We are the largest national community-based organization advocating for and serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. We encompass all ages and all spectrums from autism, Down syndrome, Fragile X and more than 100 other developmental disabilities.
More than one million Americans with I/DD and their families members turn to The Arc to serve, support and advocate for them through a national network of more than 700 chapters. We are on the front lines to ensure that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families have the support they need to be members of the community.
The Arc champions the civil rights of people with I/DD in areas such as education, housing, employment, health care and more. The Arc works through a variety of channels to foster respect, raise awareness and change attitudes about people with I/DD to remove barriers to full inclusion and acceptance.
The Arc is not an acronym; always refer to us as The Arc, not The ARC and never ARC. The Arc should be considered as a title or a phrase.
The Arc promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.
The Arc believes that all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are defined by their own strengths, abilities and inherent value, not by their disability.
The Arc believes that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are entitled to the respect, dignity, equality, safety, and security accorded to other members of society, and are equal before the law.
The Arc believes that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities belong in the community and have fundamental moral, civil and constitutional rights to be fully included and actively participate in all aspects of society.
The Arc believes in self-determination and self-advocacy. People with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with appropriate resources and supports, can make decisions about their own lives and must be heard on issues that affect their well-being.
The Arc believes that society in general and The Arc in particular benefit from the contributions of people with diverse personal characteristics ( including but not limited to race, ethnicity, religion, age, geographic location, sexual orientation, gender and type of disability).
