The Arc of Iowa

10/17/2026

10/14/2026

💜 Your Story Matters. Your Voice Matters.

One Million Caregiver Questions — We Want to Hear From You!
Every day, Iowa families and caregivers navigate challenges, celebrate victories, and make decisions that shape the lives of people with disabilities.

Now, we want to hear your story.

The Arc of Iowa is helping elevate the voices of caregivers and families to bring greater awareness to their experiences, challenges, and needs.

Whether you're a parent, family member, or caregiver, your experiences can help create a better future for Iowa families.

💜 Share your story and help make your voice heard!
👉 Share your story here: Caregiver Story Submission
Together, we can help Iowans LIVE, WORK, PLAY, and FLOURISH.

10/11/2026

Cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can sound like policy changes happening far away. But Medicaid and SNAP cuts are already affecting people with disabilities. People are losing food benefits, healthcare, and critical services. Others are facing confusing paper...

10/09/2026

🍎 IMPORTANT SNAP BENEFIT UPDATE: What Individuals with Disabilities and Families Need to Know

Changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) could affect individuals with disabilities, caregivers, and families across Iowa.

We know how important food assistance is to the health, independence, and financial stability of the people we serve. We also know that navigating changes to benefits can be confusing and overwhelming.

The Arc of the United States has created a helpful guide explaining changes to SNAP resulting from the 2025 federal budget law and what individuals and families need to know.

📌 If you or someone you support receives SNAP benefits:

Learn about changes that may affect your benefits.

Watch for important notices and requests for information.

Make sure your contact information is up to date.

Ask questions and seek assistance if you are unsure how the changes affect you.

At The Arc of Iowa, we believe access to nutritious food is essential to living a healthy, independent, and meaningful life. No one should lose critical assistance simply because the rules are difficult to understand.

📖 Read The Arc's SNAP Guide here:
https://thearc.org/resource/snap-changes-what-people-with-disabilities-and-their-families-need-to-know/

💙 Please share this information with families, self-advocates, caregivers, and community organizations. Helping people stay informed is an important part of protecting access to the supports they need.

10/02/2026

We are grateful to Julie and Katie for paving the way for families and children with disabilities. We were honored to have Julie serve on our board.

Disability History: The Katie Beckett Amendment ⚖️

In 1982, one child and her parents achieved a massive victory for disability rights: the passage of the namesake Katie Beckett Amendment. This amendment allowed children with disabilities to be cared for in their own homes without losing Medicaid eligibility.

Before this amendment was passed, “income” for children with disabilities receiving medical care at home was considered the total of their parents’ income, making eligibility impossible for many children. The only exception to this rule was if a child had been hospitalized for 30 consecutive days - a difficult and costly choice for families to make.

Thanks to Katie and her parents, individuals under 18 with disabilities were able to receive Medicaid coverage at home with their families instead of in an institutional setting.

Did you know about this bit of disability history? Send this to someone you think could use a dose of disability history today! 📩

[Image description: a black and white photo shows a child holding both her parents hands and walking down a hallway. The corner of the image has a blue cutout showing the Disability History Timeline logo.]

09/25/2026

Disability Rights continue to be under attack. Get Out and Vote!!

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18R8Zeprff/?mibextid=wwXIfr

09/09/2026

Congratulations to the The Arc of Iowa, who received a $25,000 grant from the Telligen Community Initiative during its latest round of funding in July. Funding will strengthen organizational capacity by building a statewide family leadership and membership infrastructure to expand stakeholder engagement, improve tracking, increase advocacy and support long-term sustainability.

“The initial phase of this investment has been remarkably successful. The Arc of Iowa has rapidly translated resources into measurable outcomes—launching new family leadership efforts, engaging community partners across Iowa, and generating overwhelming enthusiasm for disability pride and advocacy. The momentum created during these first weeks confirms that this initiative is filling a critical need and is well positioned for long-term sustainability. Thanks to funding from Telligen, individuals with food allergies were able to safely participate in the Urbandale, Iowa, 4th of July Parade through the creation of a Food Safe Zone. This dedicated space helped create a healthier, more inclusive environment where children and families with food allergies could celebrate alongside their community with greater confidence, ensuring every child had the opportunity to be safe, included, and thrive.”
— Doug Cunningham, Executive Director

09/02/2026

Tune in this Saturday 9/5 from 9 - 10 am on KHOI Community Radio 89.1 FM to hear about the Iowa Seizure Safe School law and the importance of seizure education on the "I Am Able IOWA" radio program hosted by The Arc of Iowa! You can tune in to the KHOI Community Radio page or listen from the web. https://khoifm.org/

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