The Arc's Mission The Arc promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, actively supporting them and their families in a lifetime of full inclusion and participation in their communities. Over 70 years ago, The Arc Minnesota started because of conversations between parents of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. These talks had a common vision in mind: that every child with disabilities has the opportunity to live, learn, work and play where and how they wish in their lifetimes. The Arc Minnesota is a grassroots advocacy organization dedicated to securing for all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families the opportunity to realize their goals of where and how they live, learn, work and play. The Arc has been a leader in system change since 1946 resulting in the move from institutionalization to the current array of community based services and supports for children and adults with disabilities and their families. Annually, The Arc Minnesota serves approximately 4,000 children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (including conditions such as Down syndrome, autism, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy and other related conditions), parents/guardians and other family members in the seven county metro area. Services include information and assistance, individual advocacy, networking and Family Access groups, Sibling programs, ArcShops, public policy advocacy and self-advocacy building. For more information about The Arc Minnesota, please visit our website at www.arcminnesota.org, call 952.920.0855 or toll-free 833.450.1494. For more information about Arc's Value Village Thrift Store & Donation Center, visit our website at www.arcsvaluevillage.org.