WHAT'S HAPPENING

MTS LOGISTICS AND SPECTRUM WORKS SEEK TO RAISE $80,000 FOR AUTISM AWARENESS

MTS Logistics, a New York-based logistics provider, and Spectrum Works, a national autism awareness non-profit, announced in mid-March that their 11th Annual Bike Tour with MTS for Autism will take place on Saturday, June 12th, 2021.

RIDING HIGH: All proceeds raised from the 11th Annual Bike Tour will be donated to Spectrum Works, a transformative organization that provides job training and employment opportunities to young adults with autism.

This year's event will offer a safe and fun outdoor activity for the shipping, logistics, transportation, and business industries to participate in a great cause. This year, the event seeks to raise $80,000 for autism awareness. All proceeds raised from this year's event will be donated to Spectrum Works, a nonprofit that provides job training and employment to young adults with autism and builds inclusive workforces for companies. Spectrum Works is currently developing a first-of-its-kind technology platform called Spectrum BRIDGE. It will connect companies, schools, caregivers, and individuals with autism to the education, resources, tools, support, and ecosystem needed to increase the employment opportunities for people with autism.

MTS Logistics and Spectrum Works will work together to meet their goal of providing 25,000 jobs to individuals with autism by 2025. The unemployment rate for the autism community is around 80% - nearly 13 times the national average. MTS Logistics will provide 10 Spectrum BRIDGE "Autism in the Workplace" Education sessions to our sponsors and donate the funds to Spectrum Works for these training sessions (a $500 value per company) – a contribution that will directly change peoples' lives.

MTS Logistics President Sedat Saka had this to say regarding this year's Bike Tour event: "The past year has been challenging for all of us. We all watched as the world shut down - and stayed shut - for the better part of a year. Now, with the distribution of vaccines among the population, it's time to begin a return to normal.

Though the cause of autism awareness has been near and dear to MTS Logistics for many years, this year's Bike Tour event has even more significance. After a critical economic downturn during 2020, non-profits need our collective support more than ever before.

Please consider joining us and biking with us for some clean outdoor fun to support autism awareness and Spectrum Works in its mission to bring job training to young adults with autism. In the process, you will be part of a great cause and enjoy a fun safe event."

This year, event participants will be provided a light and healthy brunch, a bike jersey, and a free bike rental. Kids will also be welcome to join their parents for brunch. MTS Logistics will also hold a raffle and give away four free bikes to four lucky supporters. MTS Logistics will offer five types of sponsorships for the event, depending on the amount donated. Platinum, Gold, and Silver-level sponsors will receive a sponsored blog post on its shipping and logistics blog, MoreThanShipping.com, exposing their brand to 100,000+ monthly visitors, and receive a special certificate of recognition from Spectrum Works.

ABOUT MTS LOGISTICS AND SPECTRUM WORKS

Based in New York, MTS Logistics was founded in 2000 and offers a full range of logistical services to an large roster of clients all over the world. The goal of MTS Logistics is to deliver the very best logistical solutions to customers, enabling them to manage their supply chains with a high degree of efficiency and quality. Visit mts-logistics.com Spectrum Works was founded in 2011 after lfounder Ann Marie Sullivan learned that 80% of individuals with autism were unemployed but many had the desire to work. The initial idea was to start financially self-sustaining social enterprises to train and employ individuals with autism, the first one was focused on screen printing. Visit spectrumworks.org

PASSAGE OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN MARKS VICTORY FOR DISABILITY COMMUNITY

One year after the COVID-19 pandemic began, Congress has passed, and President Biden has signed into law, a critical pandemic relief package with funding that will specifically benefit people with disabilities and help our communities survive.

A BIG DEAL: Vice President Kamala Harris observes President Joe Biden signing the American Rescue Plan on March 11, 2021.

The American Rescue Plan includes nearly $13 billion in funding for home and community-based services (HCBS), as well as other critical funding and provisions that our communities have desperately needed. This funding will make it possible for more people with disabilities to live independently in their homes and receive needed support in community, rather than institutions that have become even more deadly during the pandemic. The American Rescue Plan also includes adult dependents in COVID relief stimulus payments, which will ensure that people with disabilities are not excluded from this critical financial relief. Additionally, this COVID-19 relief bill includes many other provisions that will support all Americans, including people with disabilities, surviving the rest of the pandemic.

The American Rescue Plan includes extensions of tax credits and public assistance increases that are critical to enable Americans to weather this economic and health crisis, and so much more. At a time when access to affordable healthcare could not be more important, the new law also bolsters the Affordable Care Act and improves affordability of the healthcare marketplace through expanding and extending available subsidies.

The American Rescue Plan also includes $4 billion in funding for programs that provide mental health services and supports, including greater support for mobile crisis units and for children's mental health programs. Importantly, the plan provides $3 billion for programs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

These victories for the disability community in the American Rescue Plan have been hard won through the tireless advocacy of people with disabilities, disability organizations, and our allies in the broader civil rights community and in Congress itself. We join in this moment of celebration, and we are ready for the advocacy ahead of us to maintain and extend this necessary increase in funding for HCBS beyond this one year of increased funding, end the institutional bias, end subminimum wage, and ensure that people with disabilities are included and prioritized in our country's recovery from this pandemic.

The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is a convener, connector, and catalyst for change, increasing the political and economic power of people with disabilities. As a national cross-disability rights organization, AAPD advocates for full civil rights for the over 56 million Americans with disabilities by promoting equal opportunity, economic power, independent living, and political participation. To learn more, visit the AAPD at aapd.com

HUMBLEMAKER COFFEE CO. AND TACA PARTNER FOR AUTISM ACTION MONTH

Wellness-focused coffee brand, Humblemaker Coffee Co., announced in March that they are partnering with The Autism Community in Action (TACA) to create a custom coffee in honor of Autism Action Month this April.

