The Arc, Upper Valley

11/11/2026

Happy Birthday to our wonderful Executive Director, Rachel Hafner!! Hope you have a wonderful day and a great year. ~KL

11/10/2026

SEPAC is Meeting Tonight!

While we would love to see you at our Coffee with Friends Virtual Education Series tonight, we also want to highlight another important opportunity for families!

The Grand Forks Public Schools Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC) is meeting tonight, and we encourage parents and caregivers of GFPS students receiving special education services to attend.

Your voice matters! This is an opportunity to share your experiences, ask questions, raise concerns, and help strengthen special education services for all students.

11/10/2026

Take a look at what's happening this week at The Arc Upper Valley! 🍂

Join us on Tuesday, November 10, at 6:30 PM for our Coffee with Friends Virtual Education Series featuring: Introduction to Dementia in Individuals Living with Developmental Disabilities

☕ Coffee with Friends – Register Here:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/98XjJ2IMREGBqiimwn2YKA

Office Reminder: The Arc Upper Valley office will be open on Wednesday, November 11, Veterans Day, during regular business hours.

11/09/2026

We want to remind you that we have a great presentation scheduled for tomorrow evening. We hope to see you there. Scan the QR Code to register or follow this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/98XjJ2IMREGBqiimwn2YKA

☕ Coffee with Friends is Brewing Again!

Join The Arc Upper Valley for our November Coffee with Friends virtual education session!

Introduction to Dementia in Individuals Living with Developmental Disabilities

As individuals with developmental disabilities age, understanding dementia and its potential impact becomes increasingly important. Join us to learn more about dementia, ask questions, and gain information that may be helpful to individuals with disabilities, families, caregivers, guardians, and others.

Our Presenter:
Julie Praska-Moser, Program Manager
Minnesota–North Dakota Chapter, Alzheimer's Association

📅 Tuesday, November 10, 2026
⏰ 6:30–7:30 PM
💻 Virtual via Zoom

☕ Grab a cup of coffee (or tea!), get comfortable, and join us for an evening of learning and conversation!

Registration is required to receive the Zoom link. Scan the QR code on the flyer or follow the link below to register.

🔗 Registration Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/98XjJ2IMREGBqiimwn2YKA

Coffee with Friends is a free monthly virtual education series hosted by The Arc Upper Valley, bringing people together to learn, connect, and explore disability-related topics.

11/02/2026

Words Matter: Supporting Students and Families Through Understanding and Respect

Recent public comments about special education in our community have sparked important conversations about students with disabilities and the families who advocate for them.

❤️ To parents and caregivers: You should never have to defend your commitment as a parent simply because your child has a disability or receives special education services. Your dedication matters, your experiences deserve to be heard, and your children deserve every opportunity to learn, grow, and belong.

Words matter, especially when they come from people in positions of leadership and influence. Effective advocacy requires more than good intentions. It begins with listening, challenging assumptions, respecting lived experiences, and leading with empathy and compassion. Our words should reflect the dignity and respect every student and family deserves.

Read our latest blog about supporting families, addressing misconceptions, and what it means to be an effective advocate.

🔗 Read the full article: https://www.thearcuppervalley.org/post/words-matter-supporting-students-and-families-through-understanding-and-respect

11/02/2026

GET OUT AND VOTE TOMORROW - FREE RIDES AVAILABLE!

Don't forget to vote on Tuesday, November 3rd. Cities Area Transit will be providing FREE rides to the polls!

📍Alerus Center
📍ICON Sports Center
📍Hope Church
📍Runnings

10/30/2026

📣 Grand Forks Public Schools Parents and Families: We Want to Hear From You!

The Grand Forks Special Education Unit's Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC), in partnership with parents, school district staff, The Arc Upper Valley, and Family Voices of Grand Forks, is developing a family-friendly education transition resource guide.

We're looking for feedback from families at every stage of their child's educational journey, giving specific attention to major transitions throughout the school years: early intervention to early childhood special education (ECSE), ECSE to elementary school, elementary school to middle school, middle school to high school, and high school to community/adult life.

💬 Your Feedback Matters! Help us identify the information, tools, and resources families need to navigate these important transitions.

🔗 Take the Survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeaGJv1CeABFOY_Sg0ualbkXKhX9Hbgdu-O0oUgMkXh2xAAqQ/viewform

Thank you for helping us create meaningful resources for students and families!

10/29/2026

📣 Have you registered for The Arc of North Dakota Listening Session yet?

It's happening TONIGHT at 6:30 PM!

Your Voice Matters! Join The Arc of North Dakota for an important conversation, sponsored by The Arc Upper Valley, as we prepare for the 2027 North Dakota Legislative Session.

We want to hear from people with disabilities, families, caregivers, guardians, professionals, and community members throughout the Grand Forks region.

💬 What's working? What's not? What needs to change?

This is your opportunity to share the issues, concerns, and priorities that matter most to you and help inform advocacy efforts ahead of the legislative session.

📅 Tonight, October 29 | 6:30 PM
💻 Virtual via Zoom
✅ FREE and open to the public!
🔗 Register here: https://forms.gle/nHzWyewdUug4J2818

Your experiences matter. Your ideas matter. Your voice matters.

10/27/2026

Notice of Annual Meeting | The Arc Upper Valley

The Arc Upper Valley's Annual Meeting will be conducted by mail this year, with both mail-in and online voting options available to eligible members.

Our members play an important role in shaping the future of our organization, including electing members of our Board of Directors and helping guide our mission of advocacy, inclusion, and disability rights.

There's still time to become a member and participate in this year's Annual Meeting!

Membership connects you to a local organization working to protect the rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities while strengthening advocacy efforts at the state and national levels.

Your Voice Matters. Join Us Today!

🔗 Become a Member: https://givebutter.com/tGh95J