The Arc of Philadelphia

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The Arc of Philadelphia Advocate to promote active citizenship, self-determination, and inclusion for all.

Overview

The Arc of Philadelphia has led the way in protecting the rights of and promoting opportunities for children and adults with disabilities by advocating with and for all children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families to promote active citizenship, self-determination and full inclusion. The Arc of Philadelphia affiliated with The Arc of Pennsylvania and The Arc of the United States and is a member of SpArc Philadelphia. The Arc of Philadelphia follows its Guiding Principles of:

INTEGRITY AND EXCELLENCE - we fulfill our mission with integrity and transparency and are committed to quality and excellence in all we do. PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY - we commit to the principle that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, and other citizens have meaningful opportunities to inform and guide the direction of The Arc. VISIONARY LEADERSHIP – we lead by articulating a positive future for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. COLLABORATION - we work with individuals and organizations in a collaborative fashion that promotes effective partnerships. History

Founded in 1948 by parents who sought better services for their children with developmental and other disabilities, The Arc of Philadelphia is one of the first of now more than 700 Arc chapters in the United States. The parents who created The Arc labored tirelessly for the equal rights and human dignity of people with disabilities at a time when institutionalization of newborns with intellectual disabilities was the norm. Over the past 65 years, The Arc through its volunteer board, staff and membership has become a powerful voice in shaping the service landscape for people with disabilities. As an early pioneer, The Arc of Philadelphia advocated for the right of education for school age children, the closure of Pennhurst, and promoted integrated, community and school based services for children and adults with intellectual and other developmental disabilities. At every step in the struggle for equal rights, The Arc of Philadelphia has been a vibrant catalyst for change at the local, state and national level. Our relationship building with our state and national legislators is noteworthy and we are seen by them as a leader regarding disability-related system issues. The mission of The Arc is to advocate with and for all children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families, to promote active citizenship, self-determination, and full inclusion.

Today is the last day to register!
10/19/2026

Today is the last day to register!

Legislative Advocate from The of Philadelphia, Michael Anderson dis...

Tell Congress: No one should go hungry! No one should have to choose between food and other basic needs. Congress must a...
10/16/2026

Tell Congress: No one should go hungry! No one should have to choose between food and other basic needs. Congress must act now to strengthen SNAP and protect people from hunger. Click the link below to take action!

Tell Congress to Take Action to Protect SNAP

Action Alert! Tell Congress: Protect Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services. Contact your members of Congress and te...
10/08/2026

Action Alert! Tell Congress: Protect Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services. Contact your members of Congress and tell them to protect HCBS for the millions of people who depend on these critical services. It only takes a second to click the link below and take action today!

Tell Congress to Take Action!

Are you ready to vote 2026? Here's Michael Anderson with some important info to help you prepare for the upcoming electi...
10/06/2026

Are you ready to vote 2026? Here's Michael Anderson with some important info to help you prepare for the upcoming election and a reminder to !

Legislative Advocate from The of Philadelphia, Michael Anderson dis...

Thank you to all who came out last Thursday, to our event at Independence Live! We had a great time connecting with ever...
09/22/2026

Thank you to all who came out last Thursday, to our event at Independence Live! We had a great time connecting with everyone in person, sharing our experiences, and celebrating our impactful partnerships in the Health Advocacy Program. Thank you and stay tuned for more from this amazing team at The Arc of Philadelphia!

The Arc of Philadelphia
08/06/2026

The Arc of Philadelphia

Once again we are partnering with a lot of amazing disability advocates for the 2026 Disability Summit; Cities of Inclus...
08/03/2026

Once again we are partnering with a lot of amazing disability advocates for the 2026 Disability Summit; Cities of Inclusion, this October at the PA Convention Center. Click the link to learn more and to register today!

https://citiesofinclusion.wordpress.com/2026-summit/

07/08/2026

July is month! The 2026 Disability Pride Month theme is “The World Works Better With Us.” It’s a clear statement about inclusion. When people with disabilities are included, respected, and supported, communities work better for everyone. That includes schools, workplaces, healthcare, transportation, and public life. Click the link below to find out more!

https://thearc.org/blog/why-and-how-to-celebrate-disability-pride-month/

Right now, in Pennsylvania, over 11,000 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities are waiting—some fo...
06/29/2026

Right now, in Pennsylvania, over 11,000 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities are waiting—some for years—for the supports they need to live safe, meaningful lives. More than 4,200 are in crisis and urgently need services that aren’t yet available.

We have a critical opportunity to change that—but we need YOUR voice to make it happen. Click the link below to !

https://arcpa.quorum.us/campaign/budget2026/

Address

2350 W Westmoreland Street
Philadelphia, PA
19140

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+12152294550

Website

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