A diverse group of young adults with disabilities stand together in a circle with their heads close, smiling. The view point is looking up at them from inside the circle.

Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month: Shattering Stigmas & Obstacles

/in /by The Arc

Every March, we celebrate something powerful: Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. It’s an opportunity to honor the diverse talents, dreams, and achievements of people with developmental disabilities. Whether it’s autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, or learning disorders, these disabilities are part of the human experience – and the people living with them have stories that need to be heard.

The big picture: Here’s what drives us at The Arc: the fundamental belief that everyone deserves to write their own life story. That means real access to education, meaningful employment, quality healthcare, and genuine community connections. Right now, too many barriers stand in the way of these basic rights. This month, we’re turning up the volume on voices calling for change.

History: The roots of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month can be traced back to 1987 when President Reagan first declared March as a month to raise awareness and “according to our fellow citizens with such disabilities, both encouragement and the opportunities they need to lead productive lives and to achieve their full potential.”

This year’s theme from the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities is We’re Here All Year, emphasizing that community, accessibility, and opportunities for people with developmental disabilities should be recognized and championed every day.

What we’re doing: Change happens when people come together – and that’s exactly what The Arc’s nationwide network is doing. Want to meet some of the incredible individuals leading the way?

There’s Marcus, whose job search shows how talented, dedicated workers face discrimination. Lawrence, who’s showing the world what’s possible for athletes with disabilities. Ashley, who’s revolutionizing how we think about diversity and inclusion. Steve, who shows us that people with disabilities thrive when they can live independently in their communities, not institutions. Carlos, who persevered through immigration, bullying, and discrimination to graduate college and build his accounting career. And Mitch, whose voice on our board helps shape how we support people with disabilities.

Ready to be part of this movement? Here are three powerful ways you can help create change:

🧡 Donate to The Arc to support our advocacy and services, making inclusion possible.
⭐ Volunteer with your local chapter of The Arc to empower people with developmental disabilities.
📣 Share stories uplifting diverse perspectives using #DDawareness and #DDawareness2025.

“Segregation and discrimination still cast an ugly shadow over the lives of millions of people with disabilities. This month, we must amplify the voices calling for true inclusion—in our schools, workplaces, and communities. When we listen to self-advocates and remove unfair barriers, incredible contributions shine through.” – Katy Neas, CEO of The Arc

Statement on the DC Plane Crash

/in /by Jackie Dilworth

Statement from our CEO Katy Neas on the tragic DC plane crash and claims that it could have been caused by the FAA’s DEI hiring practices, particularly of people with intellectual disabilities:

“This is a devastating tragedy, and our hearts go out to the victims and their families. There is no evidence that FAA hiring practices had anything to do with this accident, and suggesting otherwise is both misleading and harmful. People with disabilities—like all federal employees—are hired because of their qualifications, skills, and ability to do a job. In moments like this, we should be focused on facts and supporting those affected, not pointing fingers at an entire community.”

A row of parked school buses

Parents & Students With Disabilities Can Continue Their Fight for Safe & Reliable Transportation

/in /by Jackie Dilworth

WASHINGTON, DC – For countless families in the District of Columbia, the daily trip to school is fraught with anxiety due to unsafe and unreliable transportation services for students with disabilities. Today, a federal judge signaled hope for change and cleared the way for parents and guardians of children with disabilities and The Arc of the United States (The Arc) to pursue their case against the District of Columbia (DC) for failing to provide them with safe, reliable, and effective transportation to school. According to the decision by Judge Paul L. Friedman of the District Court of DC, students with disabilities have the right under federal disability rights laws to seek “structural relief that serves all children with disabilities.” The decision affirms that there is a remedy when children with disabilities are denied equal access to education.

The complaint, filed in March 2024, alleges that DC’s Office of the State Superintendent for Education (OSSE) denies students equal access to their education in violation of federal and local disability and civil rights laws by failing to provide students with transportation to and from school. Unsafe or unreliable transportation often means missed school days, interrupted learning, and barriers to building essential relationships and skills. According to the complaint, buses routinely arrive very late to pick students up from their homes, or do not arrive at all; students are left stranded at school without guaranteed transportation back home; students spend excessive time on buses, and students do not get the accommodations they need to ride safely. The plaintiffs are represented by The Arc, Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, Children’s Law Center, and McDermott Will & Emery.

By allowing The Arc to proceed as a plaintiff on behalf of its members, the decision reinforces the important principle that advocacy groups can and should bring litigation to secure the rights of its members under the IDEA and ADA. The decision, relying in part on the Department of Justice’s Statement of Interest filed in this case, also rejects the notion that students with disabilities need to meet a heightened standard in order to bring education discrimination claims.

“The buses meant to help children with disabilities build their education and futures are instead perpetuating their exclusion. This is not just a matter of tardiness or inconvenience—it’s stealing children’s opportunities to learn, grow, and connect with their peers,” said Shira Wakschlag, Senior Director of Legal Advocacy & General Counsel for The Arc of the United States. “Fighting for this change is about ensuring that our school systems work for and include all students. Today’s ruling affirms the right of students with disabilities to access their education without barriers. While there is still work ahead, this is an important step forward for systemic change.”

“The decision today will allow parents to keep seeking changes to a transportation system that so far has failed to deliver,” said Kaitlin Banner, Deputy Legal Director for the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs. “Our clients are ready to press forward and ensure that they will not endure another school year without access to their education.”

