The Arc is for you:
Join The Arc
Advocacy
The Arc San Francisco provides information and referrals, education, individual and public advocacy services for people with autism, down syndrome, cerebral palsy & other developmental disabilities. In addition, The Arc is a key resource for businesses, educators, healthcare providers, community leaders and policymakers interested in issues related to developmental disabilities.
Support for clients and families
The Arc’s intake and advocacy staff help clients and families understand which services are available and connect clients to the opportunities that create a more independent adult life through the educational, employment, independent living and recreational service options available at The Arc. For more information, email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), Transition and Intake Services Director (415) 255-7200 x151
Families with adults who have autism are invited to participate in The Arc’s ongoing forums to address the changing service and support needs of this growing population. For more information, email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), Chief Operating Officer (415) 255-7200 x121
Long-term planning
Families who need help planning for the future of a loved one with disabilities can ask us for referrals to local resources specializing in setting up the financial and legal supports necessary for the well-being and quality of life of a loved one with developmental disabilities. For more information, email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), Development and Community Relations (415) 255-7200 x118
Self-advocacy
At The Arc, every client can learn to be a stronger voice for themselves and others through daily instruction in communication, decision-making, problem-solving, conflict resolution, and issues important to all people with developmental disabilities. (See our Self-Advocates section.)
Using a “person-centered” planning approach, clients of The Arc are encouraged to take advantage of the services that help them define their individual goals and take action toward meeting them. All clients are provided with information regarding their rights as individuals, their responsibilities as a client, and the supports we offer in The Arc San Francisco’s Client Handbook (PDF). More information about client rights in the state of California is available in our Resources section.
Community education and outreach
The Arc is committed to raising awareness about autism, down syndrome, cerebral palsy & other developmental disabilities by creating a more inclusive community. A regular presence at Bay Area service-provider fairs, we also regularly partner with local government, health, university, labor, business and non-profit organizations to improve the quality of life for our constituents and to protect our clients’ rights.
Our Health and Wellness team offers information, presentations and referrals to healthcare providers about the healthcare needs of people with developmental disabilities. Our Employment Services staff are available to meet with businesses and organizations interested in learning more about hiring clients from The Arc.
We welcome the opportunity to speak to groups about developmental disabilities, our clients, programs and services. For more information, contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
(415) 255-7200 x118
Partnerships for Change
Under a grant from the California Endowment, The Arc San Francisco, the University of California, the San Francisco Department of Public Health, the Health Plan of San Mateo and the Golden Gate Regional Center have joined forces to study how one-to-one health advocacy for people with developmental disabilities yields improved health outcomes, and to propose a model of better healthcare for all Californians with disabilities.
Our Business Advisory Council (BAC) is a volunteer group of business professionals who work together developing more employment opportunities for our clients through their associations with other business leaders in San Francisco. The BAC hosts our annual WorkLife Awards honoring the work and life achievements of employees with disabilities and the employers who champion them in our community.
Public Policy
The Arc San Francisco is a wholly independent agency, while also a chapter of The Arc California and The Arc the United States, one of the country’s largest nonprofit membership organizations and a local, state and national leader in disability policy. With over 200,000 members, The Arc the United States is a leading legislative advocate for the full inclusion of people with disabilities in our society particularly in the areas of civil rights, employment, education, housing and health.
At the local level, we are a partner with the San Francisco Mayor’s Office on Disability, and we actively support People First of California. Recently, we successfully advocated for Park Access to ensure people with mobility needs continue to have access to San Francisco’s cultural and recreational offerings in Golden Gate Park.
We are members of a coalition of service providers seeking to find affordable housing and independent living supports for residents with developmental disabilities living at Laguna Honda Hospital. And we are part of a statewide effort among many advocacy organizations to stop budget cuts that are a violation of our clients’ civil rights and critical to our constituents’ health and well-being.
We are proud to partner with United Cerebral Palsy (UCP), the Association of University Centers on Disability (AUCD), the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) and the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) in advancing our common goals.