News Archive
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.
Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, in Cummings v. Premier Rehab Keller, P.L.L.C., the U.S. Supreme Court held that damages for emotional distress are not recoverable in lawsuits alleging violations of two federal civil rights statutes covering people with disabilities—Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) and the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This decision […]
The post The Arc Reacts to Supreme Court Ruling Weakening Remedies Available to People with Disabilities Experiencing Discrimination appeared first on The Arc.
Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, in Cummings v. Premier Rehab Keller, P.L.L.C., the U.S. Supreme Court held that damages for emotional distress are not recoverable in lawsuits alleging violations of two federal civil rights statutes covering people with disabilities—Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) and the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This decision […]
The post The Arc Reacts to Supreme Court Ruling Weakening Remedies Available to People with Disabilities Experiencing Discrimination appeared first on The Arc.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Arc is pleased that President Biden signed an executive order this week to strengthen the Affordable Care Act (ACA), a lifeline for people with disabilities. The changes could make health insurance more affordable to millions of Americans with disabilities and low-income Americans. President Biden, joined by former President Obama, announced that […]
The post Proposed Changes to Affordable Care Act and Executive Order Would Open Up Coverage to Millions of Families appeared first on The Arc.
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, disability rights advocates rallied in front of the U.S. Capitol to send an important message: disability rights are human rights, and those rights include the right to live in the community, work, and have relationships. A recording of the rally can be viewed here. People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), […]
The post Care in Crisis: Disability Rights Advocates Rally at U.S. Capitol to Demand Care Investment appeared first on The Arc.
For decades, people with disabilities have expressed their undeniable preference to live among family and friends in their own community. Just ask Kayte: “I [want to] tell Congress how much I want to live out in the community one day and how I need HCBS (home and community-based services) to do so.” HCBS support people […]
The post Making it Personal: Continuing the Fight for Home and Community-Based Services appeared first on The Arc.
Washington, D.C. – The Arc is closely watching the horror unfold in Ukraine and thinking of the millions of adults and children with disabilities who are in harm’s way. It’s estimated that 2.7 million people with disabilities live in Ukraine, including thousands living in institutions. According to news reports, a care facility for people with […]
The post The Arc Unifies with People with Disabilities in Ukraine appeared first on The Arc.
On February 25, President Biden nominated Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson for Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court to fill the upcoming vacancy due to the retirement of Justice Stephen Breyer. This is the first-ever nomination of a Black woman to the Supreme Court as well as the first-ever former public defender. Judge Jackson […]
The post A Review of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Disability and Civil Rights Record appeared first on The Arc.
WASHINGTON – Students with disabilities and their families are experiencing yet another disrupted school year, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to confront educators and families and creates new challenges in almost every aspect of education. The pandemic underscores the long history of disparities in education for students with disabilities and their families and the need […]
The post The Arc Announces Grant from The Coca-Cola Foundation to Support the Dissemination of Special Education Resources to Ensure Equality for All Families appeared first on The Arc.
Washington, DC – The Arc is disappointed by the decision by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday to revise masking guidelines for the United States. The new set of criteria deprioritizes the importance of case counts, resulting in approximately 70% of United States counties shifting status overnight. This does not mean […]
The post The Arc Responds to New CDC Mask Guidance appeared first on The Arc.
Food insecurity is a significant problem across the United States and has been magnified by the COVID-19 pandemic. While food banks typically provide for more than 37 million Americans each year, in 2020 this number skyrocketed to more than 60 million. Against this backdrop and for the sixth year in a row, The Arc teamed […]
The post Combating Hunger through Inclusive Volunteering for MLK Day 2022 appeared first on The Arc.
By Whitney Bunts & Carlean Ponder At the end of December 2021, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released guidance on the structure and implementation process for community-based mobile crisis intervention services, which respond to mental health crises. The guidance is an excellent rubric for states to follow when beginning to implement safe, accessible, […]
The post Federal Support Can Seed Big Improvements in Mobile Response appeared first on The Arc.
Testifying Before Congress on Bridging Health Equity Gaps for People with Disabilities and Chronic Conditions Today, as we approach year three of the COVID-19 crisis, The Arc testified before the Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Health, in the U.S. House of Representatives. Bethany Lilly, The Arc’s Senior Director of Income Policy, represented people […]
The post The Arc Speaking Truth in Washington appeared first on The Arc.
DES MOINES, Iowa — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit today ruled that the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act require schools to impose universal masking rules where necessary to ensure students with disabilities have access to public school education. The decision comes in a case brought by the American […]
The post Federal Appeals Court Decision Ensures Iowa Schools Can Require Masking to Protect Students with Disabilities appeared first on The Arc.
