Today, in the United States, more than seven million people are affected by mental retardation or developmental disabilities. Locally, we provide services for more than 500 individuals with disabilities, and their families.

People with disabilities need your help! Due to serious budget cuts, Linn County will be forced to cut more than $500,000 between April 1, 2006 and June 30, 2007. How is this going to be done? By severely cutting or eliminating 35 mental health and disability programs. These cuts will have a devastating effect on the disability community.

 While this information isn’t easy to hear, doing something about it is. By becoming a new member or renewing your membership with The Arc of East Central Iowa, you will make your voice heard ten times over. The voice of The Arc and its constituents is determined by the number of members it has. Each member is representative of ten individuals – and all ten individuals count when legislators create policies or enforce budget cuts. We at The Arc of East Central Iowa want to be the group that demands action  and demands the rights of the disability community be protected.

As a member, you will automatically join forces with thousands of individuals across the United States. Your membership helps support local programs and services as well as strengthening The Arc's voice in addressing national, state, and local level policy issues that impact people with mental retardation and developmental disabilities.

We invite you to join us in fulfilling our mission by becoming a member of The Arc of East Central Iowa. Do us the honor and join today!