About Us
Our Mission
The Arc Minnesota promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), actively supporting them and their families in a lifetime of full inclusion and participation in their communities.
What We Do
The Arc Minnesota provides lifelong support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities of all ages. We offer information, programs and services, peer support, and advocacy to help individuals and families make informed decisions. We also lead statewide advocacy on legislative policy to protect civil rights and strengthen policies that support inclusive education, employment, housing, and community living for all Minnesotans.
Who We Support
The Arc Minnesota supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families across the state. People trust us for information, advocacy, education, and training at every stage of life.
Intellectual and developmental disabilities can include autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, fragile X syndrome, Williams syndrome, and other lifelong disabilities that affect learning, communication, or daily living.
An intellectual disability begins before age 18 and may affect how a person learns, solves problems, and manages everyday tasks. It can also impact social skills and practical life skills. Intellectual disability looks different for every person. Some individuals may need significant daily support, while others live independently and work in their communities.
No matter the diagnosis or level of support needed, every person deserves respect, opportunity, and full inclusion.
Contact Us
More About Us:
Where We Work
Our regional offices help us connect with people throughout the state.
How We Can Help
The Arc offers programs, services, information and more to people with IDD and their families.
Our Thrift Stores
Shop, donate, and volunteer to support The Arc's programs and services.Our Core Values:
We believe all people:
- Are equal, valued, respected, and whole
- Have the right to be free
- Must have their rights protected
Our commitment—we will:
- Protect the human and civil rights of all people
- Fight for everyone’s equal rights
- Respect individuals’ lived experience and honor each person’s wholeness
- Work to end barriers in systems and society, no matter how long it takes to create change
We believe all people have the right to:
- Make decisions and have control in their lives
- Advocate for themselves
- Get support from trusted allies as they advocate and make decisions
Our commitment—we will:
- Promote power and capacity of people who have IDD of all ages
- Support leadership of disabled people of all ages
- Learn from disabled people, especially who are Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color
- Help people with disabilities and their allies get information, experiences, and support to make decisions
We believe all people have the right to:
- Meaningful relationships with people of their choice
- Belonging in their communities
- Information, systems, and resources that are accessible
Our commitment—we will:
- Advocate for equal opportunity in where everyone can live, learn, work, worship, and play
- Fight for universal design in all parts of society
- Share timely, accessible information in different formats and languages
- Build meaningful connections in communities
- Help trusted supporters of people with IDD as they work to honor each person’s power, value their capacity, and respect them exactly as they are
We believe systems and social change must be:
- Led by disabled people—especially those who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color
- Focused on freedom of people who have disabilities and ending discrimination
- Connected to all other movements for freedom and justice
Our commitment—we will:
- Learn from people who have diverse lived experience
- Challenge ourselves and others to confront racism and ableism
- Be allies in disability and racial justice movements
- Led by people who have disabilities fight for justice in society and systems
- Fight injustice within and across communities