Disability Pride Month

Disability Pride Month “celebrates disabled people embracing their disabilities as integral parts of who they are, reclaiming visibility in public and interacting fully with their disabilities out in the open, and rejecting shame and internalized ableism. It is a time for the disability community to come together, uplift, and amplify one another” (via the American Bar Association)

Our Mission at The Arc Minnesota

At The Arc Minnesota, our mission is to promote and protect the human rights of people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), actively supporting them and their families in a lifetime of full inclusion and participation in their communities.  

An essential part of this mission is acknowledging the intersectionality that exists within our communities. For many, their identity is not just shaped by their disability, but also by their:  

• sexual orientation,  
• gender identity,  
• race,  
• ethnicity, 
• and more! 

The Importance of the Disability Pride Flag

Recently the Disability Pride flag was updated to make it more accessible with visually triggered disabilities like seizures or migraine disorders. The black background signifies mourning and rage for the victims of violence, including sexual assault, and to remind us that there’s still work to do to protect the rights of people with disabilities. The five colors represent the variety of disabilities and experiences. They represent invisible and undiagnosed disabilities, physical disabilities, neurodivergence, psychiatric disabilities, and sensory disabilities. 

Disability Pride Month is a time for celebration, education, and advocacy. It is a reminder that disability is a natural part of human diversity, and individuals with disabilities have invaluable contributions to offer to our society. By embracing Disability Pride, we move closer to a world of inclusivity, accessibility, and equal opportunities. 

Our Commitment to Inclusion 

The Arc Minnesota is committed to fostering an environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and has equal access to opportunities. We believe that understanding intersectionality is key to achieving this goal. In doing so, we can create more inclusive programs, policies, and practices that truly reflect the diverse experiences of all Minnesotans! 

As we celebrate Disability Pride Month, we also acknowledge that the fight for equity isn’t limited to a single month. It’s a year-round commitment. We carry this commitment with us in our pursuit of justice for ALL Minnesotans. Together, we can move forward towards a more inclusive future. 

Happy Disability Pride Month! 

Here are some great resources on Disability Pride Month:

• Celebrating Disability Pride Month by recognizing access issues
• Video: Disability Landscape talks about Disability Pride Month
  • Featuring The Arc Minnesota’s Equity and Justice Director, Brittanie Wilson 
• Celebrating Disability Pride Month
• Disability Pride Month

The post Celebrating Disability Pride and Diversity first appeared on The Arc Minnesota.

The post Celebrating Disability Pride and Diversity appeared first on The Arc Minnesota.

The Seth Pack Golf Classic has generously donated funds to The Arc Minnesota Southeast Region. These funds are available to families who have children with intellectual and developmental disabilities who reside in the counties of Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Olmsted, Rice, Wabasha and Winona who need assistance with the cost of the activity for which the funds are requested.

There will be a limit of $200 per year/per person. The scholarship fund is limited. When the budgeted amount for scholarships is depleted, additional money will not be available until after the following Seth Pack Golf Classic tournament.

Applications should be submitted at least one month before funds are needed. For exceptions to this, please contact The Arc MN SE Region office. Requests for funds will be approved by the Seth Pack Golf Committee. Funding for scholarships has been made possible by: The Seth Pack Golf Classic.

Apply here!

The post Seth Pack Mini-Grant for Families first appeared on The Arc Minnesota.

The post Seth Pack Mini-Grant for Families appeared first on The Arc Minnesota.

The Guthrie Theater is holding Relaxed Performances as part of its accessibility offerings. A relaxed performance is intended to be sensitive to and accepting of any audience member who may benefit from a more relaxed environment while allowing guests to come, be themselves, and experience a live performance. These performances are open to all guests and are intentionally modified to accommodate guests with sensory and vestibular sensitivities, anxiety, dementia, autism spectrum disorders, learning differences, and/or other challenges attending the theater.

Modifications include reducing the volume of loud noises and effects, eliminating strobe lights, keeping the house lights on, and having a relaxed attitude toward sound and movement in the audience. In addition to onstage and in the theater, lobbies, and public spaces will include quiet areas, sensory-friendly activities, and increased staff to create a safe, welcoming environment. 

Ticket prices for a single ticket are $29 for adults and $15 for children. Click here to buy tickets.

Into the Woods Description: 

Once upon a time, Cinderella pines to make a cameo at the ball, Jack (of beanstalk fame) tends to his pet cow, Little Red Riding Hood sets off toward grandmother’s house and a baker and his wife discover they are barren, thanks to a curse from the neighboring witch. They all head into the woods and embark on remarkable journeys that include falling in love, slaying a giant, facing off with a wolf, and more. Just when all wishes appear to be granted, a stray magic bean sprouts a second stalk and the giant’s vengeful wife disrupts everyone’s happy ending. Featuring beloved music and classic fairy tale characters, this heartfelt musical explores what happens after “happily ever after.” Click here to buy tickets.

