Photo of desks in a classroom with dim, moody lighting

Class Action Complaint Filed in West Virginia Alleging Systemic Disability Discrimination in Kanawha County Schools

/in , , , , , /by The Arc

Charleston, WV – The Arc of West Virginia is joining parents of a child with autism in filing a class action complaint in federal court in Charleston alleging widespread failures by Kanawha County Schools (KCS) to educate children with disabilities, including autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental health issues, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Specifically, the complaint, filed Friday, asserts that KCS—the public school district serving the Charleston metro area—has failed to provide behavioral supports to students with disabilities and is instead punishing them by sending them home instead of educating them. Attorneys for The Arc of West Virginia and the parents—Disability Rights of West Virginia, Mountain State Justice, The Arc, the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, and the global law firm Latham & Watkins LLP—allege that KCS has violated federal laws protecting students with disabilities.

“The Arc has long fought for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities to be educated in their neighborhood schools, with appropriate supports,” said Liz Ford, Executive Director of The Arc of West Virginia. “KCS’ systemic failure to provide such supports to students with disability-related behaviors has led to punishment, segregation from classmates without disabilities, and loss of valuable instruction time. This is unacceptable to The Arc and our constituents in West Virginia.”

“Students with disabilities and behavioral support needs can thrive in school, graduate with diplomas, and transition to successful adulthood provided they receive the appropriate supports to which they are entitled under federal law. It is critical that KCS take responsibility for teaching all of its students, not just some,” said Jeremiah Underhill, Legal Director of Disability Rights of West Virginia.

Data from the West Virginia Department of Education shows that over 1,000 children with disabilities enrolled in KCS were removed from their classrooms during the 2018-2019 school year after their schools suspended them. This number does not include all of the additional students with disability-related behaviors whose schools asked their parents to take children out of the school before the end of the school day, or to keep them at home, without formally suspending them. It also does not include students with disabilities who were expelled from school for their behavior; those who were separated unnecessarily from mainstream classrooms and moved to segregated classrooms where they interact only with other students with disabilities and receive an inferior education; or those who were placed on “homebound” status where they may receive only a few hours of tutoring each week. These students are not receiving critical behavioral supports that can help them be successful in the general education classroom with their classmates without disabilities.

“It is heartbreaking to see KCS undermine the great potential of students with disabilities by failing to provide necessary supports and, ultimately, removing them from the classroom, causing them to fall farther and farther behind academically and socially,” said Lewis Bossing, Senior Staff Attorney with the Bazelon Center. “And the problem is only getting worse: in the 2018-2019 school year, KCS removed nearly 250 more students with disabilities from the classroom than in the prior academic year, despite overall KCS enrollment decreasing during that same period.”

Specifically, the complaint alleges that KCS is: 1) violating the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) by failing to provide children with disabilities with the special education they need to receive a “free appropriate public education” in the least restrictive environment; and 2) violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504), and the West Virginia Human Rights Act by failing to educate children with disabilities in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs, and denying them equal educational opportunity.

“We are seeing KCS discipline students with disabilities for ‘infractions’ as minor as touching another student with a plastic fork or refusing to get off the playground slide at the end of recess. Students are receiving behavior supports that take the form of rote “code of conduct” checklists rather than the individualized supports that the IDEA requires to adequately support children to succeed in school,” said Lydia Milnes, an attorney with Mountain State Justice.

In 2017, the U.S. Supreme Court held unanimously in Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District RE-1 that the “IDEA demands more.” Specifically, the Court provided a new and more demanding standard for what schools must do to adequately educate students with disabilities, requiring that school districts provide “an educational program reasonably calculated to enable a child to make progress appropriate in light of the child’s circumstances” and provide students with disabilities the opportunity to meet “challenging objectives” with “appropriately ambitious” special education. For virtually all children, this means receiving instruction and services in the general education classroom, with appropriate supports, alongside students without disabilities. In addition, in 1999, in Olmstead v. L.C., the Court held that the ADA prohibits the needless isolation or segregation of people with disabilities. The ADA applies to public schools, which cannot unnecessarily segregate students with disabilities, nor deny them equal opportunities.

