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Autism® Soars Across the Country Growing in All the 2014 ANNUAL REPORT Right Ways THE ARC | 2014 ANNUAL REPORT iii Table of Contents 1 Welcome Letter 2 Financial Security — Making Savings a Reality for People with Disabilities 3 Policy Victories in 2015 4 A New Partnership Promoting Inclusion in Professional Sports 5 Growing Opportunities in a Competitive Job Market 6 Wings for Autism® Soars Across the Country 8 Self-Advocates from Texas Inspiring The Arc’s National Network 10 Changing What Justice Looks Like for People with I/DD, One Case at a Time 11 Future Planning: It’s Possible and Necessary 12 Unlocking the Possibilities — Getting Online with People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities 13 The Arc’s 2014 National Convention — A Rousing Success! 14 2014 Philanthropic Contributions 16 2014 Financial Reports 18 Board Officers and Directors iv THE ARC | 2014 ANNUAL REPORT The Arc’s Mission Statement The Arc promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual Senior Management Team at The Arc and developmental disabilities and Peter V. Berns, Chief Executive Officer actively supports their full inclusion Marty Ford, Senior Executive Officer, Public Policy and participation in the community Trudy Jacobson, Senior Executive Officer, Development & Marketing throughout their lifetimes. Kristen McKiernan, Senior Executive Officer, Communications Darcy Rosenbaum, Senior Executive Officer, Operations Robin Shaffert, Senior Executive Officer, Individual & Family Support Karen Wolf-Branigin, Senior Executive Officer, National Initiatives THE ARC | 2014 ANNUAL REPORT 1 Growing in All the Right Ways Dear Friends, There is no denying that last year was one of continued ast year was a whirlwind of activity, growth and excitement in growth, but we never forget our roots – the families and LThe Arc’s network. The Arc is one of those truly unique and people with disabilities that built this organization. Self-advo- enduring organizations that lives and breathes as a movement cates helped grow The Arc from a small grassroots organiza- through the families and individuals we serve and advocate along- tion to the largest disability organization in the country. During side for the civil and human rights of people with intellectual and 2014, the amazing self-advocates in our network played count- developmental disabilities (I/DD). Last year was a special year less roles, from advocating locally and nationally to helping to lead Ronald E. Brown because the groundwork we laid in 2013 gave way to the bloom of our chapters through struggles and successes. While their involve- a number of new projects and successes that will help us fulfill our ment varies, some serving as chapter staff others as volunteers, mission moving forward. As we do each year, we want to share with their leadership and involvement in our movement is invaluable. you some of what we accomplished in 2014. This work took place Their stories encapsulate why we do what we do and what The Arc through programs offered by the national office, in the halls of Con- stands for. They represent not only the history of our movement, gress, and in chapters in 48 states across the country. but our future. In 2014, The Arc continued our public policy work on behalf of Last year was a successful one for The Arc and the culmination people with I/DD, their families and our chapters. This past year, of over 60 years of work. What we achieved was only possible even in the face of political gridlock, we chalked up a big bipar- because of our powerful chapters and advocates who drive our tisan victory. Eight years of advocacy effort across four sessions of mission forward. Together, we will continue to grow in all the right Peter V. Berns Congress culminated in the passage of the Achieving a Better Life ways. Experience (ABLE) Act, which will provide a new savings option for We hope you enjoy looking back on another successful year for many people with I/DD, helping them achieve their goals of inde- The Arc, and as always we continue to look forward to future tri- pendence. umphs in the year ahead. As in years past, our national initiatives continued to grow into new and exciting fields, giving us the opportunity to be innovative Sincerely, leaders in the disability community. Last year, we launched several new program initiatives, including our new Center for Future Plan- ning, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Prevention Project, Wings for Autism, the National Center on Criminal Justice and Disability, Ronald E. Brown, Peter V. Berns, our Digital Literacy/Tech Toolbox Project, the PLAY Campaign, President Chief Executive Officer and expanded our existing employment initiatives with the help of exciting new partnerships. Each of these projects was designed with our chapters in mind, and has aspects that can be implemented or used to serve individuals with I/DD on a local level. 