The Arc's Pandemic Impact

ADVOCACY

  • Advocates were key in campaigns including #DontCutUsOut and the Crisis Standards of Care. They reached out to legislators and the administration by phone and email 32,159 times in the last two years.
  • The Arc of Massachusetts fought for Personal Protective Equipment for agencies and families and for access to vaccines for people with IDD and their caregivers

FUNDING

  • Advocacy led to the allocation of $44+ million for community providers
  • In coordination with The Arc US, secured $400 million in funding for Home and Community Based Services in the American Rescue Plan Act
  • Working to secure long-term funding through the Build Back Better Framework

INFORMATIVE + TIMELY WEBINARS

  • Offered 248 webinars covering the latest COVID information and updates from the state, advocacy, keeping loved ones safe and active during the pandemic, services and the areas that are lacking, and so much more
  • Each webinar was attended by an average of 62 people
  • More than 15,300 people have benefited from The Arc’s webinars

WEBSITE + PRESS

  • More than 115,000 unique users visited www.arcmass.org
  • In 2020 our COVID resources page was the “go-to” page for up-to-date, accurate information about changes in services and COVID’s impact on our community
  • Appeared in the press and news programs 32 times

OPERATION HOUSE CALL + HEALTH EQUITY

  • Trained 2,275 medical and health students essential skills to enhance their care of people who have IDD or autism
  • Hosted 360 virtual home visits
  • Added a Cultural Competency component to the OHC curriculum
  • Developed national web-based training + toolkit for emergency medical personnel