities in the workplace.

Community Outreach
Contact - Cindy Dittus

The mission of Community Outreach is to enhance Member and Chapter Services, give support to families and professionals, provide community education, and work within the system to bring about change. The Arc provides current information about the causes and prevention of mental retardation and developmental disabilities by providing materials at schools, health fairs, trainings and our web site. This program continues to produce a quarterly newsletter and participate in Person Centered Planning meetings. Community Outreach continues to develop and provide trainings for parents and professionals statewide.

Yazoo Resource Center
Contact  -  Charles Stevenson or Yolanda Kimble

The Yazoo Resource Center serves over 90 people per week. Of these people 75 have developmental disabilities. The Center provides information and services for citizens with disabilities, the use of computers and a location for meetings. In December 2001, a teacher was hired for the center, and it is now open five days a week. Two computer classes are held daily for the individuals of Multi-Flex Industries with approximately 25 individuals in attendance.

Parent & Professional Training
Contact  -  Cindy Dittus

Our office provides training to parents, parent groups, providers and professionals on a variety of topics. The Arc also partners with state agencies and advocacy groups to implement promising practices.

Topics include:

Person Centered Planning
Contact  -  Mike Montgomery

The Arc of Mississippi is a partner in conducting PCP’s and trainings throughout the state. PCP’s are used to identify future goals and how to overcome barriers that may impede the individual’s success. Through planning strategies and activities set forth in the PCP, individuals with developmental disabilities and their families can address concerns, identify appropriate services and prepare for the future.

Public Policy Education
Contact  -  Matt Nalker

The Arc provides literature and input into public policy by serving on various councils, boards and governmental agency task forces. By bringing awareness to policy makers, The Arc can lend a voice to affect change. Through our Legislative Training we can help familiarize people with the process of how a bill becomes a law. Our website is a valuable tool in maintaining a strong, unified, widespread voice concerning legislation that impacts people with disabilities. The Arc of Mississippi has also added an internet tool to our Public Policy page that links you to your legislators. This enables individuals to express their concerns to policy makers.

Respite Program
Contact  -  Renee Murphy

The definition of “respite” is a gift of time. The Arc helps to provide numerous families across the state receive a gift of time. Approximately 35 families receive this service every month through this program.

My Voice, My Choice
Contact  -  Charity Drummond or Maryann Robinson

The mission of this group is to empower selfadvocates with knowledge of how the developmental disabilities service system functions and teach ways of accessing that system. MVMC continues to grow and evolve and the members are requested to provide project overviews for many groups.

Direct Support Professional Opportunity
Contact  -  Lisa Burck

1,200 people in MS have enrolled in the College of Direct Support, 35,000+ lessons have been completed, 240 graduates. National credentialing is now available for direct support professionals.  Enrollment in the College of Direct Support is available to anyone who interacts with persons with disabilities.  To view more about the College of Direct Support go to www.collegeofdirectsupport.com.  For more information about direct professionals go to NADSP.org.  This training is appropriate for families, health care professionals, home and community based waiver providers, regional centers, community mental health providers, teachers, paraprofessionals, case manaement, and many other professions.

MS Model Youth Transition Innovation
Contact  -  Mike Montgomery

MYTI is a demonstration project funded by the Social Security Administration to assist public school students with transition from school to work. Its unique strategies include: a presumption of employment for all students, social security benefits planning, working with students as young as age ten, using discovery to learn positive attributes, conditions, preferences, and contributions for employment, and matching the skills of a student with the needs of a business. Non-paid, short term work experiences, and paid employment experiences are developed in the community while students are still in school.

SPARQLE
Contact  -  Tolise Mallett

The Arc of Mississippi is sponsoring the first ever direct support professional membership organization in Mississippi. SPARQLE stands for Support Professionals Advocating for Real Quality of Life for Everyone and is a state affiliate of the NADSP: National Alliance of Direct Support Professionals. This professional organization will hold credentialing for the state, plan for additional training needs, link DSPs around the state, and participate in DSP-LINK. Click here for the application.

DSP-LINK
Contact  -  Lisa Burck

The Arc of Mississippi introduces DSP-LINK. This is a system of advocacy whereas families looking for additional supports in their area can contact The Arc of Mississippi and get information about qualified DSPs who are either graduates of the College of Direct Support or are currently enrolled. The families can then make choices about hiring direct support professionals for their needs. This win/win system allows DSPs to be available for work in addition to their current employment; it gives families options for respite. We know of no other system of its kind and are looking forward to long term success. Forms should be completed and returned to The Arc of Mississippi, 7 Lakeland Circle, Jackson, MS 39216. Families can access the request form by clicking here. DSPs can access the Release of Information form here.

Solutions for Individualized Transportation
Contact  -  Mike Montgomery

SIT is a demonstration project funded by the MS Council on Developmental Disabilities to start transportation services for twenty-four people in Hancock and Warren counties. This project is designed to help people with disabilities have transportation from home to their desired destinations within their homecommunity. A personal budget is completed to learn how much a person can allocate for transportation from their revenue. A needs assessment is completed to find out where and when they want to go and is given to a public transit provider to determine the cost and schedule. The MS Transportation Coalition will provide assistance in obtaining subsidy dollars (total cost less what the project participant can pay) so that transit services actually take place.

Education and Technical Assistance Project to End Violence Against Women with Disabilities in Mississippi
Contact  -  Cindy Dittus

Nearly one-third of American families currently have a member with a disability. Persons with disabilities face a four to ten times higher risk of being victims of domestic violence or sexual assault but have traditionally not been recognized as victims of violence. Crimes committed against people with intellectual disabilities are often labeled as abuse and neglect (rather than assault, rape, or murder), which understates the criminal victimization problem. These individuals face significant obstacles to service accessibility, including architectural and physical barriers, communication barriers, and attitudinal barriers. Cross-training in domestic violence, sexual assault, and disabilities is needed to assist Mississippi health care professionals and domestic violence and sexual assault direct service providers in identifying and providing services for women with disabilities who are victims of these crimes.