The Arc Greater Twin Cities

Programs: Advocay, information & assistance:total 2014 contacts: over 11,300. The arc advocates provided free one-to-one assistance to 1,450 individuals, either thru phone consultation, email support or intensive one-to-one in person support. Over 1,700 people participated in networking and family access groups for parents and siblings of people with disabilities, arcshops and educational workshops, forums and trainings on topics of transportation, housing, employment, transition to adulthood, access to medicaid and healthcare. 25% of all program participants are from multicultural communities; 51% are households at or below 200% of poverty level.

lifetime assistance program:the lifetime assistance program helps families prepare for the future of their family member with an intellectual or developmental disability. It educates and informs them of the importance of future planning, and supports them in creating a comprehensive quality of life, financial and legal plan to guide the framework for economic and personal well-being for their family member with a disability. Not only do they determine a future plan, but the arc gtc leads them in developing the important action steps needed to achieve the goals for their family member, and identify who will support their loved one now and in the future. 115 families are engaged in the lifetime assistance program.

community engagement:almost 1,100 people participated in public policy forums and civic engagement training through 37 policy events to shape disability policy. An additional 2,000 individuals participate in arc's action alert network to stay abreast of issues and influence policy makers. There were over 21,000 targeted e-blasts and policy previews to keep people informed.

public awareness, membership and volunteer engagement:public awareness outreach about intellectual and developmental disabilities include arc voice newsletter (52,372 distributed), annual report (4,237 distributed) website (28,492 unique followers) the arc facebook page (827 fans), twitter (1,132 followers) e-newsletter (591,922) linked in page (168 followers) booths and presentations (4,409) plus media coverage reaching thousands more. In addition, messages about the arc are included in all arc's value thrift store and donation center communications, reaching more than 1 milllion shoppers and volunteers. Volunteering is another way individuals connect with the arc. Volunteers provided almost 96,000 hours in support of the arc gtc's programs and services, and in the operations of the arc's value village thrift stores. The arc gtc is a grassroots organization of individuals with disabilities, their families, and other individual and professional groups interested in issues affecting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Membership connects people to networks of support and strengthens members voices on public policy issues.