Organization
The Arc
The Arc is the largest national community-based organisation in the United States for and with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families, with more than 600 chapters nationwide providing direct services and advocacy.
About The Arc
Founded in 1950 by a group of parents frustrated by the lack of services and exclusion of their children from schools and communities, The Arc (originally the National Association for Retarded Children, later renamed to remove stigmatising language) has been the largest advocacy and service organisation in the IDD space for over 70 years.
The Arc operates as a federated organisation: the national office sets policy positions and provides resources, while hundreds of local and state chapters provide direct services — residential supports, employment programmes, family support, and more — to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.
What they do
Advocacy: The Arc advocates at the federal level for strong funding for Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS), enforcement of IDEA, employment rights, guardianship alternatives, and criminal justice reform. They are a leading voice opposing institutionalisation and supporting community inclusion.
Direct services (through chapters): Local Arc chapters provide group homes, supported living, day programmes, supported employment, and family support services to hundreds of thousands of people across the US.
Legal advocacy: The Arc's Center for Future Planning helps individuals with IDD and their families prepare for transitions, including supported decision-making alternatives to guardianship.
Key programs and resources
- Center for Future Planning: Tools for transition and long-term planning
- Arc@Home: A coalition addressing the DSP (Direct Support Professional) workforce shortage
- National Center on Criminal Justice and Disability: Addressing the overrepresentation of people with IDD in the justice system
- Disability Policy Agenda: Annual federal policy priorities
Who they serve
People with intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities (including autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and others), and their families. Services span the lifespan — from early intervention through adulthood and old age.
Why it matters
The Arc's combination of direct service delivery and policy advocacy makes it uniquely influential. Its local chapters are often the primary service provider for families in communities that lack other resources. At the national level, The Arc's advocacy on Medicaid funding is critical — Medicaid is the primary payer for disability supports in the US, and changes to Medicaid funding directly affect the lives of millions of people with IDD.
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