News Archive
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.
The Arc of the United States through its National Center on Criminal Justice and Disability, and the Autism Society of America, two of the nation’s largest and oldest grassroots organizations representing people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), mark the national rollout of the 988 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, by […]
The post Disability Advocates Urge for Investment in Launch of 988 Hotline: A Mental Health Crisis Deserves a Mental Health Response appeared first on The Arc.
Jackie McRoy is a home manager for The Arc of Central Alabama. She supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who live in a group home. Jackie is a direct support professional, who cares for her clients like family. “The people I support mean everything to me,” said Jackie, who has supported people with […]
The post Home Manager Jackie McRoy: We Are in A Much Better Place, Thanks to the COVID-19 Vaccine appeared first on The Arc.
Lynsay Frye is a leader across many communities in West Virginia. She holds leadership positions with various groups and councils such as the Disability Council and the Independent Living Council. But it’s her leadership in simply setting the example that is just as impactful. “When the pandemic started, I couldn’t stay with my parents because […]
The post Lynsay Frye: Let’s Not Look Back Now. Get the COVID-19 Vaccine appeared first on The Arc.
For the second year, The Arc of the United States is pleased to receive an award from Verizon to further implement the Building Community Resilience Through Inclusive Disaster Preparedness program. With this funding, The Arc, along with The Arc Muskegon, The H.E.A.R.T. Program, Volunteer NY, and The Arc Nature Coast, will band together to host […]
The post The Arc Receives Second Award from Verizon to Expand Disaster Preparedness Across the U.S. appeared first on The Arc.
Washington, D.C. – As special education students face the continuing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Arc is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a $200,000 grant from Comcast NBCUniversal to connect families of color and families from low-income households with students with disabilities to valuable educational advocacy resources. The grant will also […]
The post The Arc Partners with Comcast NBCUniversal to Increase Access to Culturally Competent Special Education Services for Students of Color with Disabilities appeared first on The Arc.
Throughout the history of the disability rights movement, people with disabilities and their parents have been at the forefront in advocating for national and state services and programs. While siblings of people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD) haven’t garnered as much attention, The Arc recognizes that siblings play a critical role in the lives […]
The post Get to Know The Arc’s Sibling Council appeared first on The Arc.
Dominick Evans is a trans queer crip director/writer, consultant, Twitch streamer, and dad. They have a BFA in Film. Dominick’s work delves into inclusion in media, sex education for Disabled/LGBTQIA youth, marriage equality, institutional bias, and reproductive rights. In 2014, he founded #FilmDis, a Twitter chat about Disability in media. Dominick has spoken around the […]
The post Q&A: Father’s Day With Dominick Evans appeared first on The Arc.
By Rebecca Alson-Milkman For father, brother, and advocate Burt Hudson, Father’s Day is a time for his favorite “self-imposed tradition.” He’ll be cooking for his family: his wife, Kim, and two boys, Jack, who has Down syndrome, and James. “Being a dad, I hit the lottery,” says Burt. “The best thing I can do is thank […]
The post Celebrate Father’s Day With Burt Hudson appeared first on The Arc.
Washington, D.C. – The Arc and the American Constitution Society (ACS) are proud to announce that The Arc’s Senior Director of Legal Advocacy and General Counsel, Shira Wakschlag, is the recipient of the 2022 David Carliner Public Interest Award. This prestigious award honors a mid-career public interest attorney whose work best exemplifies David Carliner’s legacy […]
The post The American Constitution Society Awards 2022 David Carliner Public Interest Award to Shira Wakschlag, The Arc’s Senior Director of Legal Advocacy appeared first on The Arc.
The Arc released the following statement in the aftermath of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. “We are so saddened by the events that occurred yesterday at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. The families, and the community of Uvalde, will forever be impacted by the loss of these young children […]
The post In Solidarity With the Community of Uvalde, Texas appeared first on The Arc.
Prenatal exposures to phthalates are linked to learning and behavioral problems including attention disorders; exposures are higher in children of color. Washington, DC — Leading scientists and health professionals of Project TENDR say FDA’s refusal to ban phthalates from food processing and packaging flies in the face of rapidly accumulating evidence that phthalates do lasting […]
The post Scientists Say FDA’s Refusal to Ban Neurotoxic Chemicals from Food Processing/Packaging Threatens the Nation’s Children with Lasting Harm. appeared first on The Arc.
Washington, D.C. – The Arc released the following statement in reaction to the racially motivated mass shooting at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York. “We are horrified by the racially motivated mass shooting in Buffalo, New York Saturday. We reject hate and no one should be in danger of being murdered because of the […]
The post The Arc Rejects Hate, Honors Lives Lost and Wounded Survivors of Racially Motivated Shooting in Buffalo, New York appeared first on The Arc.
Washington, D.C. – The Arc released the following statement in reaction to the racially motivated mass shooting at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York. “We are horrified by the racially motivated mass shooting in Buffalo, New York Saturday. We reject hate and no one should be in danger of being murdered because of the […]
The post The Arc Rejects Hate, Honors Lives Lost and Wounded Survivors of Racially Motivated Shooting in Buffalo, New York appeared first on The Arc.
This week, The Arc testified before the Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Social Security, in the U.S. House of Representatives on the urgent need to strengthen Social Security—including their customer service—for people with disabilities. Below is a summary of Lilly’s remarks before the committee. You can access her full testimony here. Chairman Larson, Acting […]
The post Testimony: The Crucial Importance of Social Security Benefits for People With Disabilities appeared first on The Arc.
BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – As issues at the intersection of disability and race remain under-recognized due to a lack fluency or awareness, nonprofit agencies AHRC Nassau and The Arc of the United States are responding with a free, online conference on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 to connect attendees of all abilities and backgrounds with research, best practices, […]
The post Intersection of Disability & Race Explored at Free, DEI Virtual Conference: Civil Rights Advocate Kimberlé W. Crenshaw & Disability Activists to Present appeared first on The Arc.
Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate mothers and the mother figures who strengthen and support us in our lives. We want to recognize and honor the fierce mom advocates who have shared their stories and struggles, and the strength to fight for families nationwide. This past year, moms nationwide raised their voices for a […]
The post Thank You, Moms! appeared first on The Arc.
Washington, D.C. – The Arc supports a bipartisan bill introduced in Congress to finally give people with disabilities and older Americans significantly more freedom to earn and save money without risking the loss of vital benefits, their livelihoods, and their ability to support themselves and members of their family. The SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act, […]
The post The Arc Supports Bill to Allow People with Disabilities to Earn and Save More Money appeared first on The Arc.
In honor of National Volunteer Month, The Arc is highlighting the efforts of volunteers with disabilities. While these individuals are serving their neighbors, they are also a living example of the tremendous value they bring to their communities. The staff and clients at AHRC Nassau know the value of a home cooked meal – and […]
The post That’s Amore: Volunteers With Disabilities Address Food Insecurity Through Pasta Kits appeared first on The Arc.
