As we gear up for the 89th Legislative Session in January, know that The Arc of Texas is prepared to bring the stories and experiences of disability advocates from across Texas to the Capitol to keep disability rights a top legislative priority.
For 71 years, we’ve stood with our members and allies, and we will continue until every Texan with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) lives the life they deserve and choose. We’re not going anywhere.
Katy Neas, CEO of The Arc U.S., recently said to The Arc’s chapter network, “As someone who has been intimately involved in the
inner workings of Congress and the federal government for nearly 40 years, I can say with certainty that we are entering a time that is far from business as usual.” This is also true of our work with the Texas Legislature.
The stakes are higher than ever for the 500,000+ Texans with IDD who have been waiting for services that would help them avoid a life
of isolation in institutions, folks who have skills but can’t find a fair-paying job, and parents desperate for the free, foundational education their child needs to reach their full potential.
The good news is the possibility for progress is high, too – one small act at a time. I’m finding comfort in the simple idea that small acts are our way forward.
And if there’s power in one small act, there’s lots of power in lots of small acts combined.
So, I’ll ask you for one small act right now – and we'll DOUBLE your impact: Make a donation to The Arc of Texasto help us meet our end-of-year fundraising goal and our matching sponsor, Providence First, will double it! Every gift, no matter the
size, fuels our advocacy work with and for Texans with disabilities.
The fight for disability rights is not that of one political party against another. It’s the fight of people like you and me, from every walk of life – because disabilities are a natural part of the human experience.
And it is through small acts, like asking each other what we need, calling on our lived experience as evidence of the realities others like us face, educating our policymakers about the unnecessary barriers faced by people with disabilities, sharing our stories, and bringing solutions to policymakers – likeour policy priorities– that we will thrive.
Here's to small acts that lead to big impact!
Upcoming Advocacy Events
Join us in the New Year at our advocacy events, and in the meantime, learn about the Texas Legislature and how you can advocate with our new Advocacy Toolkit!
Meet The Arc Day (Jan. 31): Texas Capitol (Austin), 7:00 - 10:00 a.m. followed by legislator visits. Learn about our advocacy, connect with other
chapters, and meet your legislators!
Visit thearcoftexas.org to find IDD resources, take action, use our Master Pooled Trust to protect your funds and benefits, find local chapters, and
more!
Small Acts with Big Impacts – News and tools for you!
Tech
Courses for People with IDD: The Arc U.S. and AT&T joined forces in an $850,000 initiative to equip thousands of people with IDD with digital skills, and ultimately independence, opportunity, and connection in our digital world.
Note: We will be closed Nov. 28-29 for Thanksgiving.
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