Frequently Asked Questions
Curious Minds Want to Know...
- Q. Is it The Arc or The ARC?
- A. The Arc. In 1990, seven metro Arc chapters, led by a strong group of self-advocates and families, agreed to do away with the name "Association for Retarded Citizens" and its acronym and moved to using simply Arc. The name change arose out of concern with the label "retarded." In 2011, the name changed again to The Arc Greater Twin Cities.
- Q. What is People First language?
- A. People First language puts the person before the disability and it describes what a person has, not who a person is. An example would be to say "people with disabilities" instead of "the handicapped or disabled." Click here for more examples.
- Q. What are intellectual and developmental disabilities?
- A. Intellectual and developmental disabilities include Down syndrome, autism, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy and other related conditions.
- Q. How is Arc funded?
- A. The Arc Greater Twin Cities raises the largest portion of its budget (54%) itself through its thrift businesses which include Arc's Value Village Thrift Stores & Donation Centers and Autos for Arc. Other revenue comes from United Way (10%); contributions and fundraising events (16%); grants (13%); and other earned income (6%).
- Q. What is the cost for services?
- A. Calls for information and assistance and one-to-one advocacy services are provided without charge to consumers. A fee is charged for ArcShops, The Arc's online e-learning courses, trainings and events, with the fee discounted or waived in many cases for members of The Arc. It costs The Arc an average of $92 to provide each hour of advocacy services.
- Q. What kinds of help does The Arc provide?
- A. The Arc is all about helping people make connections, get answers and find their way. Services span the lifetime - providing help with education, health care, housing, employment and more. Programs include parent networking groups, Sibshops, ArcShops and forums, information and one-to-one advocacy, public policy advocacy, self-advocacy and GetSet! Training for Special Education Success.
- Q. How does The Arc help people who don't speak English?
- A. The Arc has advocates on staff who are fluent in Spanish. The Arc also uses Language Line, a service providing interpreters fluent in 140 different languages.
- Q. Are services for members only?
- A. No. Thousands of individuals and families receive services each year and only a portion are members. No one is turned away. Members of The Arc often receive a disounted member fee for workshops and events, however.
- Q. Why should I become a member of The Arc?
- A. Only a generation ago, people with disabilities were institutionalized and largely invisible. Today people with disabilities have many options for where they live, learn, work and play. Changes in public policy constantly threaten funding for programs and services. The Arc's work is never done! Join us!
- Q. What is the service area of The Arc Greater Twin Cities?
- A. The Arc Greater Twin Cities serves the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area: Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott and Washington Counties in Minnesota.
- Q. Are there other Arc chapters in Minnesota and nationally?
- A. Yes. The Arc Greater Twin Cities is one of 12 chapters in Minnesota under The Arc Minnesota umbrella and one of 730 chapters nationwide within The Arc. The Arc Greater Twin Cities is the largest chapter in Minnesota. Services and programs vary chapter to chapter, but all advocate for the rights and full participation of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. .
- Q. Can I volunteer with The Arc?
- A. Absolutely! Your time is precious. Share it with The Arc and we will use it well! Agency volunteer opportunities range from helping with support groups and trainings and volunteering on committees to assisting with special events and mailings. Arc's Value Village volunteer opportunities include unpacking, sorting, tagging, hanging clothing, displaying donated merchandise, and more!