about us

Who We are

The Arc of Adams County is an independent advocacy organization serving individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) within Adams County.

The Arc of Adams County is a local chapter of The Arc of Colorado and The Arc of the United States. We are here to empower individuals and families to receive the services and supports they need to live to their potential.

Our Mission

Since 1962 it has been the mission of The Arc of Adams County to protect, preserve, and promote the human and civil rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively support their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.

OUR VISION

A world where all people with disabilities belong, have equal rights, make their own choices and live their best lives.

what we do

We offer a variety of advocacy supports for individuals with IDD and their families residing in Adams County.

Our efforts are focused in the following areas:

Information and Resources
Technical Assistance
Trainings
Individual Advocacy
Community Outreach
Policy and Legislative Advocacy

Requesting advocacy services will include an intake to determine:

Qualifying for Arc services
Identifying issues
Assessing need and level of support
Creating a plan
Determining a time frame for intervention

Advocacy is a learning process. We will work with you to learn the skills to effectively address needs and next steps.

Our primary role is to advocate on behalf of individuals with IDD. Therefore, we are non-attorney advocates and do not provide legal advice. Also, we do not provide case management duties but will share resources for those needs.

Systemic & Policy Advocacy

The Arc of Adams County believes systemic advocacy is critical to create change. Providing individual advocacy throughout Adams County often identifies a problem in the system that prevents children and adults from having choices and getting effective and quality services. Systems change advocacy works with, and on behalf of groups of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to promote change and increase service quality. We educate policy leaders and lawmakers at all levels so change can be made giving real choice to people with disabilities and allowing full control over those services.

From my son’s very first days of preschool, to now navigating adulthood, The Arc of Adams County has been an invaluable resource for my own family and so many others. The Arc’s mission is to ensure that both families and individuals are truly able to participate in all aspect of decision-making, and that individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities be both valued and included members of their communities. The Arc is a wonderful, invaluable, and necessary organization.
- K.O.

arc chapter affiliations

There are 15 Arc Chapters in Colorado including the state chapter and 14 local chapters serving designated geographic areas. Local chapters provide individual advocacy services for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who live in their service areas. They also provide information and referral services, public policy support, community education and more. Membership in a local chapter of The Arc includes membership in The Arc of Colorado and The Arc of the United States.

We abide by the Arc US position statements. The Arc’s position statements address critical issues related to human and civil rights, health care and treatment, and services and programs for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.

Position statements are used to inform The Arc’s public policy agenda, as well as to provide the national platform of positions of The Arc for use by chapters at all levels of The Arc in its work – national, state, and local. The statements also serve to inform our contituency, stakeholders, media, and the general public on prevailing organizational view on key issues.

The Arc of the United States
1825 K. Street, NW, Suite 1200
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: (202) 534-3700 / 1-800-433-5255
Fax: (202) 534-3731
Email: info@thearc.org

www.thearc.og

The Arc of Colorado
1580 Logan St., Suite 730
Denver, CO 80203
Phone: (303) 864-9334

www.thearcofco.org

membership

Since 1957, the Arc of Adams County has invested time and energy on behalf of individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). We need partners to help us fulfill our vision of an inclusive community that welcomes every person and celebrates their gifts.

By becoming a member, you help our chapter provide much needed trainings and advocacy services while educating the community on the needs, rights, and abilities of people with IDD. Also, a membership with The Arc of Adams County allows members to participate and have a voice in local, state, and national chapters of The Arc.

Each member will receive an automatic invitation to our Annual Picnic and Annual Meeting. Annual Picnic is a fun, outdoor get together for all of our members and self-advocates! There will be food, balloon animals, face painting, and a raffle to end the evening. Annual Meeting is held to honor self-advocates, community members, service providers, agencies, and those who have gone above and beyond to help better the lives of those with IDD! There is an awards ceremony, presentation, and food. Check out the fun we’ve had below and join us!