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Arc chapter outlines services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, offers outreach and training
Summary
A representative of The Arc described programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in Snohomish County, including one‑on‑one system navigation, IEP parent partner support, transition programming, multilingual outreach, trauma‑informed resources and leadership training for self‑advocates.
Courtney Chris, leadership advocacy manager at The Arc (Snohomish County), gave the commission a detailed overview of services the chapter provides for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.
“Our mission statement fosters respect and access for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and families, giving them the power to achieve a full and satisfying life,” Chris said, describing the organization’s focus on advocacy, systems navigation and culturally accessible outreach.
Chris told the commission The Arc offers one‑on‑one supports for government benefits and education processes, including eligibility for Developmental Disabilities Community Services, SSI, guardianship alternatives, and special education Individualized Education Program (IEP) assistance. The chapter runs monthly webinars and provides staff who meet individually with families to help them navigate benefits, IEP meetings and community supports.
Among programs Chris described: - IEP Parent Partner volunteers who attend IEP meetings to support parents (they take notes and provide confidence but are not legal advocates). - Transition Club programming for students aging out of school services that focuses on job training, life skills and self‑advocacy. - Multilingual outreach: staff who speak Spanish, Arabic, Ukrainian/Russian and access to language interpretation when needed. - Trauma‑informed resource guide: a free PDF with over 80 online resources for community members and professionals. - Leadership and People First chapters led by self‑advocates, offering paid and self‑paced training on disability history and advocacy.
Chris said The Arc coordinates legislative forums to connect state candidates with constituents about housing, mental health and caregiver issues, and that the chapter helps families build plans using the Charting a LifeCourse framework (a goal‑centered assessment tool used in some county contracts).
Commissioners asked about volunteer recruitment, language access, and partnership opportunities for community conversations and school outreach. Chris said The Arc can host virtual or in‑person listening sessions, provide flyers and materials for local events, and share contact details for Spanish‑language outreach and translated resources.
No formal action was taken. Commissioners thanked the presenter and indicated interest in working with The Arc on school‑district engagement, Welcoming Week materials and the commission’s outreach ambassador program.
Why this matters: The Arc’s programs affect families navigating special education, eligibility for state supports, and transition planning; the organization’s multilingual and trauma‑informed work is relevant to the commission’s outreach goals.
Ending: The presenter left flyers and resource links and staff said they would include The Arc’s contact information in follow‑up materials for commission members.