“KCS’ systemic failures to support students with disabilities in the least restrictive, most integrated setting, and overuse of punitive disciplinary measures for behavior that is disability-related, cannot be justified in light of recent and longstanding Supreme Court precedent,” said Michael Faris, Latham & Watkins partner. “By failing to adhere to the IDEA and ADA, KCS is diminishing our clients’ ability to secure the education to which they are entitled by law. We look forward to ensuring that the law is upheld.”

About The Arc

The Arc is the largest national community-based organization advocating for and serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families. In partnership with its network of 650 chapters across the country, including The Arc of West Virginia, The Arc works to promote and protect the rights of people with I/DD to live, work, and learn in the community free from discrimination. To learn more, visit www.thearc.org and www.thearcofwv.org

About Disability Rights of West Virginia

Disability Rights of West Virginia (DRWV) is the federally mandated protection and advocacy system for people with disabilities in West Virginia. DRWV protects and advocates for the human and legal rights of persons with disabilities. To learn more, visit https://www.drofwv.org/.

About Mountain State Justice

Mountain State Justice is a non-profit legal services firm dedicated to redressing entrenched and emerging systemic social, political, and economic imbalances of power for underserved West Virginians, through legal advocacy and community empowerment offered regardless of ability to pay. To learn more, visit https://mountainstatejustice.org/.

About The Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law

The Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law is a national legal advocacy organization protecting and advancing the rights of people with mental disabilities. The Center promotes laws and policies that enable adults and children with mental disabilities to live independently in their own homes, schools, and communities, and to enjoy the same opportunities that everyone else does. To learn more, visit www.bazelon.org.

About Latham & Watkins LLP

Latham & Watkins LLP is global law firm with more than 2,700 lawyers located in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States. For more information, please visit its website at www.lw.com.

A young girl with down down syndrome smiles while holding a spoon

There’s No Place Like Home: The Arc Releases A National Study on Disability Housing

/in , /by The Arc

Washington, D.C. – As people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families age, one question often takes center stage: Where will I or my family member live in the future? In 2019, The Arc’s Center for Future Planning partnered with CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership to better understand the challenges that families face when making plans and decisions around future homes, and are now releasing this important report and recommendations.

Nationwide, around 75% of adults with a disability live with an aging parent or other caregiver, and most are not connected to public supports or services. As a result, aging parents and family members frequently serve as unpaid primary caregivers for their family member with I/DD. Families worry about what will happen when they are not able to provide support to their loved one and are especially concerned about where their family member will live. However, more than half of families do not have a plan for the future.

The research found that:

  • Most people with I/DD and their families said that they had very little choice in where they live because there were not many home options that would accept a person with I/DD.
  • Family members often decided where the person with I/DD would live, but people with I/DD wanted to be involved in this decision.
  • People with I/DD cherish time they have in and with the community, and want more opportunities to integrate into their communities.
  • People with I/DD want to contribute to the choices that impact their lives, such as where they live, who they live with, and how they spend their time.
  • People with I/DD want opportunities to learn new skills, participate in tasks such as cleaning, cooking, and administering their own medication, and the chance to interact with friends and romantic partners.
  • People dream of having independence and opportunities, a setting that is physically accessible, having the ability to see their friends whenever they want, being treated with respect, and having well paid and qualified support staff.

“Where you live and the characteristics of that environment impact so many aspects of someone’s day to day life. The reality is people with disabilities don’t have enough options, and they are too often bystanders when these big decisions are made about their lives. Our hope is that this report sparks a dialogue across the country that leads to progress in integrated housing options, and expands person-centered planning and supported decision-making as people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families prepare for the future,” said Peter Berns, CEO, The Arc.

