Our Vision
People in the disability community are diverse. They come from all backgrounds. They represent the full range of differences among people.
These include:
- Age
- Communication
- Culture
- Gender identity and expression
- Language
- Race and ethnicity
- Religion
- Sexuality
- Spirituality
- Values and beliefs
We honor and respect the identities represented in our community.
Equity work is urgent and life-long. We want to do better and hold ourselves accountable. We have not always been as diverse, accessible, equitable, or inclusive as we could be. We are impacted by many systems of oppression, including racism, ableism, and colonialism. We are on a journey to improve as an organization.
Everyone belongs. With their intersecting identities, all members of the disability community are valued, respected, and celebrated for who they are. They thrive and live their best lives.
The Arc is a leader in access, equity and inclusion (AEI). We work hard to ensure we are representative of diverse and marginalized communities and we promote social justice.
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The Arc’s Strategic Action Plan for Advancing
Access, Equity, and Inclusion
January 2022 to Present
Our plan guides the work of The Arc of the United States. We hope it will also guide The Arc’s network. Our network includes about 600 chapters around the country. Our plan represents the opinions and experiences of:
- People with disabilities and their families
- Our chapters
- People and groups from other diverse and marginalized communities
Our plan is a living document. It will evolve as needed to help us meet changes and challenges for years to come.
Our plan is in plain language. It is available in English and Spanish. We also have summary versions in both languages. Need the plan in a different format? Please email inclusion@thearc.org.
Explore the Plan
Here are links to the Plan and Words to Know in English:
Haga clic a continuación para ver el plan y palabras a conocer:
Staff and Board Diversity
At The Arc, we want to be transparent about where we are on our equity journey. We are working to increase our representation of diverse and marginalized communities. In the table below, you can explore our progress in key areas.
Want to learn more? Please email inclusion@thearc.org.
All Staff
(48 people)
|
Management Team
(6 people)
|
Board of Directors
(21 people)
| |
Identify as Disabled | 21% | 0% | 33% |
Identify as Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color (BIPOC) | 18% | 17% | 22% |
Identify as LGBTQIA+ | 13% | 17% | 11% |
Identify as Non-Binary | 3% | 0% | 6% |
Use Language Other Than English as Their First Language | 10% | 17% | 11% |
Last Updated February 2022
Thoughts about our access, equity, and inclusion work? We would love to learn more. Please share your thoughts or feedback with us by using the form below or by emailing us at inclusion@thearc.org.