The Arc Minnesota history

1947 Doctor Reynold Jensen, a professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at the University of Minnesota, challenges the prevailing practice of immediately separating children born with disabilities from their parents, counseling parents to delay the decision to place their child in an institution.

1948 The Association of Friends of the Mentally Retarded files articles of incorporation and establishes member dues of $1 per year.

1950 The National Association of Parents and Friends of the Mentally Retarded begins at the first-ever national convention of parents on September 28, 1950 in Minneapolis.

1955 The Minnesota Association for Retarded Children incorporates in October to coordinate local, state, regional and national initiatives and provide leadership in government affairs.

1960 The Arc national convention celebrates the movement’s 10th anniversary in Minneapolis with the “Panorama of Progress.”

1961 The Arc receives United Way funding for the first time.

1963 President John F. Kennedy signs legislation providing $355 million for a federal and state mental health and mental retardation program.

1964 Parents succeed in establishing classes for students with disabilities in the Minneapolis Public Schools, eleven years before national legislation mandates special education services.

1970 The 20th Annual Convention of Arc is held in Minneapolis.

1977 Arc’s individual advocacy programs begin to provide information and support to people with disabilities and their families.

1979 Arc starts a nationwide public awareness campaign about Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

1980 The TapeMark Charity Golf Tournament begins, benefiting Arc and other organizations that support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

1981 Arc sponsors its first consumer conference, called “I’d Like to Know More”.

1982 Arc’s Value Village Thrift Store opens in Richfield to provide funding for the Arc.

1984 Self-advocates organize a local chapter of People First, an international self-advocacy movement, with support from Arc.

1990 The Arc in Minnesota stops using the name “Association for Retarded Citizens” out of concern about the label “retarded.” The national Arc changes its name a year later.

1992 More than 1,300 people from across the country convene in Minneapolis for the national Arc convention.

1996 The Arc chapters metro-wide form a joint public policy committee to keep abreast of state legislative issues and establish a direct communications line to The Arc Minnesota.

1999 “What’s the Big IDEA?” educates parents on the complexities of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and on how to better advocate for their children with disabilities.

2000 The Arc emphasizes self-determination, hosting “Taking the Lead: Creating a Blueprint for the Future,” a day-long retreat made possible by a grant from the Minnesota Governor’s Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities.

2004 Self-advocates metro-wide participate in Get Out the Vote training for the fall 2004 elections.

2005 The Arc mobilizes families to speak at hearings, share their stories and attend town meetings to help legislators understand the impact of cuts to service funding and changes in Consumer Directed Consumer Supports.

2006 The Arc celebrates the organization’s 60th anniversary.

2007 The Arc expanded outreach to people from multicultural communities underserved in the past by hiring bilingual advocates and creating Family Access Groups, which provide culturally specific education and support to Hmong, Somali and Latino families.

2008 Arc hosted the inaugural Arcademy Gala in February, 2008, generating more than $341,000 through sponsorships, ticket sales, live and silent auctions and a Fund-a-Need appeal focused on The Arc’s sibling programs.

2010 The Arc became a certified Minnesota application agent through the Department of Human Services, allowing The Arc to support people and access health care services more quickly.

2012 The Arc launched GetSet!™ for Work! to help young people with disabilities prepare to find meaningful work beyond high school.

2013 The United States Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women awarded

2015 Relationships created through The Arc’s Adelante groups, Somali Taageer Group, the Somali Disability Network, and Help Me Grow extended support to people in Hmong, Somali, and Spanish-speaking communities.

2016 The Arc obtained a contract from the Minnesota Department of Human Services to form Regional Quality Councils to conduct quality reviews to improve the quality of services and supports for people with disabilities.

2017 The GetSet! Online Survey is an interactive planning tool created by The Arc Minnesota to help young adults select and communicate their interests and preferences.

2018 On January 1, 2018, 7 chapters of The Arc across Minnesota merged as one organization to provide consistent and essential services to support more people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.