The report includes several recommendations, including:

  • Create a centralized place for information and resources;
  • Increase funding to promote quality, community-based housing services and housing options;
  • Improve the ability for families to navigate and use the disability service and housing systems;
  • Increase wages and training for direct support staff to help people with I/DD in their homes;
  • Ensure services and supports are person-centered and directed by what a person wants; and
  • Empower people with I/DD to exercise their rights and make decisions.

The Arc and CQL conducted a two-part mixed method study. The first part of this study included a national online survey of people with I/DD and family members of people with I/DD; the survey included both quantitative and qualitative items. The second part of this study included in-person nominal group technique (NGT) sessions throughout Illinois. NGT is a participatory action research method which includes structured brainstorming similar to a focus group, except it is more inclusive, accessible, collaborative, and reduces the power dynamics often involved in research. In total, 726 people participated in this study (377 people with I/DD (51.93%), 349 family members of people with I/DD (48.07%)), representing 45 states and the District of Columbia.

The Arc advocates for and serves people wit­­h intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), including Down syndrome, autism, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, cerebral palsy and other diagnoses. The Arc has a network of over 600 chapters across the country promoting and protecting the human rights of people with I/DD and actively supporting their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes and without regard to diagnosis.

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.

Out of focus image of a woman feeding a baby and holding a rubber ducky

HUD Proposal Erodes the Promise of the Fair Housing Act

/in /by The Arc

Washington, D.C. – The Arc is extremely concerned by the Affirmative Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule published today in the federal register. The proposed rule is a retreat from efforts to fight housing discrimination and segregation in the U.S. The proposed rule makes many potentially harmful changes, and removes language recognizing that affirmatively furthering fair housing includes an opportunity for people with disabilities to live in “the most integrated setting appropriate to the individual’s needs.” The new rule would result in less oversight, weaker and ill-advised standards, and a lost opportunity to improve housing opportunities for people most in need, including people with disabilities.

The Fair Housing Act requires housing agencies and communities receiving HUD funds to identify barriers to housing access for certain specified groups, including people with disabilities, and take affirmative steps to end housing discrimination. This new rule would replace and largely reverse the current AFFH rule, finalized in 2015, that The Arc strongly supported. This proposed rule comes in addition to HUD’s recent “disparate impact” proposed rule.

“We oppose this step to weaken fair housing protections and limit implementation and enforcement of the existing rule. Instead, HUD must protect and promote existing civil rights laws for people with disabilities,” said Peter Berns, CEO, The Arc. “HUD is entrusted with the responsibilities of enforcing the Fair Housing Act and building inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination. The proposed rule would do the opposite.”

The public has 60 days to comment on the rule. The Arc will continue to work to ensure that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have a right to live in safe, accessible, affordable housing in the community. We encourage you to make your voice heard on this proposal.

The Arc advocates for and serves people wit­­h intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), including Down syndrome, autism, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, cerebral palsy and other diagnoses. The Arc has a network of over 600 chapters across the country promoting and protecting the human rights of people with I/DD and actively supporting their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes and without regard to diagnosis.

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.

MLK Day logo that says "MLK Day of Service - Corporation for National and Community Service"

The Arc Joins #MLKDay of Service to End Food Insecurity

/in , , , /by Pam Katz

On this Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, The Arc will once again commemorate the life of Dr. King and his dream for equality and civil rights for all people. The iconic civil rights leader’s passionate and persistent fight for equality and against discrimination paved the way for the disability community to advance and persevere in its ongoing fight for equality, rights, and inclusion.

In honor of his work, The Arc is making it a day on, not a day off! This year, several chapters of The Arc and partner organizations will work together to address food insecurity and promote inclusive volunteering to bring together people with and without disabilities to serve their communities.

“People with disabilities are often perceived as the ones always in need of help, but in reality, they also have the desire and ability to help others and to play an active role in strengthening their own communities,” said Peter Berns, CEO of The Arc. “In the true spirit of Dr. King, the Day of Service shines a light on what all people – including those with intellectual and developmental disabilities – can do to love, uplift, and support their neighbors.”