“I’m excited that the case is moving forward,” shared plaintiff Ms. Joann McCray and mother to 12-year-old boy who has faced ongoing bus transportation issues. “I hope that this can be the beginning of some real systemic change for my son and others.”

“With Judge Friedman’s reasoned decision, it is full speed ahead to obtain the District’s documents and testimony in advance of trial,” said Eugene Goldman, Senior Counsel at McDermott Will & Emery.

Click Here To Read the Opinion

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About The Arc of the United States
The Arc advocates for and serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), including Down syndrome, autism, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, cerebral palsy, and other diagnoses. Founded in 1950 by parents who believed their children with IDD deserved more, The Arc is now a network of nearly 600 chapters across the country promoting and protecting the human rights of people with IDD and actively supporting their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes. Through the decades, The Arc has been at the forefront of advances in disability rights and supports. There are over 7 million people with IDD in the United States, which encompasses over 100 different diagnoses. Visit www.thearc.org or follow us @TheArcUS to learn more. Editor’s Note: The Arc is not an acronym; always refer to us as The Arc, not The ARC and never ARC. The Arc should be considered as a title or a phrase.

About Children’s Law Center
Children’s Law Center believes every child should grow up with a strong foundation of family, health and education and live in a world free from poverty, trauma, racism and other forms of oppression. Our more than 100 staff – together with DC children and families, community partners and pro bono attorneys – use the law to solve children’s urgent problems today and improve the systems that will affect their lives tomorrow. Since our founding in 1996, we have reached more than 50,000 children and families directly and multiplied our impact by advocating for city-wide solutions that benefit hundreds of thousands more. For more information, please visit www.childrenslawcenter.org.

About the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs
The Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs partners with community members and organizations on scores of cases to combat discrimination in housing, employment, education, immigration, criminal justice reform, public accommodations, based on race, gender, disability, family size, history of criminal conviction, and more. The Washington Lawyers’ Committee has secured a relentless stream of civil rights victories over the past five decades in an effort to achieve justice for all. For more information, please visit www.washlaw.org.

About McDermott Will & Emery
McDermott Will & Emery partners with leaders around the world to fuel missions, knock down barriers and shape markets. Our team works seamlessly across practices and industries to deliver highly effective solutions that propel success. More than 1,400 lawyers strong, we bring our personal passion and legal prowess to bear in every matter for our clients and the people they serve. For more information, please visit www.mwe.com.

A direct support professional feeding a person with a disability

Medicaid at Risk: What Cuts Mean for People With Disabilities—and All of Us

/in /by Jackie Dilworth

Journalists, Medicaid is under unprecedented threat, and the impact will be felt nationwide.

As newly elected officials take office, many are considering cuts to Medicaid to fund other priorities like tax cuts, deficit reductions, or shrinking the size of the federal government. While Medicaid has been widely covered—from its role in public health to challenges during the unwinding of pandemic protections—the disability angle is often overlooked.

This evolving story is about more than health care; it’s about the dignity, independence, and stability for millions of Americans.

Why This Story Matters

Medicaid is vital to the health and stability and the U.S. health care system and the 80 million Americans it covers, including people with disabilities, children, low-income adults, and seniors. Medicaid provides:

  • Home and community-based services (HCBS) that help 4.5 million people with disabilities live, learn, work, and participate in their communities.
  • Early intervention for young children, school-based therapies, and equipment and technologies often excluded by private insurance.
  • Job skills training, placement, and coaching that enable people with disabilities to find meaningful, integrated employment opportunities.
  • $1 of every $6 spent on health care in the U.S., making it the nation’s largest single source of health coverage.
  • Support for schools, hospitals, and local economies.

Yet Medicaid is already stretched thin:

The Stakes for the Disability Community

Medicaid is the cornerstone of daily life for over 10 million children and adults with disabilities, funding 77% of essential services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Without it:

  • Many would lose their independence, forced into nursing homes or state-run institutions.
  • States would face severe constraints on eligibility and funding, leaving families across the country without options for vital services.

Why Now

The 2025 federal budget debates will decide Medicaid’s future. Proposed cuts could deepen waiting lists, worsen the care workforce crisis, leave millions uninsured, and destabilize our health care system. Reducing federal funding for Medicaid could also cost states billions annually, leading to an unprecedented rise in uninsured rates and health inequities. Medicaid has overwhelming bipartisan public support—with 75% of Americans viewing the program favorably, so your audience must understand the real-world consequences for people with disabilities and their families.

This story isn’t just about policy—it’s about people like Dianne and her son Jonathan:

“My 31-year-old son Jonathan is a vibrant man who cherishes life. He enjoys nature photography, outdoor activities, music, and time with loved ones—much of which is made possible through Medicaid. At two weeks old, he fell ill with meningitis and is now quadriplegic, non-verbal, and requires round-the-clock care. Medicaid has been crucial for his entire life, from durable medical equipment to in-home support. Without adequate funding and person-centered policies, Jonathan risks losing the life he loves.”

Federal decisions will determine whether families like theirs can access the care they need. Your reporting can illuminate these stakes, drive accountability, and protect Medicaid before it’s too late.

Let’s Connect

For expert analysis or connections to families impacted by Medicaid, contact:

Jackie Dilworth
Director of Communications
The Arc of the United States
Dilworth@TheArc.org