Washington, D.C. – Following a meeting between leaders from disability rights organizations and CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, advocates released the following statement: The dialogue with the CDC Director was long overdue. We should have never gotten to the point where the head of our nation’s leading public health agency finds it encouraging that a disproportionate […]
The post Following Meeting with Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Disability Rights Advocates Release Statement and Readout appeared first on The Arc.
Washington, D.C. – On Friday, January 7, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, in an interview with Good Morning America, commented on the results of a research study. Director Walensky remarked that a disproportionate number of deaths due to COVID-19 in the study population occurred among those with four or more comorbidities, calling those patients “people […]
The post Disability Rights Advocates to Meet with CDC Director Following GMA Appearance; Nearly 150 Disability Organizations Release Policy Demand Letter Ahead of Meeting 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 2021, The Arc and Comcast NBCUniversal once again teamed up to open digital doors for and with people with IDD. The Arc and Comcast NBCUniversal have a long-standing partnership to do this work – in […]
The post Comcast NBCUniversal and The Arc Collaborate to Make Life-Changing Impact with Digital Skills Efforts for People with Disabilities appeared first on The Arc.
WASHINGTON, DC —Today, a federal court denied the three motions to dismiss litigation filed by The Arc and others challenging Georgia’s anti-voter law S.B. 202, allowing the case, Sixth District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, et al. v. Kemp, et al. to proceed. The Arc is counsel and a plaintiff in the litigation along […]
The post Federal Court Allows Lawsuit Challenging Georgia’s Voter Suppression Law to Proceed appeared first on The Arc.
Washington, D.C. – The Arc mourns the death of Former U.S. Senator Bob Dole, who was an important champion in the disability rights movement. Senator Dole served as a faithful ally in fighting for equality for people with disabilities. A disabled war veteran, Senator Dole exemplified steadfast dedication to the Americans with Disabilities Act, helping […]
The post The Arc Mourns Former U.S. Senator and Disability Rights Champion Bob Dole appeared first on The Arc.
Washington, D.C. – The Centers for Disease Control announced that autism rates are once again rising among children. The new data says 1 in 44 children in the U.S. is on the autism spectrum, or 2.3% of children. The CDC made the announcement Thursday. In a commentary published this week in Pediatrics, a group of […]
The post CDC Announces Rise in Autism Rates Among Children, As Leading Scientists and Clinicians Call for New Approach to Understanding Autism – Focused on Toxic Chemicals and Genetics appeared first on The Arc.
The Arc has been advocating for decades to help family caregivers—advocating for health insurance, for paid family and medical leave, and respite services and other family supports. And this advocacy has taken on even more urgency during the COVID-19 pandemic. SUPPORT OUR WORK Families like Debbi, her husband Victor, and their son Josh need our […]
The post Families Like Debbi, Josh, and Victor Need Your Support. appeared first on The Arc.
“We need the Senate to understand all that is on the line” Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed President Biden’s Build Back Better plan, bringing us one important step closer to making significant investments in our country, in the lives of people with disabilities and their families, and the direct support workforce. The reality […]
The post House of Representatives Passes Historic Disability Funding Through the Build Back Better Plan appeared first on The Arc.
Yesterday, CVS Health announced the withdrawal of its appeal before the Supreme Court that sought to limit the scope of civil rights protections for people with disabilities under federal law. In collaboration with leaders of a number of national disability organizations, CVS Health will seek policy solutions to protect equitable access to health care for […]
The post The Arc Celebrates CVS Health Commitment with Disability Leaders to Affordable and Equitable Access to Health Care appeared first on The Arc.
For moms like Molly, the past four months have meant long-overdue help in making ends meet. Molly works full time and manages the care for her 15-year-old son, Reid, who has a condition called Angelman’s Syndrome. Reid requires specialized caregiving for feeding, diaper changes, and constant monitoring for safety due to seizures and mobility issues. […]
The post The Child Tax Credit Helps Working Moms Like Molly Stay Afloat – And in the Workforce appeared first on The Arc.
Too often, disability is criminalized due to a lack of understanding—by both the public and first responders. Disability-related behaviors can be perceived as threatening or suspicious, and it’s estimated that one third to half of all people in the U.S. killed by police have a disability. The Arc is working hard to protect the rights […]
The post Disability Is Not a Crime. Support Our Fight for Justice. appeared first on The Arc.