Interested in participating on a volunteer project with one of our 2020 subgrantees? See if there’s a volunteer event near you in the list below! You can also search the national database for all opportunities to get involved.

A graphic depicting Martin Luther King, Jr. that reads "25th MLK Day of Service - make it a day on, not a day off. January 20, 2020. Volunteer at MLKDay.gov.

2020 MLK Day of Service Partner Organizations

If you’re looking for more information on volunteering and people with disabilities, check out our free resources.

silhouette of a hand casting a paper ballot into a box

The Arc Announces Voter Accessibility Project for Iowa Caucuses

/in , , , /by The Arc

Washington, D.C. – In advance of the Iowa caucuses, The Arc is announcing its new CaucusAbility project to help ensure that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in the battleground state have the opportunity to participate in our democracy in accessible, fair, and valuable ways.

The Arc will host pre-caucus trainings where Iowans with I/DD can learn how to caucus, practice the process, and also team up with a partner with disabilities or without disabilities to encourage caucus participation and to attend caucuses together.

People with disabilities face voter accessibility challenges and barriers to the caucus process, from crowded gymnasiums to limited seating. The caucuses are also unique in format – attendees may go in with a preference for a candidate, but throughout the event they will listen to other caucus goers make pitches for their preferred candidate. Quickly analyzing and processing the information and making an informed decision in that environment can be daunting. Furthermore, Iowa’s new and untested satellite caucus system for remote participation may be an additional barrier for people with I/DD.

WHO: The Arc

WHAT:  CaucusAbility

WHEN/WHERE:

Wednesday, January 15 Collegiate United Methodist Church Annex, Ames 1 p.m., 5:30 p.m.

Friday, January 17 Sioux City Public Museum, Sioux City 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m.  

Monday, January 20 Iowa City Public Library, Iowa City 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m.

WHY: Voter Accessibility

“The Arc is dedicated to a fully inclusive society for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and that includes the right to civic engagement. Having the support of a partner at the Iowa caucuses and the opportunity to practice in advance will help people in the disability community exercise their right to vote. We know that in 2012, one in five voters with disabilities experienced a barrier at the polls. We believe CaucusAbility helps address some of the unique accessibility challenges Iowans with disabilities experience at the caucuses, despite equal access protections under civil rights law,” said Peter Berns, CEO, The Arc.

The Arc advocates for and serves people wit­­h intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), including Down syndrome, autism, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, cerebral palsy and other diagnoses. The Arc has a network of over 600 chapters across the country promoting and protecting the human rights of people with I/DD and actively supporting their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes and without regard to diagnosis.

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.

A woman in a motorized chair plays with a small dog on a grassy field in front of a community of houses

Community Living Program Extension Passes: 2020 Year to Advocate for Deinstitutionalization

/in , , , , /by The Arc

Washington, D.C. – This week, instead of finalizing a deal that would provide certainty and stability to a program that moves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) out of institutions and into the community of their choice, Congress reauthorized the program for only five months.

The Money Follows the Person program, or MFP, provides funds to states to continue their work on deinstitutionalization, by paying for programs not normally covered by Medicaid, such as housing and employment services. MFP has moved more than 91,000 people with disabilities and aging adults out of institutional settings and back into the community, where they belong. The program has also shown better quality of life outcomes and Medicaid savings averaging 20% per beneficiary per month.

Just a few weeks ago, a bipartisan deal was on the table to permanently extend the program. But in the final negotiations, the length of the support of the program was changed to five months.

“While this is a disappointing turn of events, we have our marching orders for 2020 – advocate, advocate, advocate for a permanent commitment to Money Follows the Person. There is widespread, bipartisan support for this successful program. If we are going to achieve the goal of bringing people out of the dark shadows of institutions to live meaningful, independent lives in the communities of their choice among their family members and peers, with appropriate supports and services, then Congress has to step up. We are ready to help make that happen in 2020,” said Peter Berns, CEO, The Arc.

