They Saw Humanity. They Fought for Dignity
In 1950, little was known about intellectual and developmental disabilities. There were virtually no programs or activities to support people with IDD or their families, and no laws to protect them against discrimination or exclusion. It was common for doctors to tell parents that the best place for their disabled child was in an institution, where they were often hidden away from society and denied an education or proper care. But these families refused to accept that. They wanted their loved ones to lead fulfilling lives in the community, not be locked away in institutions. The Arc was born from their determination to keep their children at home and change what society believed was possible for people with disabilities.
Since then, The Arc has helped drive major disability rights advances and build a network of state and local chapters.
Language, Respect, and Our Evolving Name
Language shapes how people are treated. Some of the words once used in medicine, education, and public policy to describe people with disabilities became deeply harmful. And in society, they were used to insult, exclude, and dehumanize people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. As disabled people and families spoke out, The Arc listened. We lead the fight to remove the R-word from laws and public conversation. We also changed our name to reflect the leadership of people with disabilities and our belief that every person deserves dignity and respect. “The Arc” is not an acronym reflecting outdated words. The Arc is for and with people with disabilities, living fulfilling lives in their communities across the arc of their lifetime.
Today, the only R-word we know is respect. We don’t use or accept outdated and harmful language. We use terms like intellectual disability and developmental disability, and we continue working toward a world where people with disabilities are valued and included.
Name History
1953 – 1973: National Association for Retarded Children (NARC)
1973 – 1981: National Association for Retarded Citizens (NARC)
1981 – 1992: Association for Retarded Citizens of the United States (ARC)
1992 – Present: The Arc of the United States (The Arc)
Timeline: The Arc’s Impact Through the Years
The Arc has been a leader in making positive change happen for people with disabilities and their families. Whether through advocacy or by supporting research efforts, The Arc has fought alongside people with disabilities and families to strengthen programs, services, dignity, and rights. Here are a few highlights.
1950s
Parent groups throughout the country meet in Minneapolis, MN in 1950 to organize The Arc (originally the National Association of Parents and Friends of Retarded Children).
The Arc becomes the first organization to put money into research on intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The Arc intensifies its advocacy for research and asks Congress for full support for an International Research Plan.
1960s
The Arc opens a Governmental Affairs (Public Policy) Office in Washington, D.C.
The Arc is represented on the first President’s Panel on Mental Retardation (PPMR).
The Arc’s advocacy with other national organizations results in the enactment of Medicare and Medicaid.
The Arc helps expose the link between lead poisoning and harmful effects in infants and children.
1970s
The Arc advocates for the creation of the Supplemental Security Income program to provide income for persons with severe disabilities who have little or no income.
Large numbers of people begin to leave institutions as services for people with disabilities emerge within communities.
The Arc works with other organizations to push for the establishment of the Medicare and Medicaid programs, the Developmental Disabilities Services and Facilities Construction Amendments of 1970 and subsequent amendments, and P.L. 94-142 (precursor to IDEA) which guarantees a free and appropriate public education for all children with disabilities.
With research funding support from The Arc, Kenneth Jones, M.D, defines the disorder Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
1980s
The Arc conducts a survey of state genetic screening programs. A listing of each state’s specific infant screening tests is developed and distributed to The Arc’s state and local chapters.
The Arc supports the passage of the Medicaid Home and Community-Based Waiver.
The Arc helps create the Supported Employment program within the Rehabilitation Act.
The Arc successfully pushes Congress to add disability as a protected class under the Fair Housing Act.
The Arc helps pass legislation to expand education services to infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.
1990s
The Arc receives a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to implement a project to educate The Arc community about the ethical, legal, and social implications of the Human Genome Project.
The Arc receives a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to support the development and dissemination of the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Resource and Materials Guide.
The Arc is a leader among national disability groups to advocate for the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act.
2000s
The Arc participates in the drafting of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The Arc wins expanded provisions in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the Higher Education Act that will help students move from public schooling to higher education, employment, and adult life.
The Arc, in collaboration with the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, publishes National Goals and Research for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, a book highlighting challenges to achieving the government’s promise to people with disabilities.
2010-Present
The Arc works with other organizations to support passage of the Affordable Care Act, which expanded access to affordable and comprehensive health coverage, made improvements in long term supports and services, and strengthened consumer protection and nondiscrimination provisions.
The Arc supports passage of Rosa’s Law, which replaces the outdated term “mental retardation” with intellectual disability in federal health, education, and labor policy.
The Arc supports passage of the ABLE Act which creates tax-advantaged savings accounts for individuals with disabilities which are exempt from means-testing in federal programs.
The Arc is instrumental in defeating attempts by Congress to block grant and cap Medicaid, a change in the structure of the program that would have had great impact on the lives of people with disabilities.
Discover More
Learn more about the values that guide our work.
The Arc promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.