Disability rights organizations filed friend-of-the-court briefs today urging the Supreme Court to uphold disability rights by rejecting CVS’s attempt to dismantle non-discrimination protections under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The case, CVS v. Doe, involves a CVS-managed prescription drug plan that requires people who need “specialty medications” to receive them by mail, instead of at […]
The post Disability Rights Groups Urge Supreme Court to Uphold Protections Against Disability Discrimination appeared first on The Arc.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today issued a new value for the level of lead in children’s blood considered to be elevated, tightening the standard from 5 micrograms/deciliter to 3.5 micrograms/deciliter. The CDC announcement coincided with the Biden Administration’s release of a government-wide plan for preventing lead exposure in children, focused on […]
The post Project TENDR Researchers Applaud CDC Action to Protect More Children from Neurotoxic Exposures and Anticipate Sweeping National Change appeared first on The Arc.
Today, President Biden announced the Build Back Better budget framework that would make significant investments in our nation, people with disabilities, their families, and the direct support workforce. This new deal includes $150 billion for Medicaid home and community-based services, or HCBS, which provide the support people with disabilities need to be a part of […]
The post New Budget Framework Provides Historic Investment in the Disability Services System appeared first on The Arc.
WASHINGTON, DC — Speaker Nancy Pelosi, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Robert Casey (D-PA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Patty Murray (D-WA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), Reps. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Jackie Speier (D-CA) and Bobby Scott (D-VA) joined parents, caregivers, care workers, […]
The post Members of Congress Join Parents & Caregiving Advocates to Demand Urgent Care Infrastructure Investments in Build Back Better Budget Reconciliation appeared first on The Arc.
This past September marked the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. To honor all who were lost, The Arc joined forces with local chapters of The Arc and other community organizations to develop inclusive volunteer projects centered around the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance (9/11 Day). These projects aimed to strengthen […]
The post September 11 Day of Service Grantees Give Back and Help Prepare Their Communities appeared first on The Arc.
In 2021, the Centers for Disease Control declared racism a serious threat to public health. For people of color with disabilities, the threat is dire – they face multiple barriers to health care. Unique Royster is a young Black woman with a disability. She and her mother Irene Kelley faced disparities in accessing health care […]
The post People of Color with IDD and Disparities in Health Care appeared first on The Arc.
A federal district court today granted a preliminary injunction in our mask mandate lawsuit, blocking enforcement of Iowa’s law prohibiting schools from requiring facemasks. Previously, the court had issued and then extended a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), which also blocked enforcement of this harmful law. A preliminary injunction will stay in place as the lawsuit […]
The post Mask Mandate Preliminary Injunction Continues to Protect Iowa Children appeared first on The Arc.
Activists From Across the Nation Deliver 7,500 Stories from Individuals Impacted by Dearth of Home and Community-Based Services Photos of the Vigil and Rally: https://bit.ly/3ahKPN9 Senator Bob Casey met disability rights activists and care workers who participated in a 24-hour storytelling vigil and reiterated his commitment to fully fund services critical for the health and […]
The post Senator Bob Casey Meets Disability Rights Advocates From 24-Hour Storytelling Vigil, Urges Congress to Pass the Build Back Better Plan appeared first on The Arc.
As negotiations around the biggest jobs plan since the New Deal stall, care advocates from across the country will hold a 24-hour vigil outside the U.S. Capitol to urge elected leaders to hold the line on caregiving funding in the Build Back Better plan. People with disabilities, direct care workers, older adults, and caregivers will […]
The post Disability Rights, Care Workers To Hold 24-Hour Vigil at the U.S. Capitol To Hold the Line on Care Funding appeared first on The Arc.
WASHINGTON, DC – The Arc is excited to announce Sephora as a recipient of its 2021 Catalyst Award. The award recognizes businesses, individuals, and other organizations that have made extraordinary contributions toward greater social inclusion and the advancement of the human and civil rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). “It is refreshing […]
The post The Arc Recognizes Corporate Disability Champion Sephora with The Catalyst Award appeared first on The Arc.
WASHINGTON – The Arc is honored to announce Neli Latson and his mother, Lisa Alexander as recipients of our 2021 Catalyst Award. The award recognizes individuals, businesses, and other organizations that have made extraordinary contributions toward greater social inclusion and the advancement of the human and civil rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities […]
The post The Arc Recognizes Neli Latson and Lisa Alexander with The Catalyst Award appeared first on The Arc.
DES MOINES, Iowa — A federal district court today blocked Iowa’s law prohibiting schools from requiring masks. The court ruled that the law violates the civil rights of children with disabilities, including children with underlying conditions, who are more vulnerable to severe illness or death as a result of COVID-19. The decision makes clear that […]
The post Federal Court Blocks Iowa’s Law Banning Masking Requirements in Schools appeared first on The Arc.