The Arc advocates for and serves people wit­­h intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), including Down syndrome, autism, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, cerebral palsy and other diagnoses. The Arc has a network of over 600 chapters across the country promoting and protecting the human rights of people with I/DD and actively supporting their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes and without regard to diagnosis.

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.

Couple hugging outside both with eyes closed

Paid Leave for Federal Workers Approved by Congress but Falls Short for Disability Community

/in , , , , /by The Arc

Washington, D.C. – This week, Congress approved 12 weeks paid parental leave for federal workers caring for newborns, newly adopted children, and foster children, but the benefit falls short. Federal employees with disabilities and their family members need paid time off for their own medical needs and for caregiving for reasons beyond welcoming a new child and we are disappointed that the country’s largest employer now has a paid leave policy that does not include these crucial components.

“We are somewhat encouraged to see Congress take a small step in the right direction, but this paid parental leave policy is not enough. We need comprehensive paid leave for everyone that works for everyone, including people with disabilities and their families. We will continue to advocate for the needs of the disability community in paid leave – Congress can and should do more,” said Peter Berns, CEO, The Arc.

In the U.S. workforce, only 1 in 6 workers has access to paid family leave to care for a family member with a serious health condition. Roughly 2 in 5 workers report they lack access to any paid leave. People with disabilities and their families often experience greater financial insecurity and are more likely to face barriers to employment that can render the financial impact of unpaid time off particularly devastating.

Comprehensive paid leave increases opportunities to take time off for a serious medical condition or to care for someone with a serious medical condition without seeing a sharp drop in income or putting one’s job or employer-based health insurance at risk. In addition, it can increase access to preventive care, such as going to doctor’s appointments, and lead to better overall health and well-being. Access to paid family and medical leave can help workers balance their personal care needs while working and providing support to a family member.

“Our expectation is that the federal government set the tone for other employers to enact paid leave policies that work for everyone. We will keeping fighting on this issue so that workers with disabilities and families that include people with disabilities one day have the comprehensive leave they need to contribute in the workforce and take care of their families,” said Berns.

The Arc has cultivated several national partnerships to bring the issue of paid family and medical leave further into the public spotlight and advocate on the federal level. Learn more about our work.

The Arc advocates for and serves people wit­­h intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), including Down syndrome, autism, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, cerebral palsy and other diagnoses. The Arc has a network of over 600 chapters across the country promoting and protecting the human rights of people with I/DD and actively supporting their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes and without regard to diagnosis.

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.

A man lays in a hospital bed as an out of focus doctor in the foreground holds a chart

The Arc Deeply Troubled by Affordable Care Act Ruling

/in , /by The Arc

Washington, D.C. – The Arc is deeply troubled by Wednesday’s Federal Appeals Court ruling in Texas v. United States jeopardizing the health care of millions of people with disabilities. In a disappointing decision, the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declared part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) unconstitutional. In sending the case back to the lower court that previously declared the entire ACA unconstitutional, the opinion leaves uncertain how much of the ACA will ultimately be struck down, putting the law and all of its vital protections at risk in the future.

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) who rely on the ACA could lose access to affordable and necessary health care, as well as important protections for people with disabilities and other pre-existing conditions.

The hard-fought expansion of Medicaid under the ACA is also at risk. More than 17 million people who gained coverage as a result of the expansion now face the cruel reality of possibly losing it including many people with disabilities. The relentless advocacy of The Arc and allies in the Medicaid fight of 2017 to preserve the ACA could be undone, causing irreparable harm to people with disabilities and their families, who face frustrating challenges accessing affordable and quality health care. Also, the decision itself points out that other important Medicaid programs that have moved people with disabilities back to their communities, such as the Community First Choice Option, hang in the balance.

