News Archive
Navigating these complex and extreme benefit tests will be particularly difficult for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2811, The Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023, which includes radical new work requirements for Medicaid enrollees in exchange for lifting the debt ceiling. This Medicaid benefit test will […]
The post Medicaid Work Requirement in Debt Ceiling Bill Puts People With Disabilities at Grave Risk appeared first on The Arc.
Washington, DC & Philadelphia, PA, April 11, 2023 – Comcast today announced that it is expanding its partnership with The Arc of the United States to foster digital and advocacy skills in people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families. The expansion comes in the form of Comcast providing two new grants to […]
The post Comcast & The Arc Partner To Expand Tech Training and Special Education Advocacy for People With Disabilities appeared first on The Arc.
By: The Arc’s Talk About Sexual Violence Project and The Rainbow Program How bias and discrimination impact survivors with developmental disabilities within the LGBTQIA+ community Survivors of sexual violence with developmental disabilities (DD) within the LGBTQIA+ community often experience bias and discrimination which impacts their access to services: There is a lack of sexuality education […]
The post Survivors of Sexual Violence with Developmental Disabilities in LGBTQ and Transgender Communities Speak Out appeared first on The Arc.
Right now, Congress must decide what to do about the debt ceiling. Congress’ decisions could have a BIG impact on people with disabilities and their families. What is the debt ceiling? The federal government regularly borrows money to pay for things. The debt ceiling is the largest amount of money the federal government can borrow […]
The post Why the Debt Ceiling Matters to People With Disabilities appeared first on The Arc.
WASHINGTON, DC, April 4, 2023 – The Arc is thrilled to announce that a grant from The Coca-Cola Foundation will help us empower families and students navigating the special education process, which continues to be a source of confusion and frustration for countless families across the country. Too often, students and their caregivers do not […]
The post The Arc and The Coca-Cola Foundation Renew Shared Commitment to Education Equity and Self-Determination appeared first on The Arc.
For nearly 75 years, The Arc has been on the frontlines of the disability advocacy movement, fighting for the issues that matter most to people with disabilities and their families. The Arc is a grassroots organization with nearly 600 state and local chapters, all pushing for the full inclusion of people with disabilities on the […]
The post Change Your World: Kick-Start Your Disability Advocacy With The Arc appeared first on The Arc.
The Arc is thrilled to announce it has once again received funding from AmeriCorps, an organization that has worked for decades to make service to others an indispensable part of the American experience. With this grant, The Arc will continue to build both of its inclusive volunteering national initiatives: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of […]
The post The Arc Continues To Build Its National Inclusive Volunteering Programs appeared first on The Arc.
Today, twelve national organizations which filed an amicus brief in Perez v. Sturgis Public Schools offered congratulatory and supporting statements in light of the unanimous 9-0 decision of the U.S. Supreme Court (the Court) in support of plaintiff Miguel Perez. As recommended by disability advocates, the Court’s decision reverses the decision of the Court of […]
The post National Disability Rights Groups Applaud SCOTUS Decision in Perez v. Sturgis appeared first on The Arc.
People with disabilities and older adults want to live in their own homes and communities, and they deserve that right just like everyone else. Today, Sens. Bob Casey (D-PA), Chair of the Senate Aging Committee, Tim Kaine (D-VA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) along with Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) introduced a critical bill […]
The post New Bill Would Advance Equity & Independence for Millions of Americans With Disabilities appeared first on The Arc.
With heavy hearts, and along with the entire disability community, we mourn the loss of Judy Heumann. Judy was the trailblazer of the disability rights movement. Her contributions as an activist, spokesperson, and federal official on the national and international stages created huge changes for people with all kinds of disabilities, impacting so many aspects […]
The post The Arc Mourns the Loss of Disability Rights Icon Judy Heumann appeared first on The Arc.
By Tyson from North Carolina Married people with disabilities often experience penalties that force the couple to give up necessary benefits. Congress must address marriage penalties so everyone has the chance to marry without endangering the key supports they need to live in the community. Tyson is one of the many people with disabilities who […]
The post For Tyson, Marriage Changed Everything – Including His SSI appeared first on The Arc.
The Arc’s Board of Directors has named Ruben Rodriguez, the organization’s Chief Operating Officer, as Acting CEO while it undertakes a national search for new leadership. Rodriguez joined The Arc in 2019, with nearly four decades of experience in operations and finance. He has an undergraduate degree in Accounting from Pace University, an MBA in […]
The post The Arc Announces Acting CEO Named Amidst Leadership Transition appeared first on The Arc.