Schedule:

• 11:30 – 12:45 PM – Activity Hall open to the public, Quiet Areas open.  The Arc Minnesota will host an interactive activity for attendees and share information about our organization.
• 1:00 PM – Act I begins (1 hour, 20 minutes)
• 2:20 – 2:40 PM – Intermission; option to return to the activity table.
• 2:40 PM – Act II begins (1 hour, 15 minutes)
• 3:45 PM – Into the Woods ends; Quiet Areas close

The post The Arc Minnesota is the “Featured Activity Partner” at the Gutherie Theater first appeared on The Arc Minnesota.

The post The Arc Minnesota is the “Featured Activity Partner” at the Gutherie Theater appeared first on The Arc Minnesota.

June is Pride Month! A time dedicated to uplifting and amplifying the LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual individuals, and others) community. Throughout June various events, parades, marches, and initiatives will take place.  

Pride month seeks to promote equal rights and create a more inclusive society for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Pride also provides space to reflect on the ways in which our identities intersect and shape our own unique experiences.  

It’s a reminder that our identities are complex. 

Our Mission at The Arc Minnesota 

At The Arc Minnesota, our mission is to promote and protect the human rights of people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), actively supporting them and their families in a lifetime of full inclusion and participation in their communities.  

An essential part of this mission is acknowledging the intersectionality that exists within our communities. For many, their identity is not just shaped by their disability, but also by their:  

• sexual orientation,  
• gender identity,  

• race,  
• ethnicity, 
• And more! 

Intersectionality: LGBTQ+ and IDD 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one in four adults in the U.S. has some type of disability. Additionally, about 6.5 million people in the United States have an intellectual disability, and over 1 million adults in the country live with some form of developmental disability. 

According to the Movement Advancement Project, LGBT people with disabilities often face significant challenges including: 

• Healthcare Disparities: People with IDD frequently experience difficulties in accessing appropriate and inclusive healthcare.  
• Invisibility and Isolation: Stigma around both IDD and LGBTQIA+ identities can lead to isolation from support networks. 
• Double Discrimination: When someone experiences bias because of both disability and their LGBTQIA+ identity, they may experience double discrimination. 
• Lack of Inclusive Services and Resources: There’s a lack of services and resources that address the specific needs of people with IDD who also identify as LGBTQIA+. 

• Violence and Abuse: People with disabilities, including IDD, are at a higher risk of experiencing violence and abuse. This risk increases for those who also identify as LGBTQIA+. 

Our Commitment to Inclusion 

The Arc Minnesota is committed to fostering an environment where everyone, regardless of their identities, feels valued, respected, and has equal access to opportunities. We believe that understanding intersectionality is key to achieving this goal. In doing so, we can create more inclusive programs, policies, and practices that truly reflect the diverse experiences of all Minnesotans! 

As we celebrate Pride Month, we also acknowledge that the fight for equality isn’t limited to a single month. It’s a year-round commitment. We carry this commitment with us in our pursuit of justice for ALL Minnesotans. Together, we can move forward towards a more inclusive future. 

Happy PRIDE! 

Here are some great resources on Pride Month: 

• Celebrate Pride With Us: Without Exception! 
• During Pride Month, a Look at LGBTQ+ Rights 
• The History of Pride Month and Annual Celebrations 
• June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month 

The post Celebrating Diversity: Pride Month, Disability, and the Mission of The Arc Minnesota first appeared on The Arc Minnesota.

The post Celebrating Diversity: Pride Month, Disability, and the Mission of The Arc Minnesota appeared first on The Arc Minnesota.

Join us in celebrating the recipients of The Arc Minnesota 2023 Annual Leader Awards at our 2023 Annual Meeting! These individuals and organizations are being recognized for their commitment and passion towards our mission and we thank all of the wonderful volunteers that have so graciously donated their time to The Arc Minnesota and Arc’s Value Village. Learn more about all of our award recipients below or visit our blog! 

Learn more about our 2023 Leader Awards recipients!

The post The Arc Minnesota 2023 Annual Leader Awards first appeared on The Arc Minnesota.

The post The Arc Minnesota 2023 Annual Leader Awards appeared first on The Arc Minnesota.

Kraus-Anderson is a construction company that also specializes in both real estate leasing and management. They specifically work in the Midwest and have been ranked among the Top 20 Construction firms in the Midwest by Engineering News Record. Their Build Me Up Podcast focuses explicitly on stories by innovators to inspire their audience. In this episode they brought on our Brittanie Hernandez-Wilson and Greg Rue to share their stories! 

