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Why The Arc? Why Membership?

Why is joining The Arc as a member so important? Members of The Arc have literally changed the world for people with disabilities and their families. Because of members of The Arc, children and adults with mental retardation and related developmental disabilities have moved out of institutions to live in community settings, hold jobs, and participate as full members of our society. Because of the hard work of our members, people with disabilities today have choices in how they live, learn, work and play.

We Cannot Forget…

Only a generation ago, people with disabilities were denied basic human rights and put in institutions, out of sight, out of mind. Membership in The Arc is your statement that you are unwilling to go back to those days – that you want to be counted as someone willing to go on record as supporting opportunities for people with disabilities to choose and realize their dreams of where and how they live, learn, work and play. The Arc needs you because numbers count, and Arc’s voice is stronger, louder and listened to more carefully at the legislative level with the addition of every new member.

Membership is the Foundation for all The Arc's Services.

The Arc of DC needs you as a member! When you formally join The Arc as a member, you add to Arc's strong base of people who are concerned about children and adults with mental retardation and related developmental disabilities.

Belonging to The Arc of DC:

• adds your voice to others concerned about public policy issues affecting individuals with disabilities and their families. Elected officials listen to their constituents - by joining, you help The Arc be the voice for people with disabilities.

• provides you a subscription to Perspective, our local newsletter, keeping you abreast of current events in the field.

• and makes you a member of our national organization, The Arc of the United States, which qualifies you for a variety of benefits including reduced cost at conventions, conferences and special trainings, insurance programs designed to enhance membership in The Arc for which members or their offspring may qualify, and The Arc InSight, our national newspaper with up-to-date information on the organization and mental retardation. Visit www.thearc.org/join.htm for more details.

Choose the Membership Level which fits you best.

• Individual
• Family
• Corporate
• Nonprofit

For more information, call 202-636-2950

Download the Membership form here [.pdf]