The Arc of Texas

10/14/2026

This summer, our Public Policy & Advocacy Team hit the road, and traveled across the Lone Star State on our bi-annual Tour Across Texas! This was an opportunity for us to meet with nine of our local chapter regions and conduct advocacy trainings. But, most importantly, to hear directly from Texans with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, and our local chapter leaders about the issues that matter most to them.

Now, we're gearing up for the 90th Texas Legislative Session and we're excited to take the stories and priorities that we heard on the road to lawmakers in Austin. The 90th Texas Legislative Session convenes in January of 2027, and we can't wait to see you there!

A big thanks to all the local chapters who hosted us! It's always amazing to see our state's wonderful disability community come together and to hear your experiences first-hand. Whether you attended a tour event or not, your voice matters, and Texans with IDD need your advocacy! We hope you'll take these next steps:

⭐Make a plan to vote in the Mid-Term Election. Your vote is critical to ensure leaders who care of Texans with disabilities are elected. Election day is Nov. 3, but we encourage you to vote early (Oct. 19-30) or vote by mail (applications must be received by Oct. 23). For assistance, check out https://ow.ly/h5V350ZXsJY or call the Disability Rights Texas Voting Rights Hotline at 1-888-796-8683.

⭐Stay tuned for advocacy opportunities as the legislative session nears in January, and view our simple toolkit to learn more about the Texas Legislature and how to advocate with us! https://ow.ly/4I6Q50ZXQHz

[Video ID: Sabrina Gonzalez Saucedo, Director of Public Policy & Advocacy at The arc of Texas, narrates this video montage of photos and clips from our nine visits to local chapters across the state during Tour Across Texas. The caption above is a transcript of what she says in the video. The visuals show people learning about advocacy in classroom environments, speaking to the crowd about their experiences, and mingling happily. Some people in the video have visible and invisible disabilities, while others do not. In addition to Texans with IDD, the photos capture attendees who are family members and care givers, staff and volunteers of local chapters. The predominate colors in this video are blue, orange, yellow and white.]


The Arc of Wichita County
The Arc of McLennan County
The Arc of Harris County
Gulf Coast Self Advocates
The Arc of El Paso
The Arc of Greater East Texas
The Arc of the Capital Area
The Arc of DFW Area
The Arc of the United States
The Arc of Greater Beaumont

10/13/2026

A disability-inclusive workplace builds accessibility, accommodations, flexibility, and trust into everyday workplace practices. It also needs to be a place where employees feel safe disclosing a disability if they choose to. Accenture research found that 76% of employees with disabilities don’t fully disclose their disabilities at work. Many disabilities aren’t apparent, and employees may worry that disclosure could change how coworkers or managers see them or limit their opportunities to advance. The goal is to create a workplace where people can disclose when they want or need to without worrying that it’ll hurt their career.

Hiring is only the beginning: https://thearc.org/blog/how-and-why-to-celebrate-national-disability-employment-awareness-month-october

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), and this year’s theme is "Celebrating Value and Talent." People with disabilities bring skills, creativity, and perspective that strengthen every workplace. Yet, hiring barriers and bias still shut many out. Only about 38% of people with disabilities are employed, compared to 75% of those without disabilities. This month is a chance to raise awareness, challenge bias, and promote inclusive practices that benefit everyone.

Learn more about NDEAM on our blog and take the next step toward building a more inclusive workplace: https://bit.ly/4hw8iMR

10/05/2026

Today's the deadline to register to vote in Texas in order to vote in the Nov 3 midterm elections. Think you're registered? Double check and make sure your address and name are listed correctly: https://goelect.txelections.civixapps.com/ivis-mvp-ui/

🗳️ TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE!

Your voice matters—and your vote can help create meaningful change for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. 💙

When we vote, we have an opportunity to support a more inclusive community where people with disabilities have access to the services, education, healthcare, opportunities, and protections they deserve.

♿ Disability voices belong at the ballot box.
❤️ Advocate for inclusion.
🤝 Stand up for disability rights.
📣 Make your voice heard.
🗳️ Register. Vote. Make a Difference.

Don’t wait—register to vote TODAY!

10/02/2026

The Arc of Texas, alongside national disability organizations, condemns the final judgment in Texas v. Kennedy.

A federal court approved an agreement between the federal government, Texas, and four other states that removes key community integration provisions from Health and Human Services (HHS) regulations implementing Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

The final judgment removes provisions that made clear that people with disabilities should receive federally funded health and social services in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs, rather than being unnecessarily placed in institutions. The ruling does not eliminate Section 504, the Americans with Disabilities Act, or the Supreme Court’s Olmstead decision. However, it removes important language from federal regulations that reinforced the right to community integration.

