This year has been like no other. The ground continues to shift on disability rights and care across the country.
At the recent National Convention in Charlotte, advocates and chapter leaders from across the country shared the same concerns: budgets are stretched thin, barriers to services are growing, and families are worried about losing the supports that make daily life possible.
Veteran journalist Judy Woodruff opened the convention with a policy-focused keynote, and one of the most attended sessions was the “Update From Washington.” The message was clear. People want honest answers about what lies ahead and how it will affect their lives.
Disability rights were never simply handed down. They were fought for and secured by people who refused to accept “what is.” That legacy belongs to all of us now.
As Katy Neas, CEO of The Arc of the United States, shared with advocates:
“Now it’s our turn to carry that legacy forward and keep building what should be.”
Support from communities nationwide allows The Arc to show up where decisions are made, in Congress, in the courts, and in local communities. Every action taken today helps ensure the organization enters 2026 prepared to defend services, rights, and families.
On October 1, the federal government entered the longest shutdown in U.S. history. The Department of Education laid off most of its special education staff, freezing federal oversight of special education law and slowing civil rights enforcement nationwide.
In November, many families experienced lapses in SNAP benefits that lasted days or even weeks.
During this period, The Arc worked continuously to keep people informed, support families, and push for accountability.
Free Digital Skills Training
Supported by Comcast, these trainings help people with disabilities build confidence using technology.
Free Mental Health First Aid
Supported by United Health Foundation, this program teaches how to recognize warning signs and connect people to care.
