TARC in partnership with Oklahomans 4 Autism Insurance Reform!, Will Rogers World Airport, Delta Air Lines, Speech Pathway LLC, Full Circle Developmental Center, Stanbro Healthcare Group, and Uptown Kids will host Wings for Autism® on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017 at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City beginning at 1:30 p.m.
Wings for Autism® is an airport rehearsal program specifically designed for individuals on the autism spectrum, people with intellectual/developmental disabilities and their families. The program gives families the chance to experience the process of taking a flight. Families arrive at the airport, check in at the ticket counter and receive their boarding pass, go through TSA security, and board a plane.
A clinician’s actions can change a life forever and help prevent fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).
FREE CME and CNE-accredited FASD Prevention online courses for physicians, nurses, medical and nursing students are now available through December 31, 2016.
Physicians, nurses, medical and nursing students will learn how they can help detect and address risky drinking in patients that are pregnant or of reproductive age.
Courses are FREE of charge
Courses are between 15 and 60 minutes
Courses are available for CME and CNE credits:
Physicians: Between .25 and 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
Nurses Practitioners and Nurses: Between .25 and 1.0 contact hour, including up to 0.5 pharmacology hours
Pharmacists: 1.0 contact hour
Courses are available through December 31, 2016
Courses were developed by the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals and The Arc of the United States
Please click HERE to RSVP and/or purchase guest/general admission tickets for the 2016 TARC Advocacy Awards & Volunteer Recognition presentation and dinner.
We invite you to join TARC in recognizing those who have provided outstanding service and advocacy for Oklahomans with developmental disabilities and for dinner on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016 at the Marriott Southern Hills Hotel, 1902 East 71st Street, in Tulsa beginning at 5:45 p.m.
The TARC Advocacy Awards & Volunteer Recognition also will include entertainment by the Pathways Choir from Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church in Tulsa whose choir members include several individuals with developmental disabilities. Also performing will be the Green Country Shining Stars – a cheerleading squad for special needs athletes ages 5 and older.
Master of ceremonies for this year’s event will be KOTV’s “6 In The Morning” personality LeAnne Taylor.
LeAnne Taylor
Please RSVP/purchase tickets no later than Nov. 30.
For more information, please call 918-582-TARC (8272) or 800-688-TARC (8272).
Awards will be given in the following categories:
Advocate – Case Manager Recognizes the OKDHS/DDSD case manager who has surpassed job requirements to advocate for his or her clients.
Advocate – Direct Care Provider Recognizes the direct contact staff person working for a community provider, who has gone beyond job requirements to advocate for people with disabilities.
Advocate – Educator Recognizes a public school educator who has promoted the inclusion of children with disabilities in regular school settings.
Advocate – Professional Provider Recognizes any professional such as a therapist or physician who advocates for people with disabilities beyond their professional responsibilities.
Advocate – Volunteer Recognizes the volunteer or group of volunteers who, in a program serving people with developmental disabilities, has gone beyond the call of duty to advocate.
Elected Official Recognizes an elected official who has effectively promoted better understanding and integration of people with disabilities in employment, education, and the community.
Self-Advocate Recognizes the self-advocate who has spoken out for all people with disabilities.
Media Advocate Recognizes the media professional who has effectively promoted better understanding and integration of people with disabilities living in the community.
Parent Advocate Recognizes the parent(s) of a person with developmental disabilities who has been a voice for all people with disabilities.
Special Achievement in Advocacy Recognizes the individual, business, or organization not included in other categories, which through a significant advocacy effort has improved the lives of people with disabilities.
Catalyst of Change Recognizes individuals, groups or organizations that have been catalysts for significant positive change in improving the lives of Oklahomans with developmental disabilities over a long period of time.
Shelby Hard Courage in Advocacy Recognizes individuals who have faced extreme challenges while still advocating for others.
You are cordially invited to attend the “Kendra Gives Back Party” benefiting TARC at Kendra Scott at Utica Square, 1842 Utica Square, on Thursday, October 20 from 4 to 7 p.m. Refreshments (champagne, wine, non-alcoholic options) and sweet treats will be provided for all guests during event. For those who can’t make it into the store to shop, but want to support TARC, they can do so by calling the Kendra Scott store (918-770-8303) on October 20 and placing a phone order (does not apply to web orders). 20% of total event revenue will be donated to TARC.
This will be a great opportunity to start your holiday shopping early or pick up something special for yourself from the beautiful Kendra Scott collection of jewelry while also making a contribution benefiting Oklahomans with developmental disabilities and their families.
Please save the date now and come and join us for a fun evening of sips, sweets and jewels!
As part of the Tulsa Area United Way Day of Caring, TARC will be hosting the 2nd annual Carnival of Caring at Whiteside Park, 4009 S. Pittsburg in Tulsa on Friday, Sept. 9 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Individuals with developmental disabilities and their staff or caregiver are invited to come and enjoy a fun day of games, activities, arts & crafts, and music with DJ – Steve Pitts. Ricoh will again be the event’s sponsor and will provide a cookout picnic for all participants. There will be no charge for any of these event activities.
Please RSVP by Sept. 2 by calling Barry Maxwell at 918-582-TARC (8272) or by email at bmaxwell@thearcok.org.
Please join TARC for the only Oklahoma opening of the award winning film, Life, Animated, on Friday, Aug. 19 at 7:30 pm at the Circle Cinema. Life, Animated is the inspirational story of Owen Suskind, a young man who was unable to speak as a child until he and his family discovered a unique way to communicate by immersing themselves in the world of classic Disney animated films. This emotional coming-of-age story follows Owen as he graduates to adulthood and takes his first steps toward independence. The film will show at the Circle Cinema from Aug. 19 -25.