“This decision is a threat to people with disabilities and their families. The Affordable Care Act’s protections for people with pre-existing conditions are the most important non-discrimination protections in health care. The ACA has been critical to improving health care access for people with disabilities,” said Peter Berns, CEO, The Arc. “While this decision won’t have an immediate impact, the potentially harmful consequences are widely understood – even the Fifth Circuit decision notes that the impact to people with disabilities must be a consideration. We fully support plans by several state attorneys general to challenge the decision all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. People should know that the ACA remains the law of the land for now and any insurance coverage remains intact. The Arc has fought for accessible health care for people with I/DD every step of the way and we will continue to do so.”

In April, The Arc and several other organizations representing people with disabilities filed an amicus brief to urge the Fifth Circuit to reverse a lower court ruling finding the ACA unconstitutional. The brief outlined how the ACA has been essential to overcoming the disproportionate impact that America’s health care crisis has had on people with disabilities, and how it is uniquely difficult for people with disabilities to obtain affordable and adequate health insurance coverage despite depending on health care services more than those without disabilities.

 

Man picking up lettuce in the produce section of the grocery store

The Arc Condemns New Food Stamp Program Rule

/in , , /by Kristin Wright

The Arc is concerned that a new federal rule in the food stamp program will hurt hundreds of thousands of people who experience food insecurity, including many with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). The change to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), made final by the USDA this week, will make it harder for many people with I/DD and their families to put food on the table, despite existing but often hard-to-access exemptions for people who receive benefits on the basis of their disability.

The new rule, unfortunately the first in a series of three in the works, will make it more difficult for states to waive arbitrary time limits for some people to receive SNAP benefits. Based on data from 2018, the new rule will take away the food safety net from an average of more than 600,000 households a month and just over 100,000 households will receive lower benefits.

“People with disabilities and their families, as well as those with chronic health conditions, are more likely to experience food insecurity. The Administration acknowledged receiving more than 100,000 comments from the public, mostly in opposition, concerning this change to SNAP when it was a proposal,” said Peter Berns, CEO, The Arc. “It is stunning that the USDA still decided to move forward with a plan that limits access to food for so many people. We opposed the proposal and we condemn the final rule.”

 

Man in red shirt getting on the bus and smiling at camera

Huge Victory for Community Living for People With Disabilities: Agreement in Congress to Commit to Money Follows the Person Program

/in /by The Arc

The Arc celebrates a major milestone victory in our decades-long fight to bring people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) out of the dark shadows of institutions to live meaningful, independent lives in the communities of their choice among their family members and peers, with appropriate supports and services.

U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley and Ron Wyden announced a bipartisan agreement Friday to permanently reauthorize funding for the Money Follows the Person (MFP) program as part of the larger Drug Pricing and Healthcare Extenders Package. Permanent reauthorization of MFP would provide funds to states to continue their work on deinstitutionalization, by paying for programs not normally covered by Medicaid, such as housing and employment services. MFP has moved more than 91,000 people with disabilities and aging adults out of institutional settings and back into the community, where they belong. The program has also shown better quality of life outcomes and Medicaid savings averaging 20% per beneficiary per month. While the package still must be voted on in the House and Senate, a permanent reauthorization of this program has never been introduced, and is a major step forward. One that we will work hard to ensure becomes law.

“A bipartisan agreement in Congress to permanently reauthorize the Money Follows the Person program is extraordinary news for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, and advocates. It is also a true testament to the years of grassroots efforts on the ground led by The Arc and allies, and our persistent advocacy on Capitol Hill to save the program and defend the civil rights of people with I/DD,” said Peter Berns, CEO, The Arc. “The Arc was founded by parents and family members who rejected institutions and fought for decades to close them. We applaud elected officials who understand the value of MFP, core to our mission to advance community living and close all institutions. We look forward to continuing our work with leaders in Congress to pass permanent reauthorization of the program.”

This agreement is expected to be voted on in Congress this month.