See ME. See My Ability

The Queen and Terry of the Arc Southern....

Welcome to our first podcast of December, 2025. It's been a hard year and financially for Arcs around Maryland. Thank goodness for some good news and positive developments for the Arc Southern Maryland and it's longtime support staff and the people we serve.  Listen as one of our friends Malek Stover stands up and speaks in front of the whole podcasting class, and our our executive director, Terry Long, explains how our Arc is  growing and taking on new turf.

Thankful and Happy

It's been a rough fall for intellectual and developmental disabilities caregivers and support organizations. But we are so thankful to be doing the jobs we are doing and for the people we serve. Laughing with your friends is the best medicine.
#thankful #thanksgiving #Washington #Commanders #laughterguru #arcsouthernmaryland #dba #arcsouthernchesapeake #boyfriendgirlfriend
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It's Not Too Soon To Give For Giving Tuesday!

Host Rita Rich is joined by Jane Bachman of Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center of Solomons Island to talk about the importance of this year's giving day, Tuesday, December 2nd.  There are over 800 nonprofit organizations throughout Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's Counties, and now, more than ever, they are stepping up to help us during the Federal Government Shutdown.  Our Arc is serving people regardless of our access to funds, thanks to you. Please consider donating dollars to us via our website. We can use help with our dental fund and to fund unforeseen needs that pop up at these stressful times.
Please consider joining our nonprofit friends associated with Leadership Southern Maryland and check out their website to find out how you can participate in the one day virtual fundraiser they are organizing for Giving Tuesday. You have a deadline of November 15th to sign up!
Do you like the jazz we sampled in this podcast? There's much more where that came from. Rita Rich has produced this podcast with the permission of Ron Davis, the composer and pianist, who is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
 
 
 
 

Chesapeake Charities' Michelle Sullivan

Our guest has experience as both a client and a leader of community charitable organizations. She's used her passion for service to earn a law degree and consult with numerous non-profit organizations throughout Maryland, DC, and Virginia.
Meet Michelle Sullivan, the Southern Maryland liaison for the Chesapeake Charities Community Foundation. This foundation supports organizations that, in turn, support our communities and help keep our non-profit running.
 
 

Southern Marylanders Should Participate in the SPARK Community

"See Me See My Ability" gets the lowdown on what Spark is from the leading expert on Autism and Autism Services in our state, the Kennedy Krieger Institute, and its Dr. Erika Wodka. Listen as we discuss what you've been reading about all over social media sites like Facebook and LinkedIn. Find out if the online community and aspects of research would be a good fit for you and your family, and get to know native Marylander Dr. Erika Wodka.
 
 

Gene Nice and the Calvert County Fair

The Arc Southern Maryland's Gene Nice is a Blue Ribbon champion numerous times at the Calvert County Fair. He encourages others who bake, create art, raise animals, and make things to enter their stuff in the fair because they just might get a ribbon!
Gene Nice really is nice! He's an example of why those with disabilities need to be seen and heard.
 

Happy Arc Southern Maryland Anniversary Joyce Allen!

Joyce Allen, a native of southern Maryland, has been with the Arc Southern Maryland for a combined 30 years. Joyce says her mother told her to come back to the Arc after she left after her first five years. Joyce tells podcast host Rita Rich why she is so devoted to her people at the Arc.
This is the first episode of Season Three of the See Me, See My Ability Podcast. 

Meet Mary Atkins-Our Long Time Staff Trainer

Mary's celebrating over 35 years of working at the Arc Southern Maryland. It's more than a job for Mary. Mary says she doesn't have a job. She has a mission. It's not just about the paycheck.  She shares with host Rita Rich her reasons for joining the team and working to improve how others learn to do their jobs.
https://arcsomd.org/its-not-just-a-paycheck/
 
 
 

Getting Ready for the New School Year

Schools out for Summer and teachers and students are worried about forgetting everything they learned last semester. We get some tips from Dr. Emma Cole, Pediatric Neuropsychologist at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. One of the take-aways from host Rita Rich's conversation: Reading is fundemental.
 
 

Area Arcs Demonstrate Against Cuts to Medicaid

Maryland and Virginia Arcs spoke this past Thursday at the 60-Hour Vigil to Save Medicaid near the Capitol Building on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The consensus: It's not too late to save those (now cut)  federal funds that support state and local Medicaid programs. And, all should fight to do so as the effects of the cuts are detrimental to able-bodied persons as well as those in the IDD community.
Host Rita Rich also spoke with Ande Kolp, the executive director of the Arc Maryland; Gray Persons, the President of the Board of Directors of the Arc Virginia. Grey Persons,  who is an advocate for a foundation that provides in home support for adults with IDD who live independently: Hope House; and Greg Snyder, Vice President of Government Relations at Maryland Association of Community Services.
 
#SaveMedicaid #MedicaidVigil #ArcMaryland #TheArcofVA