| Q: | Is it Arc or ARC? |
| A: | Arc. In 1990, seven metro Arc chapters, led by a strong group of self-advocates and families, agreed to do away with the name "Association for Retarded Citizens" and its acronym and moved to using simply Arc. The name change arose out of concern with the label "retarded." |
|
| Q: | What is People First language? |
| A: | People First language puts the person before the disability and it describes what a person has, not who a person is. An example would be to say "people with disabilities" instead of "the handicapped or disabled." |
|
| Q: | What is the cost for Arc services? |
| A: | Calls for information and assistance and one-to-one advocacy services are provided without charge to consumers. It costs Arc an average of $35 to provide each hour of advocacy services. |
|
| Q: | What kinds of help does Arc provide? |
| A: | Arc supports people by making connections, getting answers, and sometimes, just listening. Services span a lifetime - providing help with education, health care, housing, employment and more. Programs include trainings and workshops for parents and professionals, information and one-to-one advocacy, public policy advocacy, People First self-advocacy and GetSet! Training for Special Education Success. In the near future we will offer Sibshops (for siblings of children with a disabiltiy), a Hea |
|
| Q: | Are services for members only? |
| A: | No. Arc will work with anyone who needs our help. Also, our events and trainings welcome anyone who is interested in attending. In 2009, approximately 100 parents, familiy members or professionals attended our workshops and trainings, and total attendance to our activities and events for people with developmental disabilities totaled over 1,000. Members of Arc are offered a discount on our workshops and trainings, and some events are offered free to members. |
|
| Q: | Why should I become an Arc member? |
| A: | Only a generation ago, people with disabilities were institutionalized and largely invisible. Today people with disabilities have many options for where they live, learn, work and play. Changes in public policy constantly threaten funding for programs and services. Arc's work is never done! Join Us! |
|
| Q: | Are there other Arc chapters in Minnesota and nationally? |
| A: | Yes. Arc of Kandiyohi County is one of 12 chapters in Minnesota under The Arc of Minnesota umbrella and one of 756 chapters nationwide within The Arc of the United States. Arc Greater Twin Cities is the largest chapter in Minnesota. Services and programs vary chapter to chapter, but all advocate for the rights and full participation of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. |
|
| Q: | Can I volunteer with Arc? |
| A: | Absolutely! Your time is precious. Share it with Arc and we will use it well! Agency volunteer opportunities range from helping with trainings and workshops, volunteering on committees to assisting with special events and mailings, to projects to help us in the office. Fundraising events also require many volunteers. |
|
