We want to extend a BIG THANKS to all who made an end-of-year gift in 2024 to support our work with and for Texans with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD)! We’re already putting your dollars to work supporting local chapters, updating technology to benefit our Master Pooled Trust beneficiaries, partnering with Texas Advocates, and educating elected officials about the
unnecessary, unfair barriers Texans with disabilities face.
Millions of Americans with disabilities and their families could be left without access to health care coverage and vital disability services if Medicaid is harmed. The Arc U.S. is leading advocacy efforts to educate members of Congress about the importance of Medicaid for people with disabilities.
Personal stories: Hear
from Ricky, Dena and Maria about the importance of Medicaid in their lives.
For all advocates: Register for this Jan. 29 webinar to gain essential tools and resources to effectively advocate for Medicaid in 2025 as we address the growing concern of potential cuts to this vital program.
For chapters of The Arc: To help support your outreach to the general public, elected officials, and the media, use this 2025 Medicaid advocacy toolkit.
From Katy Neas, CEO of The Arc U.S.: For the past several months, politicians have been talking about eliminating the U.S. Department of Education. Some influential think tanks have proposed restructuring federal funds that currently support special education services and are calling for “no-strings” formula block grants. They are also promoting “school choice” so that public
education funds can pay for tuition at private schools. Each of these proposals raises questions: Does the “no-strings” policy include the individualized education plans? Does it ensure that every child with a disability can access services and support they need at no extra cost to the child’s family? Do parents retain due process protections? What happens to a child who is denied access to a private school? Here’s what we do know. Congress must act in order for these policies to become
law.
From Time Magazine: The way people with disabilities are treated is backsliding in the U.S., advocates say. Cruel names are slung around without a second thought; fingers are pointed; “jokes” are whispered just out of earshot of their target—or not. In other words, even now, decades after the disability rights movement began, people are mean. “So much of what we’re seeing is
behavior that’s grounded in either fear, ignorance, or the normalization of incivility,” says Katy Neas, CEO of the Arc of the United States.
Save the date for our statewide advocacy day, Have a Heart for The Arc! On Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, join us in urging Texas policymakers to “Have a Heart” for The Arc of
Texas, Texans with IDD, and direct support professionals who provide crucial supports, enabling them to live in their communities of choice rather than in institutions. Stay tuned for more details and a Valentine’s Day card created by our team that you can hand-deliver or email to your elected officials!
Tuesday marked the start of the 89th Texas Legislative Session, which will run through June. In case you missed it, we launched our inaugural legislative newsletter, your twice-monthly source for all things related to disability policy being considered by the Texas Legislature. Check out this week’s issue for a refresher on our policy priorities and how the Texas Legislature works, and stay tuned to your inbox for the next issue!
On Dec. 3, the U.S. Department of Labor announced a proposed rule to phase out the issuance of Section 14(c) certificates which currently allow employers to pay certain workers with disabilities less than the current federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. Use our sample language and get a link to the comment portal here. Deadline for comments is today, Jan. 17.
Are you a person with a disability and looking for opportunities to lead? Apply to be an officer for The Arc’s National Council of Self-Advocates. Officers plan virtual meetings, create resources for self-advocates, give feedback to The Arc's national office, and more! Apply in writing or by submitting a video.
Know of any staff, board members, or volunteers connected to a local chapter who aren't receiving Disability Dispatch? Forward this email to them so they can subscribe!
