The Arc is the nation’s largest and leading organization for people with I/DD and their families with a 60 year history of promoting and protecting the rights of people with I/DD and providing them the opportunity to live full, satisfying and self-determined lives as valued and contributing members of their communities.

Si tiene un niño o miembro de la familia con una incapacidad intelectual o de desarrollo, puede contactuar El Arco de Tennessee a: 1.800.835.7077 ext. 11 para recibir más información sobre recursos y servicios.

Watch President Obama Speak with Members of The Arc at the White House

The Arc has been supporting individuals with autism for more than sixty years. For more information about autism and related resources, visit The Arc’s “Autism Now” website: http://autismnow.org/

Beginning January 1, 2012, in order to vote during the early voting period or on Election Day, voters must present a state or federal ID containing the voter's name and photograph. Read more in the Division of Elections flyer HERE.

TennCare posted it proposal for its demonstration project on integrating LTSS (long term services and supports) for individuals who are “dually eligible” – are both Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.  This proposal will radically change the way medical care and long term care services are delivered to this population in the coming years. You can read the Duals Demo HERE. You can review the LTSS Stakholder Briefing 2012 HERE. Comments on the draft proposal are due by May 11, 2012.  Comments may be submitted on TennCare's website here http://www.tn.gov/tenncare/index.shtml.

Disability Law & Advocacy Center of Tennessee (DLAC) is seeking community input to establish areas of work for next year. DLAC is the federally mandated Protection & Advocacy system for Tennessee and provides free advocacy and legal services to protect the rights of Tennesseans with disabilities. They are seeking input from individuals from across the state. Please take 5-10 minutes to complete the survey. This information is critical as DLAC develops future areas of work that directly respond to identified needs. You can access the survey at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9HST926.

To see a video of the Educate to Advocate (strategies to advance disability public policies) seminar recently held at Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, click HERE.

Add a new book to your reading collection and raise money for The Arc Tennessee and The Arc US at the same time! If you purchase either book listed below, both organizations receive a share of the revenues:

Managing a Special Needs Trust: A Guide for Trustees (2010) by Barbara D. Jackins & three attorney colleagues "...indispensable guide to the issues special needs trustees are likely to face..." Harry S. Margolis, Attorney, Co-founder, Academy of Special Needs Planners

Reflections from a Different Journey: What Adults with Disabilities Wish All Parents Knew (2011) edited by Stanley D. Klein, Ph.D. and John D. Kemp "...fabulous contribution to the field...Parents everywhere need to read this book...Everyone involved...needs to read it." Patricia McGill Smith, Former national parent leader; Former Deputy Secretary, US Dept. of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services

For complete descriptions of each book, go to www.DisABILITIESBOOKS.com. When you purchase online, enter TheArcTN in the space "Customer Comments" at the end of the online order form. The price for each book is $24. Shipping cost: $7/first book; +$1/each additional book. To order by mail, write TheArcTN on your check and mail to:

DisABILITIESBOOKS, Inc.
44 Washington St., #913
Brookline, MA 02445

The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center's Volunteer Advocacy Project trains volunteer advocates to provide instrumental and affective support to parents of children with disabilities. Participants will learn more about special education law and advocacy strategies. Each participant will shadow an advocate who is working with a family. Following graduation from the program, participants will be linked with a family of a child with a disability and is expected to work with at least four families, at the discretion of The Arc and STEP. For more information and to apply to be a volunteer advocate, go HERE.

The Arc Cumberland County has merchandise for sale with the new logo. Items, prices and where to order can be viewed HERE.

Read The Arc's Lifeline of Hope article that appeared in the September 12, 2011 edition of TIME magazine HERE.

Message to the United States Congress:  Don’t Cut Our Lifeline! See our Public Policy page for details! The time to act is now!

VKC and The Arc worked closely together to develop a new “Kindred Stories” website – an on-line database where people can tell their stories about disability and others can read stories about disability. The goal of the project is to have stories from every county in Tennessee so that we can truly put a “face” on people with I/DD and their families.  These stories can then be used to share with legislators when important issues are being debated, to bring attention to the Waiting List, to those who have no services available or other topics of importance, to share successes and generate ideas, and so much more. To tell your story click HERE. To download the Kindred Stories booklet in Acrobat Reader click HERE.

Support The Arc with Opinions for Good!

Op4G makes it possible for people like you to earn money for themselves and The Arc TN by participating in Internet-based market research anonymously at a safe and secure website. Your identity is never known and will never be sold. Plus, all research activities are determined by you at the myOp4G website, which is filled with a variety of fun information and activities.

How to get started:

• Visit www.Op4G.com
• Choose The Arc of Tennessee as your supported non-profit
• Complete the short demographic questionnaire (your information will always be kept private and secure by Op4G)

Information Sheet on Isolation and Restraint in Public Schools is now available HERE. The Spanish version is available HERE.

The Arc of Tennessee

This project is funded under an agreement with the State of Tennessee.