Before the summer gets away from us, our friends at Lids continue to help the public know about the invaluable work of The Arc across the country. For the third year in a row, The Arc is getting a big boost this August, thanks to our ongoing nationwide partnership with Lids stores! Lids, a leading headwear and sports apparel retailer in the U.S., has committed to telling its customers and employees about the important role The Arc plays to advance the civil rights of people with disabilities.
Lids isn’t just supporting The Arc—they're championing our cause across their 1,000+ stores. Throughout the month of August, The Arc’s logo will be featured on signage and staff T-shirts, our logo will be a custom embroidery option on gear, and every customer will be invited to round-up at the register to support our mission.
This partnership continues to be a major win for The Arc’s nationwide movement. Here’s how you can maximize this opportunity:
Spread the word within your networks and community to drive traffic to your local Lids stores. Follow our social media and share our posts and create your own content to encourage people to get out to a Lids store.
Organize a group outing to a Lids store with your disability community, staff, and board members. Get a new hat or jersey and add The Arc’s logo as a custom embroidery option. The round-up at the register supports The Arc’s mission too! Send us your photos to Kristen McKiernan at [email protected].
Help us thank Lids. There is no such thing as thanking someone too much. We have heard from Lids Foundation staff that our trips to the stores have made an impression on their staff, and that has turned into a genuine commitment amongst their store employees to promote our mission to customers. When you visit or post on social media, thank them!
Lastly, I want to flag an important webinar coming up on July 22. We will introduce our new interactive data platform, the Chapter Service Center. This training is important for all state and local chapters because it changes the way chapters update their information with the national office. This webinar will provide an engaging introduction to the new system and its key capabilities for chapters.
ICYMI: Major News in Community Living and Education
Major news coming out of Washington, DC, in recent weeks generated a lot of concern and response from the disability community.
New Department of Justice opinion on Olmstead and community living: This opinion seeks to undermine one of the strongest protections people with disabilities have from being pushed into institutions when they can and want to live in the community. Read and share our analysis.
Department of Education offloads special education, civil rights to other agencies: Families already spend months, sometimes years, trying to get schools to follow the law. Splitting these offices apart could make that even harder, slowing down help that students with disabilities urgently need. Read and share our statement, and be sure to watch our CEO Katy Neas’ interview on MS NOW.
Swag Alert: Energize Voters in 2026!
Chapters play a powerful role in helping people with disabilities participate fully in our democracy, and this year’s free Voter & Candidate Engagement Box gives you the tools to spark that energy. Get 15 ready-to-use posters and 30 buttons to start conversations, celebrate voter pride, and make civic engagement more visible at your events. Reserve your box by July 8.
Nominations for the NCE Distinguished Professional Awards Are Now Open
The NCE Distinguished Professional Awards recognize individuals who go above and beyond—those who lead with purpose, center the people we serve, and consistently deliver outstanding results. These awards lift up those whose work inspires us all, within The Arc and across the broader IDD community. The awards will be presented at the NCE Awards Luncheon on November 19 at The Arc's National Convention in Portland, Oregon.
The Arc’s annual meeting will include some key votes this year related to the slate of candidates for The Arc’s Board of Directors and revisions to the Standard Terms and Conditions for Affiliation. Chapter membership data is factored into the number of votes your chapter receives for the annual meeting. Log in by June 30, 2026, to be included in the vote count for your chapter. If you have problems accessing the membership portal, please email [email protected].
Disability Pride Month: The World Works Better With Us
Disability Pride Month starts in 2 days! This year’s theme, selected by our National Council of Self-Advocates, is "The World Works Better With Us." Our chapter toolkit has great resources, including social media videos from advocates Hannah and Taylor. Share our content when we post or create your own. Let’s show the world why it’s a better place with people with disabilities!
Plan to Volunteer on 25th Anniversary of 9/11 Attacks
September 11, also called Patriot Day, is a nationwide call for Americans across the country to volunteer in their local communities in tribute to the individuals lost and injured in the 9/11 attacks. This year carries extra significance as we mark the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
ImATEx (Immersive Assistive Technology Expo) is the world's first free and fully virtual digital assistive technology exhibition, functioning as an online ecosystem designed to connect professionals, educators, caretakers, and end-users directly with international assistive technology developers and vendors. Attendees can easily explore a virtual lobby, custom exhibition booths, and an auditorium featuring live educational webinars and "lightning talks."
For disability service providers, your entire support teams can explore cutting-edge assistive tools, spanning from alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) systems to mobility aids and sensory toys.
Please note this event is based in the UK, so the timeframe would need to adjust to your time zone. Dropping in to the virtual event whenever is convenient for you is encouraged.
Live Virtual Events
Creating a Culture of Engagement and Growth
Wednesday, July 15, 1:00 pm ET
Today's workforce challenges require leaders to be intentional in how they engage, develop, and support their teams. Join us to learn leadership practices that strengthen employee engagement and improve retention, support and lead a multi-generational workforce, and foster a strong culture. Register here.
Meet the Chapter Service Center: A New Interactive Data System on the Chapter Portal
Wednesday, July 22, 2:00 pm ET
Join us for an introduction to The Arc’s new Chapter Service Center and learn about its capabilities. This training is important for all chapters because it changes the way you update your information with the national office. Register here.
When It Matters Most: Providing Compassionate End-of-Life Care in IDD
Tuesday, July 28, 2:00 pm ET
Thanks to quality-of-life improvement and better-quality care, people live longer. For people with IDD, navigating advance care planning and decisions requires thoughtful, person-centered approaches. Register here.
What’s Happening in Policy and Advocacy
Wednesday, July 29, 2:00 pm ET
Get the latest on federal policy activity and The Arc’s advocacy work. Make sure you’re up to date on resources you can use to navigate conversations with lawmakers around policy priorities. Register here.
The Power of Hope: Making Wellbeing a Reality for the Autism Community
Thursday, August 13, 2:00 pm ET
Autism service providers are increasingly challenged to balance skill acquisition with supporting lives characterized by joy, meaning, connection, and purpose. This presentation will explore how principles from positive psychology can be integrated into services to promote human flourishing. Register here.
Do you know of any staff or board members in your chapter who are not receiving Fusion? Forward this email to them so they can sign up by creating a free chapter portal account.
For people with intellectual and developmental disabilities The Arc promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.
The Arc of the United States, 2000 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC, 20006