WASHINGTON, DC – Neli Latson’s story of unjust prosecution and abuse in the criminal legal system was heard at the White House today, bringing attention to the need for better treatment of people with disabilities in interactions with law enforcement. Latson was invited to speak with high level government officials during a Black History Month […]
The post Disability Justice Advocate Neli Latson Joins White House Black History Month Event appeared first on The Arc.
WASHINGTON, DC -The Arc has elected a slate of new and returning members of the Board of Directors to lead its work for the next two years. This distinguished group includes professionals in the intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) field and affiliated services, people with IDD, family members, and leaders in the corporate and legal […]
The post The Arc Announces New Leaders and Members of National Board of Directors appeared first on The Arc.
Isaac has autism and mental health disabilities. Isaac sometimes gets very focused on certain things and struggles to adjust or focus on other things. To help him in school, his parents made a 504 plan for him so that teachers and other staff at the school would know how to support and redirect him safely. […]
The post School Should Be a Safe Place for Students, but Isaac Was Assaulted appeared first on The Arc.
Ellen Feldman has a passion for increasing research in the intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) field and continuing her ongoing advocacy in that arena. She currently serves as the Central Region Vice President for The Arc New York, and as a member of the Board of Governors and Executive Committee. So, what inspires Ellen to […]
The post A Genetics Journey To Support What’s Possible in Life appeared first on The Arc.
As COVID-19 rapidly spread across the U.S. in March 2020, Congress declared a public health emergency and passed legislation that gave states more money for Medicaid if they met certain requirements. One of the main requirements was that people would be able to keep their Medicaid health care during the COVID-19 public health emergency. As […]
The post Get Ready for Medicaid Renewals in 2023 appeared first on The Arc.
WASHINGTON, DC – As the public learns more about the killing of Tyre Nichols, The Arc stands in solidarity with his family and friends. “Yet again, the nation watches another video exposing police violence against a Black man after a traffic stop. We are horrified to witness the brutalization of an unarmed man. Tyre had […]
The post Statement on the Killing of Tyre Nichols appeared first on The Arc.
Today, Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced a landmark piece of legislation to invest in the country’s care economy and make important improvements to Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS). The care workforce is a vital part of community living and inclusion for people with disabilities—and yet the system that supports it continues to be underfunded […]
The post A Recommitment to Care with the Introduction of the Better Care Better Jobs Act appeared first on The Arc.
The Arc’s Board of Directors announces today that its Chief Executive Officer, Peter Berns, will be leaving the organization upon expiration of his contract in February. Since 2008, Peter has been at the helm of The Arc, the world’s largest community-based organization of and for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families. […]
The post The Arc Announces Departure of Longtime CEO and Leadership Transition appeared first on The Arc.
Finding love is something many of us hope for, including people with disabilities. Lauren and Scott met while they were participating in programming at Favarh (The Arc of Farmington Valley). At first, they forged a strong friendship, but as the years went on, their relationship eventually blossomed into love. Now married and living together independently, […]
The post From Friendship to Lifelong Love: Scott and Lauren’s Journey appeared first on The Arc.
Medicaid is the nation’s primary health insurance program for people with disabilities, but it is so much more than health care. For individuals with disabilities and their families, Medicaid also funds vital supports to keep them in their communities. People with disabilities who are eligible for Medicaid often live in or near poverty. They rely […]
The post Using Medicaid Is Complicated: That Hurts People With Disabilities appeared first on The Arc.
Carlos is 32 years old, lives in Maryland, and has cerebral palsy. His life has been filled with obstacles, but despite all that he has faced, he’s remained determined to achieve his dreams. Carlos was born in Ecuador, where the landscape of disability services was far scarcer, and discrimination far worse. They did not have […]
The post Despite Obstacles, Carlos Is Determined To Pursue His Dreams appeared first on The Arc.
As Congress wrapped its work for the year, disability advocates pushed for progress on a variety of priorities. Congress has now passed a package that includes some important victories but leaves others out. One of the biggest wins is an extension of the Money Follows the Person program, which helps people transition out of institutions […]
The post Congress’s End of Year Legislation Includes Disability Priorities, and Leaves Unfinished Business appeared first on The Arc.
For people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), digital access and skills are a critical component of gaining independence. In 2022, The Arc and Comcast NBCUniversal once again teamed up to open digital doors for and with people with IDD. The Arc and Comcast have a long-standing partnership to do this work. The Arc’s national […]
The post Powerful Partnership Leads to Change: Comcast NBCUniversal and The Arc Continue to Make a Difference Through Digital Skills Training appeared first on The Arc.
