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Welcome to What I Know
Wednesday, November 1, 2006

Almost every call I receive starts with "What do you know about....?" It seemed like the perfect title for my blog. This is my attempt to find new ways to communicate on the critical issues that are impacting people with developmental disabilities and their families. And there certainly are many.

I will use this space to give an update with topics ranging upon the most current actions at the local, state and national level. Can I still call you? I sure hope so. Although getting back to everyone is getting harder as the calls increase. Please be patient. I spend much of my day either meeting with the state, our advocacy partner organizations, or families. When you return to the office with 20 or more phone messages it can take a few days. Don’t ever hesitate to    e-mail me.

50th Anniversary

Fifty years is such a milestone. Couples mark 50 years of marriage as a huge accomplishment, companies that make 50 years celebrate success in business that is rewarded by longevity. For The Arc perhaps we best measure it in the faces of people whose lives are different because of our being here.

A parent talked to me the other night about a friend of hers whose son got his first job through the old On-The-Job Training program of The Arc US. He has held that job for over 30 years. Amazing. Every day, life is better because of members and staff of The Arc at the local, state and national levels. Sometimes it is hard to see when we are so close to the issues of the day. When asked about the effect of the American Revolution on the history of the world, a Chinese historian said, "It is too early to tell."

We may not know the full impact of The Arc on history yet, but we see it every day in the faces of people going to school, at work and in their homes. Thank you for making that happen.