Washington, DC – The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program was designed to combat poverty among people with disabilities, but the program’s outdated rules do just the opposite—forcing people to live in poverty to qualify for monthly assistance. Today, The Arc celebrates the introduction of the SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act by Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), […]
The post New Bipartisan Bill Would Advance Economic Security for Disabled Americans appeared first on The Arc.

For Immediate Release September 11, 2023  [San Antonio, Texas] – Today, the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas began the first day of trial in a case challenging S.B. 1, a Texas law that targets voting access. The case is comprised of five lawsuits, including Houston Area Urban League v. Abbott […]
The post Federal Court in Texas Hears Lawsuit Challenging S.B. 1, State Law Targeting Voting Rights appeared first on The Arc.

People with disabilities want to live in their own communities and make their own choices about their lives – just like everyone else. For millions, Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) like Betty Davis make that independence possible. Betty has always had the innate ability to create a safe space for disabled people. As a child, she […]
The post DSP Recognition Week: Betty Davis’ Story appeared first on The Arc.

States are aggressively evaluating their Medicaid enrollments following the end of the public health emergency, and many are losing coverage. Here’s everything you need to know about the unwinding and what to do if you are a Medicaid beneficiary – direct from Dr. Aditi Mallick, Acting Director of the CMS Office of Minority Health. Health […]
The post Medicaid Eligibility Renewals: A Message From CMS Office of Minority Health appeared first on The Arc.

By Pauline Bosma and James Meadours As people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who are also survivors of sexual violence, we face many challenges when trying to get good health care. We think it’s important to share our stories to help make things better for other people like us. We also want to help […]
The post Let’s Talk About Sexual Violence: Addressing Miscommunication, Inexperience, and Bias in Health Care appeared first on The Arc.

Barbara’s son Jake is a medically complex young adult living at home with his parents. Jake relies on Medicaid to provide the services he needs to be medically safe and supported at home, including continuous skilled nursing and personal care assistance (PCA). To be eligible for these services, Jake undergoes an annual assessment. This determines […]
The post Barbara Advocates for Her Son Jake Because His Life Depends on It appeared first on The Arc.

Cassie is a mother, former educator, and co-founder of Michigan Advocates to End Seclusion and Restraint (EndSaR). She is a passionate advocate against the use of seclusion and restraint in schools, fueled by a lifetime of personal and professional experiences with these practices, which she hopes others can learn from. Cassie’s first experience with seclusion […]
The post Seclusion and Restraint: A Mother and Teacher’s Perspective appeared first on The Arc.

When her seven-year-old son was in first grade, Michigan mom Amanda got an unexpected call from the new school principal. Her son, who has autism, had kicked the principal—and Amanda was being asked to keep her son home from school the next day. A strong advocate for her son, Amanda agreed but asked the school […]
The post Amanda and Other Michigan Advocates Fight to End Seclusion and Restraint in Schools appeared first on The Arc.

By Terri from Massachusetts Fifteen years ago, within days of being born, we learned that our son had Down syndrome. This sent us into a flurry of information gathering, advocacy, and more. One of the first pieces of advice other parents gave us was to sign up for Medicaid to help with expenses, including daylong […]
The post One Family’s Experience Navigating Medicaid, From Applying to Obtaining Services appeared first on The Arc.

By Bob from New Jersey Medicaid saved my daughters’ lives, and I am eternally grateful for it. Annika and Maya were born 19 years ago with significant developmental disabilities and complex medical issues. Medicaid gave us easy access to one of the best children’s hospitals in the world, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), which is […]
The post Medicaid Saved Bob’s Daughters’ Lives but Also Creates Constant Struggles appeared first on The Arc.