By Zoe in Colorado I was born with spinal muscular atrophy, a developmental neuromuscular disease that affects every muscle in my body. My entire life, I’ve relied on someone else to do even the most basic care for me. At some point in my childhood, I was placed on a Medicaid waiver in Colorado. It […]
The post Lack of Medicaid Portability Restricts Life Choices for Zoe and Other Americans With Disabilities appeared first on The Arc.
As we grieve yet another mass shooting tragedy in the U.S., thoughts and prayers are not enough. We are heartbroken by the continued harassment, hateful legislation, and exclusion of LGBTQ+ individuals that led to the shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs, Colorado on Sunday. Enough is enough. Everyone deserves the same respect, opportunities, and […]
The post Enough Is Enough. Our Statement on the Club Q Tragedy. appeared first on The Arc.
This week, The Arc of the United States joined eleven national disability rights organizations in filing an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court. The amici are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to protect students with disabilities and ensure that families of these students are able to pursue the full range of civil rights remedies […]
The post National Disability Rights Groups File Amicus in Perez v. Sturgis appeared first on The Arc.
This year we are facing a triple threat for flu season: the flu, Covid-19, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV). RSV is a viral respiratory infection that usually causes cold-like symptoms. Hospitals are currently seeing an alarming increase in pediatric cases of RSV and some are becoming overwhelmed by the surge. According to research published […]
The post It’s Flu Season: Are You Ready? appeared first on The Arc.
The Arc of the United States has hired its first-ever Senior Executive Officer of Development: Karim Merchant. Karim will lead a team to develop, implement, and manage fundraising strategies that support The Arc’s longstanding commitment to advocate for and serve people with IDD. He will create and implement a comprehensive growth strategy and fundraising plan […]
The post The Arc of the US Hires Its First Senior Executive Officer of Development appeared first on The Arc.
What do you want people to know about Down syndrome? I want people to know that just because I have Down syndrome doesn’t mean I can’t live a fun and exciting life. I have a great life because of my Down syndrome. I want people to know that people like me with Down syndrome are […]
The post Meet Kevin: “Yes, I can do it!” appeared first on The Arc.
It’s almost time to cast your vote in the midterm election. Are you ready? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 4 adults have a disability. Any cohort of this magnitude carries significant political power, especially during a midterm election year such as 2022. People with disabilities and their family members […]
The post You Have the Power: Go Vote! appeared first on The Arc.
The Arc is on a journey to become a more diverse organization and movement that is fully accessible, equitable, and inclusive. Since embarking on this journey, we have made vital steps, committing to improving our staff’s racial and ethnic diversity, strengthening outreach to diverse communities, creating a dynamic Access, Equity, and Inclusion (AEI) Team, and […]
The post Blazing a Path Forward: The Arc’s New Access, Equity, and Inclusion Plan appeared first on The Arc.
By Nathaniel Lentz Throughout my life there was one phrase that was engrained in my brain: expect the best from myself. I always believed if there was something I really wanted to do, that I should not let my disabilities stop me. No matter how challenging or difficult something might be, I would work my […]
The post Expecting the Best From Me appeared first on The Arc.
WASHINGTON, DC – Six leading disability advocacy organizations, with the support of Kellogg Hansen, have filed a “friend-of-the-court” brief in the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the estate of Gorgi Talevski, who alleges that the Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County, Indiana (HHC) abused and neglected him while in a nursing home. The […]
The post Amicus Brief Filed in U.S. Supreme Court Case Emphasizes Harms to People with Disabilities appeared first on The Arc.
Lauren has a bright future. She graduated from her Indiana high school at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but she didn’t let that stop her from advancing her education. Currently, she is working towards an associate degree in animal science, her long-time passion. With only one class remaining, she is set to get her […]
The post For Lauren, Increasing the SSI Asset Limit Makes Her Dreams More Achievable appeared first on The Arc.
Washington, DC – Medical and disability leaders have worked for years to ban the use of electric shock devices for behavior modification on people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The brutal treatment is widely recognized as cruel, harmful, and ineffective. Yet the Judge Rotenberg Center (JRC), an institution in Massachusetts for people with IDD, […]
The post Congress Fails to Block Use of Shock on Residents with Disabilities at Judge Rotenberg Center appeared first on The Arc.
