The Arc of Massachusetts

We are working toward a goal of increasing equity for people with I/DD and autism across all aspects of society, by removing barriers to inclusion, eliminating bias in all its forms, and improving the quality of life of these individuals. We advocate for increased funding on the local and national level that would support programs and services these individuals need to thrive in their community, as well as for better policies and legislation that will protect and better serve the community of individuals with I/DD.

The Arc of Massachusetts provides education and systems advocacy to consumers, families, human services organizations, the public, legislators, other public officials, and the executive branch. Together with The Arc of the United States, we combine the best elements of grassroots support and advocacy so that individuals can thrive in their communities or address the barriers in their way.

The Arc of Massachusetts has five programs that are working to improve the quality of life for individuals with I/DD living in Massachusetts. They include the following:

Empowerment
The Arc of Massachusetts plays a leadership role in advocating on both the state and federal levels to obtain services and supports for people of all ages with autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and other intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). This includes ensuring that elected leaders and public officials understand the needs of our constituents, advancing progressive regulations or policies, and working with the judicial system if needed. We encourage families and individuals to advocate for their personal goals.

Education and Transition Training
The Arc provides a range of webinars and outreach sessions to assist families in their caregiving role and to educate them about resources that are available. We provide self-advocates, parents, educators, and other professionals the tools they need to assure positive transitions from school to adulthood, so they can be fully included in the community with access to housing, employment, and recreation. Our work with the Massachusetts Alliance for 21st Century Policy, including the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council, involves both education and empowerment.

Operation House Call
Operation House Call (OHC) teaches new medical professionals essential skills to enhance the health care of persons with I/DD. Families, parents, and individual self-advocates serve as educators in a health care field that seldom focuses on more than making a diagnosis. It is a rare and important training opportunity for students at Boston University School of Medicine, Tufts Medical School, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Simmons College School of Health Sciences, and Yale University School of Nursing. Through OHC, students begin to build confidence and interest in working with individuals with I/DD and their families.

SUPPORTbrokers
SUPPORTbrokers assists persons with disabilities achieve their vision. We accomplish this through planning, education, and advocacy. Consumers or families hire a support broker to help them find appropriate services and supports to thrive in their community. Brokers can help consumers find transportation, a place to live, someone to help them with daily living skills, a job counselor, and other linkages. They also can facilitate and create a person-centered plan and help consumers apply for Social Security or health insurance, among other benefits.

Widening the Circle
Widening the Circle explores the benefits of relationships between people with and without disabilities and provides information on engaging in and sustaining those relationships. Building friendships can be especially challenging to people who have disabilities, whose relationships are often limited to family, paid staff, and others with disabilities. All people benefit from a diversity of relationships.

The Arc of Massachusetts has many dedicated teams working diligently toward our goals in advocacy, outreach, improvements in the field of healthcare, and promoting pathways to friendships between individuals with and without disabilities. Our teams include: Government Affairs, Education, Operation House Call, and Widening the Circle.

Our Government Affairs Team consists of a Director of Government Affairs, a Director of Public Policy, a Policy Officer, Advocacy Alliance Coordinators, a dedicated Steering Committee (who meet bimonthly), a Government Affairs Committee (who meet monthly), and a network of thousands of grassroots advocates across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Our Education Team consists of a Director of Outreach and Education, a Supporting Families Campaign, a Family Support Network, and a team of SUPPORTbrokers, who educate and advocate for families in need of connecting with services and supports for their loved ones with I/DD.

Our Operation House Call Team consists of a Director of Operation House Call, a secondary Program Director, two Family Coordinators, and a Co-Teacher Coordinator. We also have hundreds of volunteer families who conduct trainings and home visits with medical professionals, and robust programs at five leading medical and nursing schools within Massachusetts.

Our Widening the Circle Team consists of five Pathways Facilitators, who work with 27 agencies across the state to facilitate community inclusion and activities that foster friendship opportunities for individuals with I/DD.

The Arc of Massachusetts was founded 65 year ago in 1954. In those early days, families banded together to change policies and practices by advocating for special education, de-institutionalization, and for funding for adult supports. In 2000, The Arc sued the Department of Mental Retardation and 2,437 individuals who were in institutions because their families lacked necessary supports got the opportunity to live in their communities and receive services. In 2013-2014, The Arc played a key role in passage of four key pieces of legislation: Real Lives, Autism Omnibus bill, National Background Check and a data study of autism.

Today, The Arc works to ensure the rights of people with disabilities, obtain funding for support services, and seek the passage of good policies and laws, such as Nicky’s Law, a bill that would create a registry for care providers who have been substantiated of abuse against individuals with I/DD; the Workforce Initiative, a bill that looks to address and resolve the workforce shortage crisis within the field of direct support professionals in human services; and Operation House Call, a bill that seeks to improve access to the highest quality healthcare possible for individuals with I/DD.