The Arc of California

04/16/2026

Coming Up Soon, April 20!

As a parent or caregiver of someone with a disability, one of the hardest things to do is take care of yourself. Finding time for your own health and wellbeing often takes a back seat to your many other caregiving responsibilities. In our "Self-Care Matters" FREE ONLINE two-class series, we provide you with expert tips and tools for creating a more balanced life.

Our next class starts Monday, April 20 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. with parent-educators Felisa Strickland and Carrie McKiddie.

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER: https://www.caringfutures.org/classes

04/13/2026

We were excited to share how The Arc of Ventura County leveraged the recent historic trip around the moon by NASA Artemis astronauts to teach their adult program participants about space exploration and our solar system. Their Space Class was a hit! The instructors are in the process of coordinating a Q&A with NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration via Zoom as a follow up.

Read the full story and see some class pictures; https://thearcca.org/arc-of-ventura-participants-reach-for-the-stars-with-artemis-ii-mission-to-the-moon/

There’s a lot of excitement in the air—and beyond—at The Arc of Ventura County.Adult day program participants recently took part in a historic moment, following along with Artemis II mission as it journeyed around the moon. What started as a learning opportunity quickly turned into an immersiv...

04/13/2026

📣CALL TO ACTION: Show Up to Support AB 2189 for Special Education Students with Disabilities

AB 2189 will be heard in the California Assembly Human Services Committee — and we need your voice.

This bill, sponsored by The Arc of California and authored by Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen, is about strengthening the parent voice in special education at a time when federal oversight is being dismantled.

📍 Tuesday, April 14 at 1:30 PM
📍 State Capitol, Room 437

Can you show up?

If you can’t attend in person to provide public testimony, you can still take action:
✅Sign on in support: specialed.thearcca.org
✅Email the Committee with public comment: https://calegislation.lc.ca.gov/Advocates/

🎥 Watch a short video by The Arc of California Executive Director Jordan Lindsey who explains why this bill is important:
https://youtu.be/qKf-aeSj1eE

Let’s make sure parents have a stronger voice at the statewide policy level where decisions are made. Let's make sure legislators hear us.

04/12/2026

We have a few spots left in our "Future is Now" class for caregivers that starts tomorrow, Monday, April 13 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.
This FREE class is for six weeks, every Monday at the same time through May 18 (last class). If you have been worrying about what would happen to your family member with a disability if you are suddenly unable to provide support, this is a great class to make sure the successor caregiver transition is smooth for everyone. It's better to be prepared for life's big changes, so you can have peace of mind.

✅LEARN MORE AND REGISTER: https://www.caringfutures.org/classes

04/10/2026

We’re excited to welcome Adan Correa, cast member of the hit Netflix series Love on the Spectrum, to the 19th Annual DisCo at the Capitol!

Adan captured hearts with his authenticity and humor on Love on the Spectrum and is part of a new generation of voices helping to shift how the world understands autism and inclusion. We’re thrilled to have him join our growing lineup of incredible presenters.

📅 May 18–19 | Sacramento, CA - State Capitol
✨ Day 1: Evening Reception + Silent DisCo — $50 (Scholarships available)
✨ Day 2: Advocacy Conference, Rally & Silent DisCo — FREE

👉 Registration is required for both days: https://discoatthecapitol.org/

Don’t miss your chance to be part of California’s premier statewide disability advocacy event!

04/08/2026

📣URGENT: Take Action Today to Stop $1 Billion in Medi-Cal Dental Cuts

California is on the brink of devastating cuts to Medi-Cal Dental (Denti-Cal) and we cannot stay silent.

If these cuts move forward on July 1, 2026:
❎Payments to Medi-Cal dentists will drop 40%–80%
❎More than half of dental providers may stop accepting Medi-Cal
❎Access to care will collapse for 15 million Californians

People are already waiting months—even years—for care. This will make a broken system much, much worse, and place the burden of emergency dental care on hospital systems.

Half of those impacted are children and people with disabilities.

‼️TAKE ACTION NOW‼️
✅Attend and provide public testimony at the Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 hearing on Thursday, April 9 at 9:30 a.m. in Sacramento at 1021 O Street, Room 1200
✅Email public comment today to SBUD.Committee@senate.ca.gov
✅Learn more and get involved: SaveOurDentalCare.org

This is our moment to speak up before it’s too late.

📣SHARE THE POST! Use your voice. Protect access to care.

ACT NOW to stop $1 billion in cuts to Medi-Cal Dental! Sign & Share 👉 https://www.saveourdentalcare.org/take-action

04/07/2026

Is April autism "awareness" or "acceptance" month? One mom, Felisa Strickland, says it's both, and more.