By Poet and Speaker Russell Lehmann I grew up in the Seattle area. I wasn’t diagnosed [with autism] until I was 12, even though I struggled from the day I came out of my mother’s womb, because we couldn’t find a competent doctor. I was struggling with severe OCD and panic attacks that consumed my […]
The post I Turn My Suffering Into Art To Tell Others How Far I’ve Come, so They Know They Can Do It Too appeared first on The Arc.
My name is Yusuf and I’m 10 years old. I am in 5th grade. I like to play hockey, write blogs, and make videos for fun. I am hoping to create a YouTube channel soon. I like school so far and one of my favorite subjects is math. Something I am proud of is playing […]
The post Meet Yusuf, A 10-Year-Old With Autism and Big Dreams! appeared first on The Arc.
“We’ve spent most of her life waiting for the help we need, for the wellbeing of our family.” Soojung teaches middle school math and has three wonderful children. Her middle child, Alice, has Rett Syndrome, and has severe seizures, scoliosis, and uses a G-tube for nutrition, fluids, and medications. Alice has had many major and […]
The post Alice and Soojung’s Story appeared first on The Arc.
By Evelyn Baron, written in 1991 In 1964, at age 40, I was happily married for 17 years and the mother of three children—a daughter, 14, and sons, seven and 10. With all three children in school, I decided to enter college to fulfill a lifelong dream. Shortly after I started, I found out I […]
The post When Bruce Entered My Life appeared first on The Arc.
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Biden Administration proposed a new rule finally updating the eligibility and enrollment processes for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This is welcome news to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families, who navigate a complicated bureaucracy to access the health and community-based services they […]
The post The Arc Applauds New Effort to Reduce Red Tape in Medicaid and Other Federal Health Programs appeared first on The Arc.
“Nothing about us without us” is a theme of the disability community, reminding the world that people with disabilities expect and deserve autonomy over their lives. This includes actively participating in the organizational structures that advocate for and with people with disabilities. With this guiding principle in mind, The Arc established its National Council of […]
The post Guiding The Arc Through Lived Experience With Disability appeared first on The Arc.
Washington, DC— With the current moratorium on student loan payments set to expire at the end of this month, the Department of Education and the White House have announced a new plan to tackle student loan debt for millions of borrowers across the country. These new changes will help millions of people with disabilities, if […]
The post The Arc Applauds Federal Student Loan Debt Relief Plan appeared first on The Arc.
WASHINGTON, DC – Following the U.S. Senate’s vote today on the Inflation Reduction Act, people with disabilities, their support staff, and families will continue to fight for desperately needed resources for the home and community-based services system that has been strained to the breaking point throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout the budget reconciliation process, The […]
The post Senate Leaves Out of Reconciliation Bill a Badly Needed Investment in Disability Services appeared first on The Arc.
“I would love to see the day where everybody can stand on the mountain top and say ‘this is who I am and I am proud of it.’” – Shannon Mattox, State Director of The Arc Georgia Limbric Mattox is brilliantly unique. That’s how his mother proudly describes him. “He’s unique in his own ways,” […]
The post Everyone’s Uniqueness Should Shine appeared first on The Arc.
When you are young, recess signals a break from the drudge of work. It is a welcome chance at a bit of freedom to play and escape the school day. But when you are a member of Congress, recess takes on an entirely different meaning – one that is important for disability advocates to know. […]
The post All About Congressional August Recess appeared first on The Arc.
For the past 32 years, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has protected the civil rights of people with disabilities. Recently, we spoke with Steve Ferreira, who shared how the ADA has impacted his life and how he hopes to ensure that the promise of the ADA is being kept in his community! Steve was […]
The post Why the ADA Matters to Me: A Conversation With Steve Ferreira appeared first on The Arc.
Washington, DC – A federal court has struck down provisions of Texas’ election law, S.B. 1, that illegally restrict necessary assistance to limited English-speaking voters and voters with disabilities. Last week, Texas officials declined to appeal this ruling. This means that these provisions of S.B. 1 are now permanently enjoined and cannot be enforced. The […]
The post Federal Court Strikes Down Texas’ Election Law Provisions Restricting Assistance for Limited English-Speaking and Disabled Voters appeared first on The Arc.
When The Arc’s Alumni Council was formed in 2017, it was envisioned as a gathering place for former employees and board members of The Arc’s national office, as well as local and state chapters. Nancy Webster is the founder and current chair of the council. She is also the former Board President of The Arc […]
The post Meet The Arc’s Alumni Council appeared first on The Arc.