Today, the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc. (LDF), Reed Smith LLP, and The Arc filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of the Houston Area Urban League, Houston Justice, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and The Arc of Texas challenging S.B. 1, a new Texas law targeting voting rights. S.B. 1 includes a series […]
The post Lawsuit Filed Challenging New Texas Law Targeting Voting Rights appeared first on The Arc.
Eleven parents of children with disabilities and Iowa disability rights groups have filed a federal lawsuit today challenging an Iowa law that bans school districts from imposing mask mandates in schools. The parents and disability rights advocates are taking the action to protect children who are too young to be vaccinated whose disabilities, including underlying […]
The post Lawsuit Challenges Iowa Law Banning Schools from Requiring Masks appeared first on The Arc.
For Kerri, Ken, and their family, Father’s Day weekend 2019 started out as planned—peaceful and filled with quality family time. But early Saturday morning, Kerri and Ken awoke to their 17-year-old son, Yosh, screaming in pain. His stomach had swollen so badly overnight that it looked like a beach ball. They were terrified for their […]
The post Surviving on a GoFundMe Campaign: How A Hospital Stay Without Paid Leave Forced One Family into a Crisis No One Should Face appeared first on The Arc.
For Kerri, Ken, and their family, Father’s Day weekend 2019 started out as planned—peaceful and filled with quality family time. But early Saturday morning, Kerri and Ken awoke to their 17-year-old son, Yosh, screaming in pain. His stomach had swollen so badly overnight that it looked like a beach ball. They were terrified for their […]
The post Surviving on a GoFundMe Campaign: How A Hospital Stay Without Paid Leave Forced One Family into a Crisis No One Should Face appeared first on The Arc.
Federal Judge Irene Berger has ruled that a lawsuit on behalf of Kanawha County students with disabilities can proceed as a class action lawsuit. The decision to certify the class will affect hundreds of Kanawha County’s students with disabilities who are removed from their classrooms for behavior related to their disabilities. The case was filed […]
The post Judge Rules Kanawha County Special Education Lawsuit Can Proceed as Class Action appeared first on The Arc.
My name is Nicole LeBlanc. I live in Silver Spring, Maryland. I am on the autism spectrum and have anxiety, ADD, seizures, and a learning disability. I am writing to talk about the importance of helping people with disabilities get their student loans discharged, including ending the 3 year monitoring period. As the Biden Administration […]
The post The Impact of Student Loan Debt Forgiveness for the Disability Community appeared first on The Arc.
Washington, D.C. – The Arc is pleased that the U.S. Department of Education announced a major step in removing barriers in the path of people with disabilities who pursue an education and career goals. The Arc advocated relentlessly for these changes in response to the outcry from people with disabilities across the country. The Department’s […]
The post New U.S. Department of Education Regulation Provides Relief to People with Disabilities appeared first on The Arc.
By: Nicole Jorwic, Senior Director of Public Policy After a slight delay, both Senators and Representatives are back in their states and districts for August recess, but in fact, it goes until mid-September. That means it is a key time to engage, reach out, and share your stories about why Medicaid home and community-based services […]
The post During Congressional Recess, We Must Raise Our Voices for Care! appeared first on The Arc.
By: Nicole Jorwic, Senior Director of Public Policy After a slight delay, both Senators and Representatives are back in their states and districts for August recess, but in fact, it goes until mid-September. That means it is a key time to engage, reach out, and share your stories about why Medicaid home and community-based services […]
The post During Congressional Recess, We Must Raise Our Voices for Care! appeared first on The Arc.
Washington, D.C. – The Arc is encouraged that the U.S. Senate took an important step in favor of respecting the human dignity of people with disabilities and aging adults. Wednesday, the Senate passed a $3.5 trillion budget resolution triggering the start of the reconciliation process. The vote paves the way for Congress to pass a […]
The post The Arc Celebrates Senate Passage of the $3.5 Trillion Budget Resolution to Invest in Crumbling Care Infrastructure appeared first on The Arc.
Washington, D.C. – The Arc is encouraged that the U.S. Senate took an important step in favor of respecting the human dignity of people with disabilities and aging adults. Wednesday, the Senate passed a $3.5 trillion budget resolution triggering the start of the reconciliation process. The vote paves the way for Congress to pass a […]
The post The Arc Celebrates Senate Passage of the $3.5 Trillion Budget Resolution to Invest in Crumbling Care Infrastructure appeared first on The Arc.