On this podcast episode, you’ll be able to listen in on how the Arc Minnesota and the Arc’s Value Village came to be! Not only will you hear about our backstory, but you’ll also hear about how The Arc Minnesota makes a difference in disability justice and how the Arc’s Value Village makes clothes shopping accessible for people with disabilities. Brittanie also tells her own personal story as a person with a disability, and Greg shares his journey with becoming the Director of a community-based initiative. To listen in and learn more, click here.  

The post The Arc Minnesota and Arc’s Value Village Staff Featured on The Build Me Up Podcast!  first appeared on The Arc Minnesota.

The post The Arc Minnesota and Arc’s Value Village Staff Featured on The Build Me Up Podcast!  appeared first on The Arc Minnesota.

Resources and Articles

• Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault
• The Arc US – Talk About Sexual Violence
• Sexual Violence and the Disability Community
• Sexual Violence and the Disability Community Discussion Guide
• The Sexual Assault Epidemic No One Talks About
• People with Intellectual Disabilities and Sexual Violence
• The Disabled Community and Sexual Violence 

The Sexual Violence Center

The Sexual Violence Center’s (SVC) vision is “that no one impacted by sexual violence will navigate alone.”

Below there is a list of resources from SVC.

• Outreach Flyer
• Sexual Abuse of Children with Disabilities: A National Snapshot
• Understanding Sexual Violence
• Presentation and Training Fee Schedule

The post Sexual Assault Awareness Month first appeared on The Arc Minnesota.

The post Sexual Assault Awareness Month appeared first on The Arc Minnesota.

Origins of International Transgender Day of Visibility 

International Transgender Day of Visibility was organized by transgender activist Rachel Crandall-Crocker on March 31^st, 2009. Crandall-Crocker created this day as she reflected on Transgender Day of Remembrance which is a day to mourn the transgender lives that have been lost due to discrimination and violence. Mourning and remembering the transgender lives taken is as vital as celebrating those who are still here. Learn more by reading our article on Transgender Day of Remembrance.  

We must work together to celebrate trans lives now, while fighting for justice for our communities by preventing violence and promoting equality. 

Intersectionality 

It is important to recognize that transgender justice is deeply interconnected with other forms of social justice, including disability justice and racial justice. 

Transgender and nonbinary people face numerous barriers to accessing healthcare, employment, housing, and other necessities. These barriers are often amplified for transgender individuals who also experience disability or chronic illness. For example, transgender people with disabilities may face additional challenges in finding affirming and accessible healthcare or getting accommodations at work or school. 

Furthermore, transgender people who are also members of marginalized racial or ethnic groups may face additional discrimination. According to a report by the National Center for Transgender Equality, Black, transgender people are more likely to experience poverty, homelessness, and incarceration compared to their white, cisgender counterparts. Similarly, transgender people with disabilities are more likely to be targeted by law enforcement and experience violence than those without disabilities. 

The intersections of disability justice, transgender justice, and racial justice are not limited to these examples. Rather, they are complex and multifaceted, requiring an ongoing commitment to advocacy and allyship. 

As we celebrate Transgender Day of Visibility, let us also remember the importance of intersectionality in our advocacy efforts. We must work together to dismantle systems of oppression, recognizing that our struggles are interconnected, and our liberation is bound together. This means advocating for policies and practices that uplift the voices and experiences of transgender individuals, especially those who are also disabled. In the last few years, there have been a record number of bills that attack LGBTQ rights, especially transgender youth. It is critical that our advocacy efforts are inclusive and accessible to all individuals. This means prioritizing the needs and perspectives of those who are most impacted by systems of oppression, including transgender individuals with disabilities and those who are members of the Black, Indigenous, and other racialized communities. 

Resources

Here are a few organizations that support and celebrate transgender people:

• Gender Justice
• Minnesota Transgender Alliance Support Group
• Reclaim
• Minnesota Transgender Health Coalition

Sources

https://www.them.us/story/trans-day-of-visibility-founder-rachel-crandall-crocker-essay

https://www.glsen.org/blog/im-trans-disabled-young-person-not-one-or-other

The post International Transgender Day of Visibility first appeared on The Arc Minnesota.

The post International Transgender Day of Visibility appeared first on The Arc Minnesota.

The Arc Minnesota is pleased to present our 2023-2025 Strategic Plan, which will replace the 2019-2024 Strategic Plan.

