ANCOR

Today we were on Capitol Hill advocating for H.R. 2941, and we have great news! The bill—which urges the creation of a standard occupational classification for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs)—passed unanimously through the House Education and Workforce Committee this morning! We want to share a huge thank you to ANCOR members SEEC, National Children's Center (NCC), and RCM of Washington, Inc. for joining us on the Hill today, as well as our partners at Lutheran Services in America and National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP). Another big thank you goes out to the tens of thousands of advocates who have responded to our action alerts and the many ANCOR members who have met with your Member of Congress on this issue. Although not the final step before this bill becomes law, today was a huge step in that process and we are so grateful to everyone who has advocated on behalf of our dedicated DSP workforce!

There’s still time to register for our summer access and inclusion series! This webinar series focuses on supporting and engaging siblings of people with I/DD. On Wednesday, July 10 at 1 pm EDT, ANCOR’s own Gabrielle Sedor, CAE will be joined by a panel of incredible advocates and professionals, including Brandi Foreman, Harriet Redman, Emma (Shouse) Garton, and Shea Tanis. Register here: https://lnkd.in/gJVYqJnn

“Since these landmark human rights victories, we have made significant progress. But a quarter-century later, a lack of investment in home- and community-based services and the low wages that result threaten to turn back the clock due to a severe national shortage of direct support professionals, or DSPs, who are the backbone of the disability service delivery system.” Read more from ANCOR CEO Barbara Merrill and Doug Simmonsen, Dungarvin DSP and ANCOR’s 2024 DSP of the Year: https://lnkd.in/gqgMATpw

Saturday, June 22, marked the 25th anniversary of the #OlmsteadDecision. Last week, we had the privilege of speaking with Ira Burnim, senior counsel at The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, who worked on the case in the leadup to the landmark 1999 Supreme Court decision. This episode is dedicated to the memory of Lois Curtis and Elaine Wilson. Listen on Apple: https://lnkd.in/gieFBNAW Listen on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/geRjz5FJ

Every day, but especially today, we are grateful for DSPs like Dungarvin's Doug Simmonsen, who are key to upholding the promises of #inclusion made possible by the Supreme Court's historic #Olmstead decision.

Registration just opened for the 2024 ANCOR Policy Summit & Hill Day! Taking place September 23-24, ANCOR’s Policy Summit & Hill Day will bring together leading advocates from the national I/DD community to amplify awareness about what’s new, now and next for community disability services. Rates go up after July 12—so save your seat today: https://lnkd.in/g935Exq4

Between the array of federal regulations set to go into effect soon and the pivotal election on the horizon in November—raising our voices in support of community disability services is especially crucial this year. In ANCOR’s new Advocacy Toolkit, you'll find practical guidance on how to amplify the importance of the services you deliver. Get tips for connecting in-district with your elected officials, templates for writing persuasive op-eds and letters to the editor, resources for effective advocacy communications and more. Access the toolkit today: https://lnkd.in/gb5KwdJY

🎤 We’re back with Season 2 of the ANCOR Links podcast! 🎤 We all know and can relate to the feeling of burnout. While burnout definitely exists in the human services field, #CompassionFatigue is another serious possibility and an added layer of complexity to the work we do. For this episode, we set up a voicemail line for people involved in the day-to-day work of supporting people with disabilities. We asked them to define compassion fatigue and describe how they aim to lessen its impacts. Their firsthand experiences are punctuated with expertise from Dr. Hassan M. Abdulhaqq, Chief Human Resources Officer at AABR, Inc. He helps us understand what works and what doesn’t, and how to be ‘best in class’ at mitigating burnout and compassion fatigue. Listen now: https://lnkd.in/dYcv3gBd #DisabilityServices #MentalWellness #HumanServices

Join ANCOR on May 29 from 1-2:30 pm EDT for our next FREE community conversation, Upholding Dignity: Combating Oppression and Prioritizing Mental Health in the Workplace. We'll dive into the complexities of systemic oppression and its impact on employee mental health while learning from a dynamic panel of speakers, including Matthew Canuteson, Olivia Fadul, LPCC, CPC, President-Elect of NM CASJ, Arnetta Greene, and Janelle Johnson, LMFT. From understanding interlocking oppressions to advocating for institutional policy changes, you’ll discover practical approaches to creating inclusive work environments that prioritize mental well-being, empower employees to bring their authentic selves to work, and ultimately, enhance organizational success and sustainability. Register here: ➡ https://lnkd.in/g67gjzt9

💻 TOMORROW 💻 Join ANCOR Gold Partner Arlington Heritage Group, Inc. at 2 pm EDT for this free webinar! Register for free: https://lnkd.in/g35m9jW8