Yesterday, Juneteenth, marked the day in 1865 when the last enslaved African Americans in the U.S. were freed in Galveston, Texas, two-and-a-half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. To mark this Freedom Day, board member of The Arc of the U.S. and 2016 Ms. Wheelchair International, Yvette Pegues, shared stories of Black women with disabilities. 

The Arc of Texas is uniquely positioned to help identify and address mental health care disparities experienced by Texans with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). We're kicking off year five of our Whole Person Project, funded by a grant from the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities, by reaching out to organizations working in this space to get their perspective on what's working and what's not — because we know those closest to the problem are also closest to the solution. We're thrilled to welcome Alex Stuckey, Pulitzer Prize investigative journalist, to our staff to help with this phase of the work. 

In case you missed it, watch stories from our docu-series with self-advocates about their experience at the intersection of mental health and IDD. 

The Arc of Texas’ Public Policy & Advocacy Team made its first stop on this summer’s Tour Across Texas last week at The Arc of Fort Bend. RSVP for an event in your area for an update on our policy work and tips for advocating for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD): McLennan County (July 15), Greater Beaumont (July 26), San Antonio (Aug. 16), Smith County (Aug. 28), and DFW Area (Sept. 7). Chapters can contact publicpolicy@thearcoftexas.org to schedule a visit. 

Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers help people with disabilities thrive in their community instead of living in an institution. Unfortunately, there are over 158,000 Texans on the interest lists (also called a “waitlists”). Learn about the six types of waivers for people with disabilities, join waiver interest lists, or look up your place in line (now available online) with our step-by-step instructions. 

Five $1,000 stipends are available to local chapters of The Arc of Texas to offset the cost to attend The Arc of the U.S. National Conference (Nov. 1-3). Awardees will be notified by July 29. By July 18, inform kpham@thearcoftexas.org of your interest. 

Learn about the position and apply at the link.

Governor Abbott named Andrew Crim as the new chair of the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities, and appointed Beatrice Degree, Roni Jo Frazier, Shana Halvorsen, Barbara Knighton, and Lisa Marenco, and reappointed Robert Schier III to the Council.