The 2019-2024 Strategic Plan was created by The Arc Minnesota Board of Directors and Executive Leadership Team in 2018, when the organization first merged from several chapters across the state, into The Arc Minnesota. It was largely focused on implementing the merger, and carrying out the activities that chapters were doing across the state. Since then, we have accomplished much of what was in the strategic plan—we have a lot to be proud of—and a lot has changed around us.

Now, not only is our external environment very different than it was 4 years ago, but we have new Board members, organizational leaders, and staff. It is clear that younger generations of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), their families, and their trusted supporters have very different expectations for their future than their predecessors. It is also imperative to note that the existing services and supports are no longer working for people with IDD and their families, as they are unsustainable with today’s workforce and economy. Together with our Board of Directors, people with disabilities, and their families and trusted supporters, we have created a new vision for the future of disabled people, as well as for The Arc Minnesota.

With these changes, it was time for us to create a new strategic plan with those same stakeholders. One that is visionary and moves us into the future as we strive to truly serve all people equitably across the state. One that leans into the principles of Disability Justice and Racial Justice. Now is the time for us to build an Arc that serves all Minnesotans, and centers the experience of people with disabilities, including those with intersecting identities.

This Strategic Plan lays out our goals and the objectives that position our organization for success over the next 3 years. Annually, accounting for resources, opportunities and priorities, we will create corresponding tactics, and work plans that will lead to the accomplishment of our mission, vision, and goals. We will evaluate our progress and share that with key stakeholders. Our plan will be fluid, testing against the reality of the marketplace and adjusted as necessary.
Working together, with the strong leadership of those most impacted by our work, and a strong coalition of visionaries, believers, and action-oriented supporters, The Arc Minnesota staff are committed to this plan’s implementation and the benefits that come from its success.

It is our intention to strive for excellence in non-profit leadership, management, and services. We appreciate your support as we work alongside people with IDD to co-create a future that is bright. One that shines a spotlight on the wisdom, capacity, strength and resiliency of people with disabilities, so they will have belonging and freedom.

Sincerely,
Andrea L. Zuber
Chief Executive Officer
The Arc Minnesota

Review The Arc Minnesota’s 2023-2025 Strategic Plan

• Review the full 2023-2025 Strategic Plan (English PDF)
• Review the 2023-2025 Strategic Plan Summary (English PDF)
• Revisar descripción general del plan estratégico para 2023-2025 (PDF en español)
• Dib u eeg dulmarka qorshaha 2023-2025 (Afsoomaali PDF)
• Saib xyuas cov phiaj xwm phiaj xwm 2023-2025 (Hmoob PDF)

Review our Program Guide

• Review our 2022/2023 Program Guide (English PDF)

The post Introducing The Arc Minnesota’s 2023-2025 Strategic Plan first appeared on The Arc Minnesota.

The post Introducing The Arc Minnesota’s 2023-2025 Strategic Plan appeared first on The Arc Minnesota.

“Transgender Day of Remembrance seeks to highlight the losses we face due to anti-transgender bigotry and violence. I am no stranger to the need to fight for our rights, and the right to simply exist is first and foremost. With so many seeking to erase transgender people—sometimes in the most brutal ways possible—it is vitally important that those we lose are remembered, and that we continue to fight for justice.” – Transgender Day of Remembrance founder, Gwendolyn Ann Smith

How to Get Involved  

You can honor Transgender Day of Remembrance by learning more about anti-transgender violence and transphobia. You can also attend vigil honoring the lives of transgender people whose lives were lost to violence. You can honor the spirit of the day and show support for the transgender community year-round by educating yourself on how you can be a better ally and support transgender rights. 

Below are resources to learn more about the Transgender Day of Remembrance, becoming a better ally, and stopping acts of violence:  

• Transgender Day of Remembrance
• National Center for Transgender Equality

• GLAAD’s Tips for Allies of Transgender People

• Anti-Violence Project

• PFLAG National’s Straight for Equality Trans Ally Materials

Supporting the Trans Community in Minnesota 

There are many ways to support the transgender (trans) community in its quest for joy and liberation. The principles of disability justice remind us that all movements for liberation and freedom are connected. The Arc Minnesota supports the transgender community.  

In Minnesota, there are several incredible organizations and events support trans community. Check them out here: 

• Trans Equity Summit

• • This great event provides resources and creates conversions around equity for the trans community 

• Family Tree Clinic

• • This clinic provides gender-affirming, accessible healthcare. They also provide their Health Education Program without cost to Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing communities

• Out Front Minnesota

• • Out Front provides legal assistance, advocacy, and resources to the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) community 

The post Transgender Day of Remembrance first appeared on The Arc Minnesota.

The post Transgender Day of Remembrance appeared first on The Arc Minnesota.