Programs

Advocacy and Empowerment

The Arc of Massachusetts plays a leadership role in advocating on both the state and federal levels to obtain services and supports for people of all ages with autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and other intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). This includes ensuring that elected leaders and public officials understand the needs of our constituents, advancing progressive regulations or policies, and working with the judicial system if needed. We encourage families and individuals to advocate for their personal goals.

Education, Trainings, and Webinars

The Arc provides a range of webinars and outreach sessions to assist families in their caregiving role and to educate them about resources that are available. We provide self-advocates, parents, educators, and other professionals the tools they need to assure positive transitions from school to adulthood, so they can be fully included in the community with access to housing, employment, and recreation. Our work with the Massachusetts Alliance for 21st Century Policy, including the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council, involves both education and empowerment.

Operation House Call

Operation House Call (OHC) teaches new medical professionals essential skills to enhance the health care of persons with IDD. Families, parents, and individual self-advocates serve as educators in a health care field that seldom focuses on more than making a diagnosis. It is a rare and important training opportunity for students at Boston University School of Medicine, Tufts Medical School, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Simmons College School of Health Sciences, and Yale University School of Nursing. Through OHC, students begin to build confidence and interest in working with individuals with IDD and their families.

SUPPORTbrokers

SUPPORTbrokers assists persons with disabilities achieve their vision. We accomplish this through planning, education, and advocacy. Consumers or families hire a support broker to help them find appropriate services and supports to thrive in their community. Brokers can help consumers find transportation, a place to live, someone to help them with daily living skills, a job counselor, and other linkages. They also can facilitate and create a person-centered plan and help consumers apply for Social Security or health insurance, among other benefits.

Pathways to Friendship (Widening the Circle)

Widening the Circle explores the benefits of relationships between people with and without disabilities and provides information on engaging in and sustaining those relationships. Building friendships can be especially challenging to people who have disabilities, whose relationships are often limited to family, paid staff, and others with disabilities. All people benefit from a diversity of relationships.

Headlines

Government AffairsHealth PolicyNews
September 10, 2025

The Arc Testifies in Support of Four Priority Bills at Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities Hearing – Including Healthcare Standards, Supported Decision-Making

On Tuesday, September 9, The Arc participated in a key hearing before the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities, which highlighted four of our priority bills. Thank you…
Health PolicyNewsOperation House Call
September 8, 2025

Operation House Call: September 2025 Student of the Month – Kai Renshaw

In this series, The Arc of Massachusetts will be spotlighting Operation House Call Students of the Month. Each month, we will be profiling one student who has taken part in…
Health PolicyNewsOperation House Call
August 30, 2025

Operation House Call: August 2025 Activities in Review – One Month, Hundreds of Students Reached!

Our Operation House Call team was hard at work this past month, educating students at Harvard Medical School, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, and kicking…

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