Be the change
Your voice, your perspective, your ideas can make a difference.
At The Arc of King County, we teach civic engagement and leadership skills and connect people to opportunities so they can be the change they want to see.
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- Are you a self-advocate? Sign up for emails from Community Change Champions
Our approach
We use a steps-to-inclusion framework, helping people move from being concerned about something, to being able to assess who to contact, what to ask for and how to influence. This involves a mix of workshops and interactive classes, and ongoing issue education through social media and workshops.
If you want to influence, you need to understand what is going on and feel confidant using your voice.
Our programs
Community Change Champions – A peer support group for activists. Led by and for people with developmental disabilities.
King County Parent and Family Coalition - a grassroots group grounded in learning and leadership around issues that affect people with developmental disabilities
The Inclusion Academy - For parent's (and allies!) of children age 2 to 5 who want to create inclusive early learning opportunities and promote disability equity. This a cohort-style leadership development program, with a focus on the science of early childhood development and the lifelong benefits of inclusion. This pilot program is funded by the Best Starts for Kids Innovation Fund, Prenatal to 5.
Investing in Student Potential - Designing systems to give every learner what they need, when they need it. We helped found and sit on the steering committee of this statewide coalition to advance quality education for students with disabilities.
- Consider joining! Membership is open to individuals or organizations.
Leadership Intensive - A cohort-style leadership development course for people with developmental disabilities, family members and allies. Cohorts launch as funding allows. No cohorts are planned at this time. Class topics include:
- Advocacy strategies
- Disability pride and disability justice
- Community organizing
- The social safety net
- Public policy and budgets,
- The school system
- The civil rights movement
- Communication and presentation skills
