Past Presidents were Ken Cholewinski, Dawn Lazaroff, Mickey Herbst, Cathy Jortner, Mark Olander, Diane Aubin, Barry Bosworth, Quincy Abbot, Robert Perske, and Luella Horan.

2012 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

In accordance with its mission and goals, its 2011 Platform for Reform, and in conjunction with other self/family advocacy groups, The Arc Connecticut will seek funding and legislation to provide necessary supports in a paradigm that puts people first, advances opportunities, and ensures justice for Connecticut’s children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Empower Lawmakers to Influence Federal Budget Decisions:   As part of the deficit reduction deal, budget debates, election year politics and candidate forums, Medicaid funding will be on the table. Medicaid is a lifeline for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Cuts to Medicaid will have devastating consequences. The Arc Connecticut will partner with The Arc United States and its peers around the country to educate individuals and lawmakers about this important matter and ensure that it is part of top level debate. The Arc Connecticut will encourage and empower lawmakers, from local communities to Washington, D.C., to speak up on behalf of their constituents and align values with political will.

Empower Lawmakers to Support the Private Providers that Support Individuals and Families:   The Private Provider network is responsible for the delivery of a critical community based services that meet the needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well the needs of their families.  For over 20 years the network has suffered chronic under funding, and the burden of unfunded mandates, while continuing to provide quality services that are at least 40% less costly than in the public sector. The link between a sustainable system of quality services for individuals in the community and financial resources cannot be ignored and it is time to align our values and limited resources. After 5 years with no rate increases, The Arc Connecticut must, despite the very difficult economic climate, continue to advocate for:

• appropriate and reasonable rate increases for all private providers in an effort to protect quality care and prevent the private sector from falling further behind its public sector counterparts;

• reduced administrative burdens resulting from duplicative reporting, unfunded mandates and antiquated systems; and
• well-thought-out approaches to system change that preserve nonprofit sector services, encourage sustainability, reduce waiting lists and protect individuals, including, but not limited to, encouraging legislative passage and implementation of the Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee’s recommendations resulting from their study of “Provisions of Selected Services for Clients with Intellectual Disabilities.”

Promote Meaningful Education Reform:   2012 will bring major debate regarding education funding and The Arc Connecticut will monitor and advocate for special education, transition planning, school-to-work training, parent education and engagement, etc.

Support Social Enterprise Business:  A Social Enterprise Business is any organization that uses market forces to achieve public good. All along the spectrum, from the traditional non-profit to the traditional profit-driven, business can become a social enterprise and enjoy the benefits of increased satisfaction and sustainability. Entrepreneurial non-profits will benefit from the increased opportunities and flexibility of Social Enterprise and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities may experience increased opportunity for meaningful work. The Arc Connecticut will work with reSET: Social Enterprise Trust (http://www.socialenterprisetrust.org/) to support the model of social enterprise business through both (1) the development of a state law that allows as an option the development of Social Enterprise Business in Connecticut and, (2) efforts to create an Incubator to identify viable social enterprise ventures and give them the support they need to grow and thrive.  

For more information, contact Nora Duncan, Executive Director at nduncan@arcofct.org, (860) 246-6400 x102.