Sabrina Gonzalez Saucedo, Director of Public Policy and Advocacy for The Arc of Texas, said: “People with disabilities should be able to receive the services and supports they need in their communities, alongside their families, friends, and neighbors. While this ruling does not reflect the efforts of the thousands of Texans who advocated for Texas to withdraw from this lawsuit, those voices remain part of the record. We will continue working with people with disabilities, families, and advocates to protect community living and access to the supports people need to live, learn, and work in their communities.”

We are grateful to the members of Congress who introduced H.Res. 1586, which affirms that the Olmstead decision reflects Congress’s intent that people with disabilities should live and receive services in their communities. The Arc of Texas supports this resolution and its affirmation of community integration.

TAKE ACTION: Ask your reps to cosponsor the resolution using this quick form: https://tinyurl.com/HRes1586

We will continue advocating for Texans with disabilities and their right to live in the community with the services and supports they need.

The Arc of the United States
The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
Center for Public Representation
National Health Law Program (NHeLP)
Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF)
ACLU
Justice In Aging
National Council on Independent Living

[Image ID: Purple and orange background with white and yellow text reads: The Arc of Texas, alongside national disability organizations, condemns the final judgment in Texas v. Kennedy. A federal court approved an agreement between the federal government, Texas, and four other states that removes key community integration provisions from Health and Human Services (HHS) regulations implementing Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. See full statement and how to help in the caption. Includes The Arc of Texas logo at bottom left.]

10/01/2026

Voting is one of our most important responsibilities. In order to in the mid-term elections on Nov. 3, Texans MUST be registered to vote by Monday, Oct. 5. With so much at stake for Texans with disabilities, voting is more important than ever! There are two ways to register:
⭐Option 1: Register in person at your local County Voter Registration Office using the form they provide when you arrive. (Many public libraries and post offices keep forms on hand, too.)
⭐Option 2: Fill out a registration form online at https://ow.ly/OAn250ZTE1v, print your completed form, and mail it or drop it off at your local County Voter Registration Office. Registration forms must be postmarked by Oct. 5.
⭐ Think you're registered, double check at the link above, and if your address or name has changed, you must update your registration. Questions? Call Disability Rights Texas Voting Rights Hotline at 1-888-796-8683 or [email protected].

[Video ID: Julia Chalker, Director of The Arc of DFW Area speaks to the camera and says, "I vote because I know it's a privilege to be able to vote, and I don't take that for granted. I also vote to protect the rights that those with disabilities have fought for for so long, and we don't want to lose those. I also vote because I've always kinda thought that if you don't vote, you don't have a right to complain."]

09/29/2026

As we gear up for the 90th Legislative Session, beginning January, we’re making sure the priorities and experiences of Texans with intellectual and developmental disabilities are part of the conversation as state leaders consider the resources and policies that shape lives.

Recently, our Public Policy & Advocacy team testified at the Texas Legislative Budget Board’s joint budget hearings for state agencies that play a critical role in the lives of Texans with IDD, including the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), Texas Education Agency (TEA), Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB).



[Video ID: A 10-second video begins with a close-up photo of the Texas Capitol behind a transparent layer of orange. The screen says, "State leaders are considering the resources and policies that shape the lives of Texans with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD)." The video transitions to a second slide that includes a photo of two members of The Arc of Texas Public Policy & Advocacy team standing outside the Texas Legislative Budget Board hearing inside the Texas Capitol behind a transparent layer of purple. The screen says, "We're making sure the priorities and experiences of Texans with IDD are part of the conversation." Both slides include The Arc of Texas logo, in white, at the top right of the screen.]

09/25/2026

We had such a great time at our last Tour Across Texas stop at The Arc of Greater East Texas, where we met with self-advocates and their families to talk about how to advocate for disability supports and services during the upcoming Texas Legislative Session! Thanks for the warm welcome, yall!

This wraps up our 2026 summer roadtrip 🚙 for . Stay tuned for a look back at all the wonderful friends we met across the state -- coming soon!

The Arc of Greater East Texas

09/16/2026

Why vote? Here's what our Public Policy & Advocacy Committee had to say! Share this video with friends and family during this week to encourage everyone to exercise their right to vote in the midterm election on Nov. 3.

⭐ WEBINAR: Need help understanding your ballot so you can vote with confidence? There's a free webinar tomorrow, Sept. 17, for you! Led by people with disabilities for people with disabilities and the people who support them, this is hosted by The Arc U.S. and Next For Autism. Register here: https://ow.ly/AXFW50ZOoEr


The Arc of the United States
Texas Advocates