Washington, DC – On Friday, February 10, 150 leaders of The Arc from across the country met with a variety of senior White House officials at a Community Leaders Briefing to ask questions and discuss issues facing people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) (for Massachusetts attendees please see list below which includes towns). The session, held just for The Arc, included an unannounced visit from President Barack Obama. The President spoke of his commitment to people with disabilities saying, “I’ve got your back.”    Read on to see comments from the other speakers and pictures from the event.  Speakers included the Chief of Staff, Domestic Policy Director and the Attorney General’s leader on Civil Rights enforcement.  To see video of part of the day, go here. 

Read More Here.

Washington, DC – This week, five leaders of The Arc from Massachusetts will join 150 leaders of The Arc from across the country to attend a White House Community Leaders Briefing.   Over the course of the day, leaders of chapters of The Arc, including people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), will be briefed by high level White House and Administration officials on topics ranging from Medicaid to education to community living and employment for people with I/DD, and have the chance to engage with and ask questions of these officials.  This day-long briefing is specifically for The Arc’s network, and comes just weeks before Developmental Disabilities Awareness month, which is in March and will be marked with efforts across the country to raise awareness of issues facing people with disabilities. 

This tough economy has been doubly hard for children and adults and their families served through the Department of Developmental Services. Some of the House 2 budget decisions will not help alleviate what families are facing. The Arc and ADDP are finalizing with other groups priorities to share with house and senate members. Here is a foreshadowing of key priorities:

• The Family Support/Respite program - request restoration of $15.5 Million which includes the 2010 cuts
• Include a salary reserve of $28 Million for direct support staff and managers
• Maintain Transportation services as a separate line item and include annual costs for this year's Turning 22 students
• Add $1.3 Million to Employment and Day Service account to cover full costs

Read House 2 Report and Analysis. 

Today's Notes from The Arc is the link to this headline.

Governor Deval Patrick has released the highly anticipated state’s fiscal year 2013 budget. The governor has stated his commitment to put communities and families first.  We have seen that in action when last summer family support and day habilitation cuts were not implemented. Even so, we will need to strongly advocate during the next step of the budget process with House Ways and Means to restore Family Support Programs ($5.5 Million cut this year, $10 Million in 2010), Turning 22 which is still stuck at $5 Million despite 710 students and a salary reserve.  Our outline covers both bad and good news.  Read more at the link.