The very backbone of The Arc Nature Coast, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, are the people that it serves—a good number of whom shine in the role of knowledgeable, impactful self-advocates. The public is invited to support the efforts of these brave folks by participating in The Arc Nature Coast Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser: Support for self-advocates on Saturday, July 27, 8-10 a.m., at The Arc Nature Coast Education Center, 6495 Mariner Blvd., Spring Hill.
The breakfast is $6 per plate, which entitles the guest to a meal of fluffy pancakes, bacon or sausage, juice, and coffee. A 50/50 raffle will also be included. Proceeds will go to support Arc self-advocates, funding an upcoming trip to a Disney World resort for a special educational conference.
“As a chapter of The Arc, we are working alongside The Arc of Florida to help promote self-advocacy by bringing awareness to our legislature and the community at large that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are deserving of vital services,” said Nancy Stubbs, chief development officer of The Arc Nature Coast. “Historically, Florida has maintained a wait list for people with IDD to obtain funding for services. Many have been on the waitlist for many, many years. We are working towards bringing awareness to our legislature about this issue and have worked with The Arc of Florida to assist those waiting for services on how to advocate for change.”
Stubbs shared some vital information from Arc Florida regarding the importance of self-advocacy in building the Arc and providing even more valuable services to its clients.
“’The Arc of Florida. Our mission is simple – we believe everyone should be able to live up to their full potential, whether that is having meaningful activities or working in their own community,” the information read. “One way we are achieving this is by bringing our Awareness Initiative into the community with our Advocacy in Action Campaign. Our goal is to encourage those who have an intellectual or developmental disability, or those who care for someone who does, to apply for the Medicaid Home and Community-based Waiver Program (known as “iBudget”), which is administered by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD). Even though this program has an extensive Waiting List, having an accurate picture of the numbers, names, and locations of people who need services is essential if Florida is to develop more resources and state funds. We are partnering with our Arc chapters, colleagues and community partners through in-person trainings.”
“We also work year-round educating families and self-advocates on the importance of inclusion and advocacy,” it read. “We accomplish this through our monthly virtual Advocacy Meetings and our in-person Annual #AdvocacyDays Conference in the fall.”
This year’s Advocacy Days conference centered around the theme of The Future of Disabilities: Innovate. Inspire. Achieve. will take place Sept. 13-15 at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
“We are hoping that our pancake fundraiser will help supplement those wishing to attend this event,” said Stubbs. “If anyone would like to contribute to this initiative directly, they may do so here. The Arc Nature Coast | The Arc Nature Coast (networkforgood.org)”
As Jami Rexrode, Day Services Manager for The Arc Nature Coast, put it regarding a previous conference event, which featured celebrity guest appearances, “It was very inspiring to witness our self-advocates engaging with panelists Zack Gottsagen, star of Peanut Butter Falcon and Matthew Walder, whose story of struggling to tie his shoes due to cerebral palsy inspired Nike to create an adaptive shoe line’. It made so many of our folks realize they, too, could become change-makers. It gave them confidence. I look forward to witnessing more of these inspiring moments come September.”
To order tickets for The Arc Nature Coast Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser, call 302-897-0807 or visit https://tinyurl.com/yc3nzwhh.
