The Arc of North Dakota

09/02/2026

👋 Quick update from the Capitol!

The ND Legislature is in a special session this week in Bismarck — but disability issues aren't actually on the agenda this time. So why are we there?

Because showing up matters even when it's not "our" session. We're keeping an eye on what's happening, building relationships with lawmakers, and making sure the disability community stays on their radar — even between the big legislative sessions. You never know what might come up, and we'd rather be in the room than not.

08/24/2026

ND HHS is notifying families after a phishing attack this July exposed protected health information for some Developmental Disabilities service recipients — including name, DOB, medical and service details, and, in some cases, guardian information.

If you get a letter, check whose info is actually listed — it may not be just the service recipient's. Standard fraud-alert steps apply: monitor your accounts and be wary of unexpected calls or emails requesting personal info.

If you have questions about the incident or your letter, please contact HHS directly at (800) 755-8529.

https://www.hhs.nd.gov/news/media-notice-security-notice-unauthorized-access-phi

07/03/2026

We've been asked by our partners to help gather stories from North Dakotans about disability services — the supports that help people live, work, and stay connected in their communities.
These stories will be shared with our state legislators and federal delegation as they consider decisions that affect these programs.
If you or your family has a story to share, we'd like to hear it. Your name and email are optional — you can share anonymously if you prefer. https://forms.gle/Z5gRNH2KuR8rHCLW7

06/30/2026

Last week, hundreds of you shared your own stories after our post on what's at stake for North Dakota's disability services — many of you brought up the 1980 lawsuit, Grafton State School, San Haven, and the sixteen years it took to change how this state cares for its neighbors with disabilities.
That same history is now the subject of a public presentation by the Bismarck-Mandan Legislative Working Group on July 16.
The Arc of North Dakota was the plaintiff in that case. Our involvement didn't end when it was won — we're still doing the work it made possible, every day, often quietly.
We're glad this history is being told. We'll be there.

Interested in learning more about the history of care coordination and the Arc lawsuit?

Join Mike Williams on July 16 at 6:30 p.m. CDT for this free educational presentation. Attend in person in Bismarck or join virtually via Zoom. No registration required!

In Person: Century 21 Morrison Realty, 2nd Floor Meeting Room
1142 W. Turnpike Ave., Bismarck, ND 58501

Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/91757434403?pwd=zfx9LqYjJ1ASrzVoAXw9HQ6D2xaCo7.1

06/29/2026

Your story matters. Will you share it?
Cuts to disability services aren't abstract numbers — they're real impacts on real families across North Dakota. We're collecting stories about what losing services would mean for you or someone you love, and these stories will be shared directly with Rep. Fedorchak's office.
📝 Sharing your name is optional — you're welcome to submit your story anonymously. We only ask for the general region, so we can show this is happening statewide, not just in one place.
If services disappeared tomorrow, what would change for you or your family? Tell us here: https://forms.gle/QYZcdzuGibWTpsJv9
Every story helps make this real for the people who can change it.

06/25/2026

Thank you, Senator Sean Cleary, for using your voice to stand up for North Dakotans with disabilities and the families who support them. The Arc of North Dakota appreciates your continued attention to the Olmstead decision and what's at stake if we lose ground on community-based care. We look forward to working with you to make sure North Dakota keeps moving forward, not backward.

The Office of Legal Counsel opinion released Thursday said states aren't required by law to integrate mentally disabled patients with their peers by providing community or home-based care.

06/25/2026

📞 NATIONAL CALL IN DAY
A plan in D.C. would move special education oversight out of the Dept of Education — meaning more confusion, longer delays, and fewer protections for ND students with disabilities.
Call today. Tell them: Keep IDEA where it belongs. (Numbers in the graphic 👆)
Two minutes. One call. Every voice counts. 📲

06/23/2026

📌UPDATE: We are overwhelmed by the conversation this post has sparked — thank you all for sharing your experiences. We're reading every comment and will share them directly with our state legislators. If you haven't commented yet, please do — and if you want to stay updated, sign up for our emails at our website.

North Dakota fought this fight once. We shouldn't have to fight it again.
In 1980, families sued the state over how our neighbors with disabilities were treated at Grafton State School and San Haven. It took 16 years in federal court to build the community-based system we rely on today.
Now it's under threat — from federal Medicaid cuts, a new DOJ opinion challenging disabled North Dakotans' right to live in their own communities, and a plan to strip special education protections away from the Department of Education.
This isn't politics. It's whether a young man keeps his job coach. It's whether a mom keeps the aide who lets her daughter sleep in her own bed.
We're asking our congressional delegation to defend what took a generation to build. 👇
https://www.arcofnd.org/post/an-open-letter-to-north-dakota-s-congressional-delegation-don-t-let-our-neighbors-with-disabilities

06/19/2026

Yet another day brings another attack on the rights of people with disabilities. A recent DOJ opinion now suggests that your right to community-based care isn't legally guaranteed. We are monitoring this development closely.

The Office of Legal Counsel opinion released Thursday said states aren't required by law to integrate mentally disabled patients with their peers by providing community or home-based care.