Arc of the United States

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The Arc of the United States
Formation1950
FoundersParent advocacy groups
Type 501(c)(3) organization
PurposeDisability rights, services, and advocacy
Headquarters2000 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20006
Area served
United States
Membership577 chapters (as of 2024) [1]
Key people
Katherine (Katy) Neas (CEO) [2]
Website thearc.org

The Arc of the United States is an organization serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The organization was founded in the 1950s by parents of people with developmental disabilities. [3] The Arc of the United States is based in Washington, D.C. and, as of 2024, operates 577 chapters in the city as well as all states except Maine. [1]

Contents

Work

The organization advocates for disabled people and helps them with issues like finding jobs, and helping employers adapt to the needs of disabled people. [4]

According to financial statements submitted to the IRS, the organization's 2019 income was $9.8 million. Its end of year assets were reported to be $13.4 million. [5] Major sources of income are charitable donations; dues for membership in local and state chapters; and government grants, contracts, and fees. [6]

The Arc's National Center on Criminal Justice and Disability deals with the unique misunderstandings that can happen on all sides. [7] [8]

History

The first organization of families was the Children's Benevolent League, incorporated in 1936 in the state of Washington.[ citation needed ] The San Francisco chapter was founded in 1951. [9] [10] [11]

From 1953 to 1973 the organization was called the National Association for Retarded Children (NARC), adopting the mantle of the New York-based NYSARC.

President John F. Kennedy addressing NARC in 1963. John F. Kennedy's Address to the National Association for Retarded Children.jpg
President John F. Kennedy addressing NARC in 1963.
President Richard Nixon meeting with the 1972 poster child of the NARC. Meeting with 1972 Poster Child of the National Association for Retarded Children - NARA - 194760.tif
President Richard Nixon meeting with the 1972 poster child of the NARC.

From 1973 to 1981, the name was changed to the National Association for Retarded Citizens. From 1981 to 1992 that was changed to Association for Retarded Citizens of the United States. The Arc assumed its present name in 1992, recognizing the pejorative nature of the word "retarded". [12] [13]

In the 1980s the Arc condemned the use of physical punishment to modify behavior in people with disabilities. [14]

In 2008, the Arc was among a group of disability organizations, including the Special Olympics and the National Down Syndrome Congress, which called for a boycott of the film Tropic Thunder , partly due to the way it used the word "retard". [15] [16]

In 2021, Berkshire County Arc management and board were found to have misused state funds on company building projects and personal credit cards, which the CEO said,"The end result was that there was no finding of wrongdoing or financial misappropriation of funds." [17] [18] [19]

References

  1. 1 2 "2024 Annual Report" (PDF). The Arc of the United States. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  2. ↑ "The Arc of the United States Names Katy Neas CEO". The Arc of the United States. June 26, 2024. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  3. ↑ "History". The Arc of the United States. 2011.
  4. ↑ "Willing and ready to work". San Francisco Chronicle . Hearst Communications. 12 May 2005. Archived from the original on 27 April 2006. Retrieved 18 February 2009.
  5. ↑ ProPublica, Mike Tigas, Sisi Wei, Ken Schwencke, Brandon Roberts, Alec Glassford (May 9, 2013). "THE ARC OF THE UNITED STATES - Form Form 990 for period ending Dec 2019 - Nonprofit Explorer". ProPublica. Retrieved May 19, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ↑ "IRS Form 990: Report of Organization Exempt from Income Tax". The Arc of the United States. Archived from the original on November 26, 2008.
  7. ↑ "Disability in the Criminal Justice System". The Arc. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Criminal Justice System Position Statement". The Arc. 2021. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  9. ↑ Crawford, Sabrina (2006). Newcomer's Handbook for Moving to And Living in the San Francisco Bay Area: Including San Jose, Oakland, Berkeley, And Palo Alto . New York: First Book. p.  274. ISBN   0-912301-63-5. Arc of San Francisco.
  10. ↑ "Affordable Housing Coalitions and Agencies". California Department of Developmental Services . California Health and Human Services Agency. November 1, 2007. Archived from the original on April 11, 2009.
  11. ↑ Smith, Matt (March 13, 2007). "A Walk in the Park". SF Weekly . Village Voice Media. Archived from the original on June 10, 2011. Retrieved February 18, 2009.
  12. ↑ "History of The Arc". The Arc. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  13. ↑ "The Arc's Name Changes Throughout Its History". 2011.
  14. ↑ "3 Nov 1985, 3 - Casper Star-Tribune at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  15. ↑ Cieply, Michael (August 11, 2008). "Groups Call for Boycott of 'Tropic Thunder' Film". The New York Times.
  16. ↑ ABC News. "Stiller's 'Thunder' Under Fire From Disability Groups". ABC News. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Audit finds Berkshire agency which serves the disabled misspent more than $777,000 in state money". May 26, 2021.
  18. ↑ Eagle, Tony Dobrowolski, The Berkshire (April 7, 2023). "Maryann Hyatt found her career in a nontraditional way. It's led her to become the president and CEO of Berkshire County Arc". The Berkshire Eagle. Retrieved September 1, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  19. ↑ Office of the State Auditor (May 25, 2021). "Audit of the Berkshire County Arc, Inc. (BCArc)".
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