The Arc is the national organization of and for people with mental retardation and related developmental disabilities and their families. It is devoted to promoting and improving supports and services for people with mental retardation and their families. The association also fosters research and education regarding the prevention of mental retardation in infants and young children.
The Arc is people - people with mental retardation and related developmental disabilities, parents and other family members, and friends of people with mental retardation and professionals who work with them. The Arc is a grassroots organization with 140,000 members who are affiliated through approximately 1,000 state and local chapters across the nation.
The Arc works to provide more than 7.2 million Americans having mental retardation and related disabilities with services, including employment, training, education, independent living and other opportunities to reach their greatest level of personal fulfillment and potential. The Arc also exists because people with mental retardation need
help to ensure that their rights as citizens of this country are protected.
The Arc advocates for research and prevention of both the causes and the effects of mental retardation.