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By DONALD MOTTERN | Staff Writer

PELHAM – The Arc of Shelby County has announced that it will hold a lunch and learn workshop next month that will be focused on how to access public benefits.

The educational event will take place at the Arc of Shelby County’s Pelham office located at 203 Amphitheater Road on Wednesday, July 24, and will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Mary Jane Dasher from the Alabama Dept of Mental Health’s Division of Developmental Disabilities will deliver a presentation entitled, “How to Apply for Benefits,” that covers the multiple processes related to applying for various public benefits and programs.

Highlights of the presentation will include an overall description of the benefit resources available to citizens in Alabama, understanding what each resource is intended for and how to apply for a Medicaid Waiver.

Following the presentation, Dasher will also sit for a question and answer session where she will answer individual questions from attendees and event organizers.

Lunch for the event is sponsored and will be provided by Chick-fil-A, Pelham.

Founded in 1974, the Arc of Shelby County empowers individuals with developmental disabilities and their families to achieve their goals by providing advocacy, coaching and support. The organization also has direct contact with more than 1,500 children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families each year in the delivery and support of these efforts.

“The Arc is in its 50th year of service in Shelby County,” said Alan Beck, outreach and engagement specialist with the Arc of Shelby County. “We exist to provide services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”

Educational events such as this allow the organization to provide helpful information to the broad community as a whole. All individuals and caregivers who are interested in applying for benefits are welcome to attend, but registration is required.

Those planning to attend the event will need to register prior to July 20 and can do so by emailing Beck at alan.beck@thearcofshelby.org or by calling at 205-664-9313.