The Arc Responds to Bipartisan, Bicamercal Congressional Request for Information on Paid Leave Policies

The Arc submitted comments to a request for information by a bipartisan Congressional group hoping to address paid leave. The Arc’s comments emphasized the importance of paid leave for individuals with disabilities and caregivers.

FINDS Community Report 2023: Family & Individual Needs for Disability Supports

The Family and Individual Needs for Disability Supports (FINDS) survey provides insights and understanding of the experiences of families supporting a family member with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). It is critical research to inform better policy development.

The FINDS survey was initially conducted by The Arc of the United States in 2010. It was updated in 2017 through a collaboration between the Research and Training Center on Community Living (RTC/CL) at the University of Minnesota and The Arc.

The 2023 report focused on:

  1. What are the challenges families face in meeting the support needs of their family members?
  2. What are the economic implications of caregiving?
  3. How does caregiving affect caregivers, and what supports do they need?

A better understanding of the experiences and needs of caregivers can help policymakers and others support caregivers in this critical role.

Paid Leave and Disability: The Story of Debbi and Her Family

“I encourage people to join me in advocating for paid leave. This is something that is so necessary in our society.” – Debbi

Share to show your support for paid leave!

FINDS Community Report 2017: Family & Individual Needs for Disability Supports

Families play an important role in providing care to their family members with I/DD. Supports provided vary widely and include interventions to support people in areas of behavior, health and medical supports (such as therapies), transportation, assistive technologies, and assistance with daily living activities such as preparing meals, personal care, shopping, etc. The Family and Individual Needs for Disability Supports (FINDS) survey was initially conducted by The Arc of the United States in 2010. It was updated in 2017 through a collaboration between the Research and Training Center on Community Living (RTC/CL) at the University of Minnesota and The Arc. The purpose of FINDS is to understand the experiences of families who provide supports to a family member with IDD. An estimated 43.5 million people provide support to a family member who is aging or who has a disability (National Alliance for Caregiving, 2015).

Important questions exist about families who provide such support: 1. What are the challenges families face meeting the support needs of their family member? 2. What are the economic implications of caregiving? 3. How does caregiving affect caregivers and what supports do they need? Better understanding the experiences and needs of caregivers can help policy makers and other support caregivers in this important role.