2 THE ARC | 2014 ANNUAL REPORT Financial Security — Making Savings a Reality for People with Disabilities aving for life’s unexpected needs is The law allows eligible individuals with Sa smart strategy for anyone – yet for disabilities the ability to establish “ABLE people with I/DD, putting aside some accounts” for qualified beneficiaries that Thank You money for the future was all too compli- resemble the qualified tuition programs, cated. After years of bipartisan efforts, in often called “529 accounts”, that have Thank you to the sponsors and 2014, Congress passed and the President been established under that section of the supporters of this bill. This remarkable signed into law The Stephen Beck, Jr., tax code since 1996. The new ABLE ac- piece of legislation had immense Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) counts will allow more individual choice and bipartisan support with 381 Act, to allow more financial security for control over spending on qualified disability co-sponsors in the House and 79 people with disabilities. expenses and limited investment decisions, co-sponsors in the Senate. Without the while protecting eligibility for Medicaid, amazing work in both the House and Supplemental Security Income, and other the Senate, the ABLE Act would not important federal benefits for people with have been passed. disabilities. The Arc has been a leader on this legisla- Chief Sponsors of this bill were: tion for many years, and worked up until it Congressman Crenshaw (R-FL), was approved by the House and the Senate Congressman Van Hollen (D-MD), to make sure that many people with I/DD Senator Casey (D-PA), and would be able to make use of this sav- Senator Burr (R-NC). ings vehicle without consequence to their benefits. In an era of Congressional gridlock Other key Members whose work on a host of issues facing people with I/DD helped to ensure final passage were: and the nation as a whole, The ABLE Act is House Majority Leader McCarthy a shining example of our leadership coming (R-CA), House Rules Committee together to get something meaningful done Chairman Sessions (R-TX), House that will have a positive impact on the lives Republican Conference Chair McMorris of people with disabilities and their families. Rodgers (R-WA), Senate Finance For state by state information about the Committee Chairman Wyden (D- From left to Right: House Rules Committee Chairman Pete Sessions (R-TX) ABLE Act visit our website - www.thearc. OR), and Senate Finance Committee with Marty Ford, The Arc’s Senior Executive Officer for Public Policy, and org/what-we-do/public-policy/policy-issues/ Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) at the ABLE Act celebration at the able-legislation-by-state. Ranking Member Hatch (R-UT). White House. THE ARC | 2014 ANNUAL REPORT 3 Policy Victories in 2014 Congress Reauthorizes Vital Autism CARES Signed Into Law Workforce Programs n August, The Arc celebrated the enactment of the Autism ICollaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support n July 2014, the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) (CARES) Act of 2014. This law reauthorizes the Combating Autism Iwas passed by Congress and signed into law by the President. Act of 2011 for five years and makes a number of improvements This legislation reauthorized vital workforce programs, including to it. President Obama signed the legislation into law on August Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services under the Rehabilitation Act 8, 2014. and the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) through FY 2020. The law also includes a name change that uses more respectful WIOA has a renewed focus on competitive integrated employment language, a designated autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) posi- as a vocational rehabilitation outcome, an emphasis on transition tion in the Department of Health and Human Services to oversee services for youth with disabilities, and seeks to increase access to the law’s implementation, increased representation of self-ad- and opportunities for the employment, education, training, and vocates and family members on the Interagency Autism Coordi- support services needed to succeed in the labor market. nating Committee (IACC), and requirement of a report on the This bipartisan, bicameral legislation was developed by Senator needs of transitioning youth. Tom Harkin (D-IA), Representative John Kline (R-MN), Senator Since its original enactment in 2006, the law has significantly Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Representative George Miller (D-CA), advanced the science and practice in the disability field by in- Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Representative Virginia Foxx (R-NC), creasing the number, scope, pace, and coordination of research, Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA), and Representative Rubén Hinojosa surveillance, public awareness, and professional training efforts. (D-TX). Among its many notable achievements are an increase in the pro- Reauthorization of this legislation was a top legislative priority for portion of infants screened for ASDs, an increase in the propor- The Arc. In fact, The Arc advocated for many improvements and tion of children diagnosed by the age of three, and continuing supported the compromise under WIOA, along with other national improvements to decrease the time between diagnosis and disability groups.
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