Working to include all children and adults with cognitive, intellectual, and developmental disabilities in every community.
Try to keep your words sweet. You may have to eat them someday!
Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation
The Arc of Alabama, Inc. is the state advocacy organization for people with cognitive, intellectual, and developmental disabilities and their families. Since 1957, The Arc of Alabama, Inc has represented the interests of people with cognitive, intellectual and developmental disabilities on local, state and national issues.
The Arc of Alabama, Inc. is affiliated with The Arc of the United States, the national advocacy organization of and for people with cognitive, intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.
Mission:
The Arc of Alabama, Inc. is committed:
- To secure for all people with cognitive, intellectual and developmental disabilities the opportunity to choose and realize their goals of where and how they learn, live, work, play and worship.
- To reduce the incidence and limit the consequences of cognitive, intellectual and developmental disabilities through education, research, advocacy, and the support of families, friends and community.
- To provide, through the pursuit of equality and justice, leadership in the field of cognitive, intellectual and developmental disabilities and to develop necessary human and financial resources to attain its goals.
Membership
Membership in The Arc is open to any person who subscribes to the mission and purposes of The Arc, particularly people with cognitive, intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, and friends. Individual and businesses become members by joining a local chapter of The Arc. Members of local chapters are automatically members of The Arc of Alabama, Inc. and The Arc of the United States and are entitled to all the rights and privileges of state and national membership. Individuals and businesses residing in the State of Alabama, who live in a county not served by a local chapter, may join The Arc of Alabama as a member-at-large by making application and paying annual dues. Members-at-large are entitled to all the rights and privileges of state and national membership. There are currently over 4000 members ser in thirty-one (31) local chapters in 34 Alabama counties.
Governance
The Arc of Alabama, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation
which is governed by a volunteer Board of thirty-three Directors. These
directors include thirty-one (31) chapter presidents or representatives
of each local chapter of The Arc in good standing and the past
president, one (1) representative of the Alabama Council of Executives
of The Arc (ACE/Arc), and one (1) representative of People First of
Alabama. The Board of Directors meet quarterly to adopt policies
and approve decisions on behalf of all members of The Arc of Alabama.