THE ARC OF THE UNITED STATES

PUBLIC POLICY: THE ARC OF THE UNITED STATES (THE ARC) ADVOCATED TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT THE CIVIL RIGHTS AND HUMAN RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH IDD AND FOR FUNDING AND SUPPORT FOR THE PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND SUPPORTS THAT ENABLE THEM TO BE FULLY INCLUDED IN ALL ASPECTS OF COMMUNITY LIFE. THE ARC MONITORED DEVELOPMENTS IN FEDERAL PUBLIC POLICY, INCLUDING LEGISLATION, REGULATIONS, ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS, LITIGATION AND JUDICIAL DECISIONS, OF IMPORTANCE TO PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (IDD) AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE ARC REGULARLY INFORMED CHAPTER LEADERS, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, THE MEDIA, LEADERS OF OTHER NONPROFITS AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES OF DEVELOPMENTS IN THE FIELD THROUGH AN EMAIL NEWSLETTER, PERIODIC SPECIAL REPORTS AND ALERTS AND CONTENT POSTED TO THE ARC'S WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA. EDUCATIONAL AND ADVOCACY ACTIVITIES CUT ACROSS A BROAD RANGE OF TOPICS, SUCH AS HEALTH CARE, LONG TERM SUPPORTS AND SERVICES, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, CIVIL RIGHTS, SOCIAL SECURITY AND MORE. THE ARC ALSO REGULARLY EDUCATED AND INFORMED ELECTED AND APPOINTED GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ABOUT THE NEEDS, INTERESTS AND CONCERNS OF PEOPLE WITH IDD AND THEIR FAMILIES AND ABOUT THE LIKELY IMPACT OF POLICY PROPOSALS. INPUT WAS PROVIDED TO CONGRESS, THE ADMINISTRATION, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND OFFICIALS THROUGH WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE, ORAL AND WRITTEN TESTIMONY AND FACE-TO-FACE AND VIRTUAL MEETINGS. THE ARC ALSO PARTICIPATED IN, AND PROVIDED LEADERSHIP FOR, A NUMBER OF FORMAL AND INFORMAL COALITIONS AND COLLABORATIONS INVOLVED IN RELATED EFFORTS.

CHAPTER LEADERSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT: THE ARC OF THE UNITED STATES (THE ARC) SUPPORTED A NETWORK OF NEARLY 600 AFFILIATED STATE AND LOCAL CHAPTERS THAT ADVOCATED ON BEHALF OF, AND PROVIDED SERVICES AND SUPPORTS FOR PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (IDD) AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE ARC PROMOTED BEST PRACTICES IN ACCESS, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION THROUGH A SERIES OF CHAPTER WEBINARS AND PROMOTED BEST PRACTICES IN PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND SUPPORTS FOR PEOPLE WITH IDD. THE ARC KEPT CHAPTERS INFORMED OF CRITICAL INFORMATION AND DEVELOPMENTS IN THE FIELD, INCLUDING IN SUBJECT AREAS SUCH AS EARLY INTERVENTION, INTEGRATED EDUCATION, TRANSITION, SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT, SUPPORTED AND INDEPENDENT LIVING, HEALTH CARE, DECISION-MAKING SUPPORTS, FINANCIAL PLANNING AND RECREATION AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. SUPPORT WAS PROVIDED TO BOARD MEMBERS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS AND OTHER VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF OF THE AFFILIATED CHAPTERS THROUGH A BI-WEEKLY EMAIL NEWSLETTER (FUSION), A STATE CHAPTER RETREAT, PERIODIC VIDEO CONFERENCES FOR CHAPTER LEADERS, PERIODIC WEBINARS, AN ANNUAL LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE, A NATIONAL CONVENTION, WRITTEN EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, EMAIL DISCUSSION GROUPS, EXTENSIVE CONTENT AVAILABLE ONLINE, AND ONE-TO-ONE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE VIA TELEPHONE AND EMAIL. PROGRAMMING WAS CONDUCTED USING VIRTUAL MEETING TECHNOLOGY SOME PROGRAMMING WAS CONDUCTED USING VIRTUAL MEETING TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE. THE ARC PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS TO ORGANIZE NEW CHAPTERS OF THE ARC, AND TO STRENGTHEN AND STABILIZE EXISTING CHAPTERS, SO THAT THEY MAY EFFECTIVELY ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF AND SERVE THEIR CONSTITUENTS AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL. THE ARC ALSO PROMOTED INFORMATION SHARING AND EXCHANGE OF IDEAS AMONG AND BETWEEN ALL OF OUR CHAPTERS. THE ARC EMBARKED ON A NEW CHAPTER DATA INTEGRATION PROJECT THAT WILL CREATE AN INTERACTIVE DATA EXCHANGE SYSTEM ACROSS THE ENTIRE CHAPTER NETWORK. THE GOALS OF THIS PROJECT ARE TO INCREASE THE ACCURACY OF OUR DATA COLLECTION AND DEMONSTRATE THE COLLECTIVE IMPACT OF OUR CHAPTERS, IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY OF CHAPTER INVOICING AND PAYMENTS, CREATE A PLATFORM FOR CHAPTER ENGAGEMENT WITH EACH OTHER, AND CREATE A CENTRALIZED SYSTEM FOR RESOURCE SHARING.