Don't let the Primary Election catch you by surprise! Early voting begins Monday, February 14 and in an effort to help make your voting experience as easy and straightforward as possible, The Arc of Texas has updated our How to Vote in Texas webpage. This resource includes deadlines for mail-in ballots, a timeline of important dates, information about the Texas Primary Election, a template to help guide your voting plan, and more. We encourage you to get out and vote and show us your sticker! Post a photo with your I Voted sticker on your Instagram story or grid or Twitter feed, tagging @TheArcofTexas and we will send you an Arc of Texas sticker in the mail to show our appreciation for voting to support disability rights.

The Arc of Texas has been awarded a 3rd year of funding by TCDD for the continuation of the Whole Person Project. Year 3 will begin in June 2022. As we wrap up Year 2 of the grant, we continue to seek input from self-advocates who have experience accessing or attempting to access mental health services in Texas. Telling your story is the most important part of advocating for the changes we wish to see. Please fill out this form if you wish to be contacted by Alex Cogan, the project lead for the Whole Person Project. She will reach out to you via email or phone. Please note that we are also seeking Spanish speakers for this project. Those whose primary language is Spanish will soon have access to this form and be able to participate in the interview process.

Congratulations to Director of Public Policy and Advocacy Ashley Ford on being elected presiding officer of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's (THECB) Advisory Council on Postsecondary Education for Persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. The Advisory Council is charged with the following:

1. Studying the accessibility of higher education for persons with IDD;
2. Providing advice regarding resolving barriers to accessing higher education for persons with IDD; and
3. Identifying, evaluating, and developing recommendations to address barriers to accessing higher education for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are or have been in the foster care system and any data collection issues in relation to those persons.