Arc of the United States

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. Since then, the organization has established state chapters in 39 states, and 730 local chapters in states across the country. The Arc of the United States is based in Washington D.C.

The organization was called the National Association for Retarded Children from 1953 to 1973 and then was the National Association for Retarded Citizens from 1973 to 1981, the Association for Retarded Citizens of the United States from 1981 to 1992, and it assumed its present name in 1992, as part of expanding its function and reacting to the euphemism treadmill.

The first organization of families was the Children's Benevolent League, incorporated in 1936 in the state of Washington. They soon began to make contact with individuals in other states who shared their concerns, One important move was speaking at the national convention of professionals in this field, which they did in 1941 and, after the war was over, in 1947. These speeches were published in the professionals' journal and circulated nationwide, facilitating contact between parents.

In 1950 the parents joined together to form what was called the Association for Retarded Children (later Citizens) and is now known simply as The Arc. At that time, the organization claims, there was a lack of awareness about and community programs for children and adults with developmental disabilities and their support families. In the early days the association worked to create a more positive public perception of children with mental retardation and to assert to parents and others the potential of people with mental retardation. The Arc also worked to procure services for children and adults who were denied day care, preschool, education and work programs.

The Arc provides services and support for families and individuals and includes over 140,000 members affiliated through more than 730 state and local chapters across the nation. Several states, including Alaska, Kansas, Maine, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, and Wyoming, only have local chapters, with no state office. Specific information on these local chapters can be found at Arc's website

Local chapters include small voluntary groups and large and sophisticated multimillion-dollar organizations. The Arc's network of chapters share common core values.NYSARC, Inc. is an affiliated non-profit serving New York state.

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