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Three Decades of Learning About Community Living and Inclusion – Now What?
What can we do today to make a real difference in the lives of people with disabilities, their families, and communities? Closing out the 2024 Reinventing Quality conference in Baltimore last month, Institute on Community Integration Director, Amy Hewitt, challenged a diverse panel of disability professionals to brainstorm some bold ideas. The panel consisted of […]
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Make a Plan to Vote on November 5th!
The next general/presidential election is Tuesday, November 5th 2024…do you have a plan to vote? The right to vote is one of the most powerful tools we have as citizens of the United States of America. Creating a plan for voting helps ensure that your voice is heard. By planning ahead, you can be sure […]
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Financial Management of Grants
Grant projects are a great way to explore new approaches and solutions. Also, to collaborate with other organizations to impact system change. Values into Action has worked on many grant projects over the years. We’ve been awarded grants through the PA Developmental Disabilities Council, and NJ Council on Developmental Disabilities. As well as, in partnership […]
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Don’t Forget the Microphone
At a conference a few weeks ago during the Q&A part someone asked how to keep doing this work in challenging times. I spoke of offering the people we work with “a seat at the table.” The presenter next to me added to the statement by saying “A seat…and a microphone.” This distinction is important. […]
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Celebrating International Friendship Day with the True Friendships Project
Did you know there is a day just for celebrating friends? It’s called International Friendship Day! Every year on July 30th, people around the world take time to appreciate their friends and the important role friendship plays in their lives. This day is a great reminder to reach out to your friends and show them […]
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Charting the LifeCourse Showcase 2024: Continuing the Journey!
April 23-25, 2024 Kansas City, Missouri Last year, Rachel Milano-Davis shared the Charting the LifeCourse (CtLC) Framework with us. She introduced how we planned to explore, learn and share CtLC as Values began to chart our path forward. Read the 2023 blog here. In April 2024, members of our Values’ team attended the 8th Annual […]
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I Am Olmstead!
This year, we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Olmstead Decision. I am personally grateful to the United States Supreme Court for the impact this has on my life. About Olmstead The story of the Olmstead case begins with two women, Lois Curtis and Elaine Wilson. They had mental illness and developmental disabilities. They […]
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Improving Incident Management
Incident Management (IM) gets a bad rap because it is often brought up when mistakes and bad things happen. Unfortunately, sometimes that is true. However, sometimes while supporting someone to live an everyday life, incidents do happen and spoiler alert… it’s not always a bad thing! Incident Management seeks to ensure the health and safety […]
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Join the True Friendships Project
Are you someone with a disability who wants to make and keep friends? Well, you’re not alone! Sometimes, it can feel a bit tricky to connect with others and build real friendships. That’s where the True Friendships Project comes in to lend a helping hand. This project is all about making it easier for people […]