Recently, The Arc and the Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality released a first of its kind paper, outlining why paid family and medical leave (PFML) is a necessity for the economic security and stability of people with disabilities and their families. The need for PFML is universal, and well documented. What’s been missing is the…
This week, The Arc’s Center for Future Planning released videos as well as easy-to-read and detailed information for people with disabilities. These resources help people with disabilities learn about future planning. They describe why future planning is important and how to make a future plan. They also help people learn how to build a career, find…
This past June was LGBTQ Pride month in the U.S. In cities all across the country, members of the LGBTQ community celebrated their true selves by holding parades and other events, uniting the community in amazing ways. Yet, many LGBTQ individuals with I/DD, like Ray Truitt from New Jersey, still report feeling isolated from their…
In late July, the U.S. Senate failed to pass a dangerous bill that would have been devastating to people with disabilities and their families (read The Arc’s statement). At stake was access to health care for millions of people and massive cuts to Medicaid. This victory is because of you! For months, disability rights activists have…
With the House passage of the American Health Care Act (AHCA), the bill is now being reviewed in the Senate. The Senate has formed a 13-member working group composed of Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-TX), and Senators John Thune (R-SD), John Barrasso (R-WY), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Mike Enzi (R-WY), Orrin…
Since its inception, The Arc has been on the forefront of special education advocacy. Many chapters of The Arc provide individual advocacy services for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). However, academic achievement and graduation rates of students with I/DD continue to lag far behind their peers without disabilities, making advocacy efforts more important…
Congress has begun the process of repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and it now is on the fast track to include drastic cuts to the Medicaid program as part of the replacement plan. The House of Representatives will start on legislation in the next few weeks. People’s health, services, and lives are at stake!…
As 2016 comes to a close, families and individuals with autism are reflecting on all they have accomplished this year. The Arc is also looking back on all it has achieved through their chapters and members. We recently asked members to think about their own lives and answer what achievement means to them. Here are…
For people with autism, assistive technology can be an avenue to independence. This past October, one chapter took a giant step in ensuring this vital resource is available to people on the spectrum for years to come. Thanks to the Comcast Foundation, The Arc Prince George’s County now has funding to create a Learning Lab,…
Building upon the ABLE Act of 2014, three amendments were introduced in the House and Senate in March 2016, and referred to the appropriate committees of jurisdiction. Unfortunately, they have not seen any legislative progress since that time. With time running out for Congress to act this year, we can’t be complacent — we must…
