Arc of the United States facts for kids
The Arc of the United States is a group that helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It was started in the 1950s by parents who wanted to support their children with these disabilities.
Since then, The Arc has grown a lot. It now has chapters in 39 states and 730 local groups across the country. The main office of The Arc of the United States is in Washington, D.C..
How The Arc Helps People
The Arc works to support people with disabilities. They help them with important things like finding jobs. They also help employers make their workplaces better for people with disabilities. This makes it easier for everyone to work.
The Arc also has a special team that helps people with disabilities who might get into trouble with the law. They work to make sure everyone understands each other better in these situations.
The Arc's History
The very first group like The Arc was called the Children's Benevolent League. It started in 1936 in Washington state. Later, a chapter was formed in San Francisco in 1951.
From 1953 to 1973, the organization was known as the National Association for Retarded Children. This name came from a similar group in New York.
The name changed a few times over the years. From 1973 to 1981, it was the "National Association for Retarded Citizens." Then, from 1981 to 1992, it was the "Association for Retarded Citizens of the United States." In 1992, the group officially became "The Arc." This new name was chosen because the word "retarded" was seen as hurtful and outdated.
In the 1980s, The Arc spoke out against using physical punishment to change the behavior of people with disabilities. They believed in kinder ways to help.
In 2008, The Arc joined other disability groups, like the Special Olympics, to ask people not to watch the movie Tropic Thunder. They felt the movie used a hurtful word in a way that was not respectful to people with disabilities.
In 2021, there were some changes in how The Arc was run in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. The leaders made sure that the organization's money was used correctly for its projects and activities.