Oklahoma Developmental Disability Services has announced the cutting of guardianship services beginning July 1, 2016 by limiting eligibility to Hissom Class Members and a few select other individuals. After 20 years, the privatization of a portion of this program through a contract with TARC for the ARCCorps Program has been discontinued due to reduced DHS funding as mandated by the Oklahoma legislature. All services currently provided by the ARCCorps Program staff would become the responsibility of state employees at DDS, despite the fact that the area Guardianship Coordinator positions were eliminated in the first round of DHS staff reductions and Case Management staff has been reduced.
This action raises several concerns about protecting the rights of people with developmental disabilities served by the State. Currently ARCCorps volunteer coordinators provide ongoing support to 676 volunteers. Case Managers within DDS will become be responsible for providing continued support to volunteers. For many individuals served by DDS, the ARCCorps volunteer is the only individual not paid to be part of their life and serves as a critical safeguard.
“We are concerned that some of the currently matched volunteers will not be able to continue to be involved without the availability of support from TARC staff,” said TARC Executive Director John Gajda. ARCCorps staff routinely send out approximately 500 reminders each year to volunteer guardians and assist them in preparing the annual reports they are required to submit to the court. DDS will not continue to provide timely reminders to volunteers that they have reports due. Teams in DDS areas throughout the state have already completed a number of capacity assessments that have determined that an individual is not capable of providing consent and is in need of a guardian. These individuals have already been referred to TARC and any volunteer responses received will be referred back to DDS.
TARC has operated the ARCCorps program since 1996 after DDS staff were unsuccessful in meeting the need for volunteer guardians and advocates. The ARCCorp program staff has been matching minor children in the custody of DHS being served by Child Welfare with volunteer guardians so they can transition to DDS and the Child Welfare case can be closed. The elimination of the ARCCorps program may impede implementation of the Pinnacle Plan that has been imposed on DHS by the Federal court.
“These are challenging times that threaten the progress we have made in Oklahoma for people with developmental disabilities and their families,” Gajda said. “TARC remains committed to its mission to advocate for Oklahomans with developmental disabilities and their rights to receive the assistance they need and deserve in making their lives the best they can be,” he added.
TARC in partnership with Tulsa International Airport, Allegiance Air, and Therapy & Beyond hosted Wings for Autism® on Friday, September 23, 2016 at Tulsa International Airport. Participants were guided by staff from TARC, TIA, Allegiant Air, TSA, and volunteers through the boarding pass pick up, security screening, and actual boarding processes.
Wings for Autism® is especially designed for individuals with autism spectrum disorders, their families and aviation professionals. Originated by the Charles River Center, a local chapter of The Arc, Wings for Autism™ is designed to alleviate some of the stress that families who have a child with autism experience when traveling by air.
The program provides families with the opportunity to practice entering the airport, obtain boarding passes, go through security and board a plane. Wings for Autism® also gives airport, airline, Transportation Security Administration professionals and other personnel the opportunity to observe, interact and deliver their services in a structured, learning environment.
This experience is equally useful for families that have a member with other intellectual or developmental disabilities that are concerned about the ability of their family member to travel.
The 21st annual Shot In The Dark Golf Tournament held Friday at LaFortune Golf Course was a huge success! 20 teams competed for trophies and prizes. They were first feted to a BBQ dinner from Albert G’s while enjoying live music provided by musical duo Terry & Breanna. More than 20 silent auction packages also were awarded.
Tulsa sports broadcast legend and chairman of this year’s tournament, Chris Lincoln, served as master of ceremonies for the evening’s festivities. The to…urnament was made possible by the more than 60 volunteers who performed a variety of duties including serving as Tee and Greens Monitors.
TARC is also grateful for the support of these 2016 tournament sponsors:
Presenting Sponsor:
Industrial Electric & Testing
Eagle Sponsor:
Margaret Goatcher
Classic Sponsors:
Bank of Oklahoma
Tulsa World
Security Bank
Invitational Sponsors:
Dr. Tim Cole – Integrated Physical Health
Randa Vernon/HoganTaylor
Williams Companies
Pennington Capital Partners
D&L Oil Tools
Shumacher Automotive
Triad Eye Institute
Hole Sponsors:
Arvest
Chick fil A
TTCU
Sutton
Southeast Rotary
Okie CrossFit
Spireon, Inc.
Riverview Property Co.
Spears Travel
Commerce Bank
Bama
TEAM Professional Services
CertaPro Painters
$10,000 Putting Contest Sponsor:
ONE Gas
BBQ Dinner Sponsor:
Albert G’s
Crystal Clear Car Wash
In need of help for a family member with a developmental disability?
TARC is hosting a resource fair at the Rudisill Regional Library, 1520 N. Hartford, from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 2 for individuals, families and groups who are interested in I/DD services and programs available in the Tulsa area. Admission is free.
TARC, and several other nonprofit organizations that serve individuals with I/DD and their families, will be available to provide information and answer questions about their programs and services.
In addition to TARC, the following organizations will be at the I/DD Resource Fair:
Autism Center of Tulsa
Campfire Green Country
CAPES
Goodwill
Okla. Department of Rehabilitation Services
Okla. Developmental Disabilities: Partners in Policy Making…
TARC in partnership with Tulsa International Airport, Allegiance Air, and Therapy & Beyond hosted Wings for Autism® on Friday, September 23, 2016 at Tulsa International Airport. Participants were guided by staff from TARC, TIA, Allegiant Air, TSA, and volunteers through the boarding pass pick up, security screening, and actual boarding processes.
