Advocacy and The Arc

Advocacy n. 1. Active support as of a cause, idea or policy.

Advocate n. 1. A person who argues for a cause; supporter or defender. 2. A person who pleads in another's behalf; intercessor.

The Arc of North Carolina has been advocating with and for people with developmental disabilities for over fifty years. Advocacy can take many forms. It can be as simple as one parent helping another find a dentist or as complex as influencing legislation through a large grass-roots letter writing campaign.

Advocacy is what The Arc does best. The Arc of North Carolina and Local chapters of The Arc provide advocacy to people with disabilities and their families. The advocacy varies but usually includes assistance in accessing services, reporting abuse, special education rights, community resources, benefits information, and parent support. Volunteers and staff from The Arc work to inform the community about disabilities and often sit on numerous committees, working groups, planning boards and advisory councils. By sitting on the various committees and boards, The Arc perspective is brought to the table so that people with developmental disabilities will be represented when and where decisions are being made. Information that is learned in these activities is then shared with members of The Arc throughout the state. The Arc of North Carolina shares state, federal and policy information with local chapter leaders and at times with the entire membership of The Arc through a newsletter or by using the Action Alert Network. You can subscribe to the Action Alert network on our home page.

Sometimes advocacy is not enough and an attorney may be needed. One benefit of being a member of The Arc in North Carolina is thirty minutes of free legal advice given by an attorney who specializes in disability law. To use this benefit contact your local chapter.

The Arc strongly advocates for policies, state and federal legislation that is consistent with the Core Values and Position Statements of The Arc. For information legislative and policy advocacy please see the Get Involved Box on The Arc of North Carolina's home page.