See ME. See My Ability

Summer, Rights, and Resilience: Olmstead Under Threat

See Me, See My Ability is the podcast of the ARC Southern Chesapeake. In this episode, Rita Rich celebrates summertime activities while spotlighting the work supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The episode explains the Olmstead Supreme Court decision and a recent Department of Justice opinion that could weaken community living protections, featuring warnings from disability advocates about the potential consequences for home and community‑based services. ARC Southern Chesapeake affirms that disability rights are human rights, shares how advocates are monitoring these threats, and invites listeners to find the podcast at arcsoch.org and consider supporting their work.   Citations: You tube link pbs news hour:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWV6LABu0T0 [https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DcWV6LABu0T0&data=05%7C02%7Crrich%40arcsomd.org%7C531b83d689f44d27282c08ded534ad9c%7C0a9cddc40bf54a2cb4eb8c28c1095f2c%7C0%7C0%7C639182619401448280%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=JUVp%2Bu965P0CzYHDN5C2rMgZ%2BCxraC0Me97AR8l1r0c%3D&reserved=0]     Arc USA Position on Department of Justice Opinion   https://www.arcnc.org/blog/position-statement-special-education-and-community-integration?fbclid=IwY2xjawSuKrBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe7U1_fAbPBf2BoVzQGvGi_k2_h8ytcU_ZT15llZ4p5O_EQfPyJa3mvBGMWaw_aem_1i1i1THN3SMbgXubf7qfEQ [https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.arcnc.org%2Fblog%2Fposition-statement-special-education-and-community-integration%3Ffbclid%3DIwY2xjawSuKrBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe7U1_fAbPBf2BoVzQGvGi_k2_h8ytcU_ZT15llZ4p5O_EQfPyJa3mvBGMWaw_aem_1i1i1THN3SMbgXubf7qfEQ&data=05%7C02%7Crrich%40arcsomd.org%7C531b83d689f44d27282c08ded534ad9c%7C0a9cddc40bf54a2cb4eb8c28c1095f2c%7C0%7C0%7C639182619401484060%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=CW4egD6Q4aOXFb60VgMWmo3%2Fecli0y8e8Qng0aMwzIg%3D&reserved=0]

Inside ARC’s Sensory Room: Serenity, Shaving Cream & a Lava Lamp

See Me, See My Ability presents a look inside the ARC Southern Maryland’s new sensory room in Lexington Park with Beth Wolfe, the director of nursing. In this episode Beth describes the room’s calming features — subdued lighting, music, a lava lamp, a chalkboard mural by a program participant, and flexible seating — designed to offer quiet and choice. The episode highlights hands-on activities like shaving cream play, weighted blankets, music stations, therapy balls and gentle stretching that help reduce anxiety and support sensory needs. Staff explain how the room is used by day program participants and residential individuals, and how simple tools make relaxation and therapy feel fun. The sensory room’s growth is driven by donations and grants; the episode thanks supporters and shows how small comforts can make a big difference in daily quality of life.

Building Inclusion: Kayla Carter’s Day Program Revolution

Kayla Carter, director of ARC Southern Maryland’s Waldorf day programs, describes how she creates community partnerships, meaningful volunteer opportunities, and a lively activity calendar to help clients gain skills and independence. The episode covers outreach to local businesses, hands-on learning (money management, languages, Zumba, knitting), family feedback as a measure of progress, and the importance of a sensory room for calming and self‑regulation.

Print It Forward-Assistive Technology and the Arc Southern Maryland

Three-D printers are all the rage and The Arc Southern Maryland is teaching its clients to use them to create assistive technology. Listen as Nora Walker, with the State Department for Disabilities visited with us in Prince Frederick and showed us some of the many possibilities.

A Conversation With One of Our Moms, Donna DePamphelis

Hear this conversation with a parent, and a longtime advocate for IDD students in Charles County, Donna DePamphelis, who is being honored next month by the statewide Arc Maryland. This mom of the soon-to-be 34-year-old Rashawn, one of our residents, talks about all that the Arc Southern Maryland has done for her and her daughter.