"In a perfect world, there would be no need for debate (awareness vs. acceptance). But as we know, this is far from a perfect world. Still, awareness can lead to acceptance, and acceptance can lead to advocacy, and so on. I’ll stay hopeful we can all eventually agree," Felisa wrote.

Read the full blog and leave a comment below about what Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month means to you: https://thearcca.org/a-mothers-perspective-on-autism-awareness-acceptance-and-advocacy/

Around the world, April is a time to recognize and celebrate the lived experiences of people with autism. For as long as I can remember, especially since my daughter Lily’s diagnosis, there has been ongoing debate about whether it should be “Autism Awareness” or “Autism Acceptance,” repres...

04/06/2026

A new commentary was published today in CalMatters.org by longtime parent-advocate Pat Hornbecker raising urgent concerns about proposed cuts to Medi-Cal Dental and what they would mean for millions of Californians.

Pat, who is the President of The Arc of California Board of Directors, draws from decades of advocacy and personal experience as a parent to highlight how the reduced funding could further limit access to care at a time when patients are already facing long wait times and a shrinking network of providers.

With more than 15 million Californians relying on Medi-Cal Dental, including people with disabilities, seniors, children, and low-income families, the stakes could not be higher.

TAKE ACTION:
- Visit SaveOurDentalCare.org to learn more and sign up for action alerts.
- Send public comment by email ahead of Senate Budget Subcommittee hearing on Thursday, April 9th to SBUD.Committee@senate.ca.gov
- Attend April 9th hearing in Sacramento and tell legislative committee members to REJECT cuts to Medi-Cal Dental. Hearing at 9:30 a.m. in Room 1200 of the Swing Space at 1021 O Street.

Save Our Dental Care California Dental Association (CDA)

Now is the time to get involved!

Opinion | Joseph once waited four years to receive a basic cleaning and exam. By the time he was seen, he had multiple broken teeth, advanced gum recession and untreated decay. https://cal.news/41hP6uz

📝 Pat Hornbecker
📸 Zoë Meyers

04/03/2026

We’re thrilled to welcome Sofia Andrea Sanchez as a co-host of the 19th Annual DisCo at the Capitol: California Disability Advocacy Conference on May 18 and 19 in Sacramento, CA!

Sofia is an actress, model, advocate, and author. You may know her for her role in The Hunger Games, or her groundbreaking TEDx talk. She is the first person with Down syndrome to take the TEDx stage, promoting inclusion and representation in the media.

✨ Join us at the Evening Reception on May 18 for a special meet & greet and book signing with Sofia, where she’ll be connecting with attendees and sharing her three children's books.

Don’t miss this chance to meet one of today’s most inspiring young voices in the disability community.

🎟️ Get your tickets now:
https://discoatthecapitol.org/

04/02/2026

Our El Arc de California is proud to sponsor a new bill introduced last week by Assemblymember DDr. Jasmeet Bains(D–35), AB 2209, legislation aimed at strengthening caregiver succession planning for Californians with developmental disabilities. This important measure builds on existing law to ensure that planning for the future is more consistent, clearly documented, and centered on the individual’s needs, goals, and independence.

Read full story:

El Arc de California is proud to sponsor a new bill introduced last week by Assemblymember Dr. Jasmeet Bains (D–35), AB 2209, legislation aimed at strengthening caregiver succession planning for Californians with developmental disabilities

04/01/2026

As a parent or caregiver of someone with a disability, one of the hardest things to do is take care of yourself. Finding time for your own health and wellbeing often takes a back seat to your many other caregiving responsibilities. In our "Self-Care Matters" FREE ONLINE two-class series, we provide you with expert tips and tools for creating a more balanced life.

Our next class starts Monday, April 20 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. with parent-educators Felisa Strickland and Carrie McKiddie.

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER: https://www.caringfutures.org/classes

03/26/2026

A good article by EdSource about the bill we are sponsoring: AB 2189 by Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen known as the "Special Education Parent Advocacy and Training Act." This important and timely bill empowers parents to advocate for improved outcomes in California’s K-12 special education by authorizing the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities to implement an advocacy initiative to conduct parent outreach and training forums throughout the state.

To learn more, get legislative updates, or sign on in support please visit: specialed.thearcca.org {see link below}.

READ ARTICLE: https://edsource.org/2026/california-special-education-reform/754535?amp=1

Local organizations train and organize parents, but that doesn’t necessarily translate into coordination and action in Sacramento, according to the bill's supporters.