The Arc of the United States

The Arc of the United States The Arc promotes & protects the human rights of people with intellectual & developmental disabilities

Whether school has just begun or the first day is still ahead, here are four things families of children with disabiliti...
08/28/2026

Whether school has just begun or the first day is still ahead, here are four things families of children with disabilities can do for a stronger start to the year.

Make the school year more predictable. Talk with your child about what’s changing, practice new routines, or use a visual calendar if that works for them. Ask what they’re excited or nervous about.

Review your child’s IEP or 504 plan. Make sure you know what services and accommodations should be in place. If their needs have changed, you can request a meeting at any time.

Reach out to your child’s school team early. Share their strengths, interests, communication needs, and what helps them learn. Ask how to stay in touch throughout the year.

Pay attention during those first few weeks. It can take time to settle into a new routine. But if a service is missing or something isn’t working, reach out early.

You don’t need a perfect first day. What matters is making sure your child has the support they need for the year ahead.

What advice would you give to another family starting a new school year? Share your best tip in the comments.

08/26/2026

Want to make your message to Congress more effective? Our new advocacy video gives you a step-by-step explanation on how to use The Arc’s Action Center, edit a letter to share your own experience, and make a call to your lawmaker.

Take 3 minutes to watch the full video, then share it to teach others how a few small changes can strengthen the way you advocate: https://youtu.be/3pA4JZPrUVE

On September 11, communities across the country will come together to honor those lost in the 9/11 attacks through servi...
08/25/2026

On September 11, communities across the country will come together to honor those lost in the 9/11 attacks through service to others. It's a chance to recognize the courage of first responders and strengthen our communities by lending a helping hand.

As we mark the 25th anniversary of 9/11, The Arc is proud to partner with 9/11 Day to encourage volunteer opportunities that are welcoming and accessible to people of all abilities.

Find a volunteer opportunity near you: https://www.911day.org/volunteer/

What is one thing you want to learn to do on a computer or phone? We can help! Together with AT&T, we’re offering free d...
08/21/2026

What is one thing you want to learn to do on a computer or phone? We can help! Together with AT&T, we’re offering free digital skills training that teaches:

How to use the internet
How to stay safe online
How to use a smartphone or tablet
…and much more!

You can learn your way online anytime or at in-person workshops at 26 chapters of The Arc.

Get started here: https://bit.ly/4zHnW0i

Looking for a new hat and a way to support disability inclusion while you shop? Head to Lids this August!Lids and the Li...
08/20/2026

Looking for a new hat and a way to support disability inclusion while you shop? Head to Lids this August!

Lids and the Lids Foundation are partnering with us to support our mission.

Pick out some new gear, add The Arc’s logo as custom embroidery, and round up your purchase at the register to support the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities.

Find a Lids store near you and make your next hat count.

Community living was never supposed to mean families doing everything alone.As the country moved away from institutions,...
08/19/2026

Community living was never supposed to mean families doing everything alone.

As the country moved away from institutions, people with disabilities were supposed to get the support they needed to live in their communities. But respite care, direct support workers, behavioral services, and other help can still be hard to find. Now, some of the support families do have is at risk.

We know from families and our own research what happens when services aren’t there. When services became harder to find, 81% of family caregivers told us they provided more support themselves. More than half reported very high stress, and half said caregiving put pressure on their finances.

A new Washington Post story follows Annie Morgan and her daughter Ava, who has Angelman syndrome. It offers a rare glimpse into what one family’s daily life can look like when the support they need falls short.

Families of people with disabilities already spend too much time piecing together services and filling gaps in a system that doesn’t provide enough support. They need more help to make community living work, not less.

Read Annie and Ava’s story: https://wapo.st/4g29uZ0

What we wear can help start a conversation. Our new Get Out the Vote merchandise highlights the importance of access, b...
08/18/2026

What we wear can help start a conversation. Our new Get Out the Vote merchandise highlights the importance of access, belonging, and civic participation for people with disabilities.

Each piece is designed to spark conversation during election season and remind people that participation should be accessible to everyone.

Shop the limited collection: https://www.bonfire.com/store/the-arc/

Families of children with disabilities already struggle to find childcare and early learning programs that will enroll a...
08/17/2026

Families of children with disabilities already struggle to find childcare and early learning programs that will enroll and support their child. Now, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is proposing changes that could make one of the country’s most inclusive early childhood programs less accountable for doing so.

Head Start was including children with disabilities a decade before federal law guaranteed their right to a public education. Its performance standards require programs to address assessments, accommodations, exclusion, IEP coordination, and other parts of serving children with disabilities. HHS wants to remove many of those detailed requirements.

In a new op-ed for The 74, our CEO Katy Neas warns that disability laws are not enough if Head Start programs lose the rules that make inclusion possible. Under the proposal, programs would no longer have to assess every child’s development, accommodate every child’s participation, follow the same protections against suspension and expulsion, or help families navigate the IEP process. It would also remove the specific rule barring programs from turning children away because of a disability or chronic health condition.

For decades, Head Start has shown that disability inclusion in early childhood education can work. Weakening the standards that help programs deliver it would move us in the wrong direction.

What if you couldn't explain what you needed during a mental health crisis?For some people with intellectual and develop...
08/14/2026

What if you couldn't explain what you needed during a mental health crisis?

For some people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), a mental health crisis can make communication difficult. Thanks to our partnership with the UnitedHealth Group's United Health Foundation, our new mental health crisis card helps bridge that gap by sharing important information with the people who are trying to help.

The card can include preferred ways to communicate, calming techniques, things to avoid, and emergency contacts. It's a simple tool that can help others respond with understanding and support when it matters most.

Download and personalize your free card: https://bit.ly/4wvIGWK

Kinda chic to make disability rights and inclusion part of everyday life.
08/13/2026

Kinda chic to make disability rights and inclusion part of everyday life.

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