SOMETHING BREWING: The TACA Blend melange roast has notes of dark chocolate, creamy caramel, and fresh vanilla bean.

The roasted-to-order TACA Blend will be sold in both in their Seal Beach cafe and online beginning April 1, and all proceeds will be donated to TACA. The price for a 12 oz. bag will be $18. The handcrafted, mélange roast is available as whole bean or ground coffee – perfect for drip or pour-over brewing. Humblemaker and TACA are on a mission to enrich the lives of children and families living with autism, have made strides to help the autism community.

TACA is a national organization that provides services and support to bring families together and engage in social-educational activities that positively impact the long-term health, well-being, and quality of life for children with autism. This is done through a series of relevant and targeted educational, social, legal and financial assistance programs. Leveraging their coffee brand to have a positive impact on society, Humblemaker established a 501c3 non-profit, Ten for Autism, which encourages for-profit businesses to donate up to 10% of their annual net profits to enable children with autism the opportunity to experience surfing, music, and the great outdoors. Funds raised are distributed to a network of autism-based nonprofits and therapy-based Humblemaker-sponsored events, which give children the opportunity to discover the ocean & nature, enjoy music, and interact with peers to foster positive role modeling, self-confidence and leadership skills.

"With an everlasting vision to utilize our brand to have a positive impact on the world, and especially on the autism community, we wanted to do something meaningful for Autism Awareness Month. As we were brainstorming organizations to partner with, we couldn't think of anyone who fit the bill more seamlessly than TACA," said Humblemaker's Cofounder, Bryan Marseilles. "We love that TACA is Orange County based and provides a beautiful community for children and families with autism across the nation. I've heard nothing but great things and couldn't be more thrilled to be working with and donating proceeds of our new SKU to such an incredible organization." "We see this as the first of many exciting partnerships with Humblemaker that will help TACA to provide free programs and services to even more families living with autism," said TACA Cofounder, Lisa Ackerman.

Humblemaker is a wellness-focused craft coffee company, based in Seal Beach, CA and co-founded by long-time friends Bryan Marseilles and Chris Smith. Marseilles and Smith started Humblemaker, which donates 10% of annual profits to their program, #TenForAutism to enable children with autism to experience surfing, music, and the great outdoors. To learn more about this initiative, visit TenForAutism.org

The Autism Community in Action is a national nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2000 with the mission to provide education, support and hope to families living with autism. Headquartered in Irvine, CA with staff and volunteers working across the country, TACA offers: Coffee Talks – free educational meetings, webinars, parent mentor program, an online Hope and Help support group, an annual National Autism Conference and a free Autism Journey Guide given to newly diagnosed families. For more information visit tacanow.org

SPECIAL OLYMPICS LAUNCHES COVID VACCINE EDUCATION MATERIALS FOR PEOPLE WITH ID

Special Olympics is the biggest untold secret in healthcare. For over 20 years, the organization has been getting people with intellectual disabilities healthy and lowering their risk of deadly and costly conditions like cardiovascular disease, stroke, and cancer.

A s the leader in health for people with intellectual disabilities, Special Olympics is driving the global direction of health policies for people with disabilities through its life-changing health programming.

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic began, people with intellectual disabilities were facing enormous disparities in health care systems. Inequity, injustice, and inconsistent policies led to glaring gaps in health care, social exclu gaps in health care, social exclusion, and isolation in the community and at home. People with intellectual disabilities already die 16-20 years earlier than the general population due to preventable illness. These disparities are horrifying enough, and the pandemic has only deepened the divide. Across the board, people with intellectual disabilities are disproportionally affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in healthcare.

A new study from Jefferson Health examined how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected people with intellectual disabilities, which makes up 1-3% of the U.S. population. The study, published earlier this month in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) Catalyst ( catalyst.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/CAT.21.0051), found that intellectual disability was second only to older age as a risk factor for dying from COVID-19, and that people with intellectual disabilities are almost six times more likely to die from COVID than the general population. Inclusive health is needed now more than ever. Special Olympics is working with existing professional guidance, passionate Special Olympics athletes, and supporters, as well as its existing health-focused framework to educate and empower entire communities.

In March, Special Olympics launched an education and advocacy toolkit of COVID-19 vaccine and prevention resources designed to inform the Special Olympics community about the COVID-19 vaccine. Special Olympics athletes, coaches, caregivers and the entire healthcare community can benefit from these easily accessible and informative tools to better understand the COVID-19 vaccines and tips on continuing to practice prevention to keep safe from the virus. All materials are based on guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization.

"I just got my vaccine today. I can't wait to get back to playing my sports again. Sleeve up, got my shot, get your shot. Let's get back into the game! Let's go!" shares Babcock, Special Olympics New York athlete, in one of the #inclusivehealth athlete videos. Additionally, caregivers and community members can access printable resources directly from the website. Families can download advocacy resources that can be customized and shared locally to ensure people with intellectual disabilities are included in all aspects of COVID-19 prevention, education, and treatment efforts. People with intellectual disabilities can learn more about the vaccine's safety and what to expect, separating facts from myths with an easy-to-follow myth busting graphic. Examples of these materials include:

• printable posters • frequently asked questions • athlete videos sharing their personal experiences getting the COVID-19 vaccine • social media graphics to promote understanding of the COVID19 vaccine and bring awareness to the latest data.

All education materials can be found online at specialolympics.org/our-work/covid-19-vaccine-information-and-resources. Special Olympics encourages you to access these free resources and share them widely in your community. •