Dish It Up!

This week we have an entry from Helen Yu who loves to cook and share good food with her friends.

Seredipity's Recipes

Hi everyone, I'm Helen. This is my first recipe for The Arc's BlogTalk with many more to come!
When I first tasted this recipe from my instructor Howard, I asked him, "Can you give this recipe to me please?" After I tried it, I felt like this is my favorite recipe and I really love it. It is also very easy to make and healthy to eat. When it was my birthday, I made this recipe and at the same time Howard left me a message saying 'Happy Birthday' and it was serendipity.

Howard's Recipe
7 1/2 lb. salmon, skin removed (or 4 pre-packaged salmon patties)
1/4 cup plain dry bread crumbs
1 teaspoon dill
1 egg lightly beaten
1 teaspoon reduced fat mayonaisse
2 teaspoons corn starch
1 onion
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
Vegetable oil cooking spray

Mix all ingredients except the cooking spray in a medium size bowl. Form into 4 equal-size patties. Coat a medium nonstick pan with the cooking spray, heat over medium high heat. Cook the salmon patties on both sides until golden brown. Serve. Serendipity!

Dish It Up!

March: Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

More Alike Than Different
That's the title of a book by Lee Bussard, still available on Amazon.com.
Lee was an ardent advocate for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. But he was also a motivational speaker and comedian with cerebral palsy who spoke at conventions and to Fortune 500 companies worldwide.
His goal was to take the "D" out of D-isabled. Labels like "disabled" or "handicapped" emphasize what people with disabilities (note the people first language; not 'disabled people') cannot do, instead of what they can do.
Lee would say that all of us are more alike than different, with the same hopes, dreams and desires for self-determination, dignity and quality of life.
In March, Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, we invite you to join The Arc in celebrating our similarities rather than our differences.

The Vision of The Arc of San Francisco
A community where disability is a distinction without a difference.

Tim Hornbecker, CEO

End the "R-Word" Now

The Arc is just one of thousands of organizations joining the "Spread the Word to End the Word" campaign. Tim Shriver and the Special Olympics have collaborated with The Arc to meet with the White House staff in seeking a public apology from Rahm Emanuel's use of the words "f----- retarded" in a closed door rant against some liberal activists' idea to run ads against conservative Democrats.

Then we have Rush Limbaugh almost 'rushing' to Emanuel's defense, and objecting to Sarah Palin's condemnation of the use of the "r-word" by saying on the air, "Our politically correct society is acting like some giant insult's taken place by calling a bunch of people who are retards, retards." (See story.)

Last year, The Arc sponsored a Rally for Respect in reaction to the use of the r-word in the movie Tropical Thunder. I marched outside the Lowe's Theatre with Ray, one of our clients. He told a news reporter and me how hurtful it was to be called "Retard Ray" in grammar and high school. There are thousands like Ray, and enough is enough. Can we finally put an end to the use of such demeaning, damaging terms, equal to using the n-word?

Please do your part. So far, 55,000 people have pledged to "change the conversation" by logging on to www.r-word.org, the Spread the Word to End the Word campaign. We're hoping to obtain at 100,000 plus signatures. Help us get there and make your pledge today!

Tim Hornbecker, CEO

Create a Job, Get a Tax Break

While Mayor Newsom's State of the City address cited San Francisco's 10% unemployment rate, the city's most vulnerable citizens have taken the toughest hits from our faltering economy.

The unemployment rate for people with developmental disabilities is over 70%--a dire statistic with huge consequences for the clients we serve already living at poverty levels.

For most of our job-seeking clients, even getting an interview has been next to impossible. Business have tightened their belts and fear hiring new employees in such an uncertain economy.

Payroll tax waiver can make a difference

That's why the Mayor's proposal to waive payroll taxes on all new hires for two years makes sense. This waiver would incentivize employers to hire new staff, provide significant savings, and inspire businesses to invest in the human resources needed to expand now. The exemption is also a huge incentive for businesses to relocate to San Francisco.

The Mayor has proposed three different tax proposals to address the budget shortfall: the payroll tax waiver, a $2,000 tax credit for small businesses mandated to provide health coverage, and tax incentives for biotech companies moving to our City.

I think our Supervisors should give serious consideration to all three proposals--especially the tax waiver for new hires.

The true force behind a healthy economy is its workers. People with developmental disabilities who work are more self-sufficient, they're less of a drain on social services, and they funnel more money into the economy through their spending and by paying taxes.

Let your Supervisor know that you want the San Francisco Board to give serious consideration to Mayor Newsom's tax proposals.

Tim Hornbecker, CEO

Call to Prevent Harm to Children

We need your support in calling your representative today to support a bill protecting children with developmental disabilities. HR 4247, S 2860 is the Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act that will establish minimum safety standards in schools.

A disproportionate number of children with autism, cerebral palsy and learning disabilities are victims of these harmful methods used in classrooms.

Call your representative today to ensure their support for this important piece of legislation.

Take Action Here.

Thank you for your support,

Tim

Tim Hornbecker, CEO The Arc of San Francisco

Job Services get a Critical Lift from Wells Fargo

I am pleased to announce that The Arc of San Francisco has been awarded a total of $30,000 from the Wells Fargo Foundation. The funds will be put toward our Employment Services and couldn't come at a better time.
With unemployment at over 10% nationwide, people with developmental disabilities are struggling with a 70% unemployment rate. Our clients have suffered job losses and cutbacks that severely impact their ability to live independently.
Most of our clients are living on the edge of poverty, and a part-time job provides the critical supplemental funds needed to rent a room in a shared house or apartment.
Losing that income is the tipping point that forces a person to either move back in to a restrictive group home, or become homeless.
Our job developers are working doubly hard to find employment for over 150 Arc clients seeking work. We are grateful to the Wells Fargo Foundation for providing the vital resources we need to keep our clients solvent.
--Tim Hornbecker, CEO
(Photo: Joseph Mah and Ron Atwal from the Wells Fargo Foundation with The Arc's Timothy Hornbecker.)