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Dear Fellow Advocates,
March marks Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month - a time to pause, reflect, and recommit ourselves to building communities where everyone belongs. At The Arc of Illinois, this month carries special meaning. For seven decades, we have stood alongside people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families, working to ensure access, opportunity, and dignity across every corner of our state. Across Illinois, in large cities and small towns alike, our community continues to show what inclusion truly looks like.
Developmental disabilities are common and more visible than many people realize. Nationally, approximately 1 in 6 children have a developmental disability. These disabilities include conditions such as Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Fragile X Syndrome, and other lifelong conditions that affect learning, behavior, mobility, or daily living. They cross every demographic line and touch every community. With the right supports, people with developmental disabilities live full lives - as students, employees, neighbors, leaders, and friends.
Awareness is about more than recognition. It is about understanding the importance of access to education, employment, healthcare, and home-based services. It is about recognizing the value people with disabilities bring to our communities and ensuring policies reflect that value. Progress happens when conversations shift from limitations to possibility - and when communities choose inclusion as a standard, not an exception.
Throughout March, we encourage you to participate in ways that feel authentic to you. Share information. Engage in thoughtful conversations. Support inclusive businesses and organizations. Reach out to elected officials to underscore the importance of protecting services and supports. Every action, visible or quiet, contributes to a stronger, more inclusive Illinois.
We also invite you to show your support in a simple but powerful way. Wearing The Arc of Illinois gear, sharing a message online, or participating in local events helps elevate awareness and reinforces that this community is vibrant and strong. Visibility matters. When people see inclusion in action, it reshapes expectations and opens doors.
Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month is ultimately about recognizing shared humanity and shared responsibility. Together, we continue building a state where people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are not defined by barriers but empowered by opportunity.
In solidarity,
Samantha M. Alloway Executive Director, The Arc of Illinois
Advocates Unite isn’t just a slogan — it’s a promise we stand behind.
We’ve continued this theme because the work isn’t finished — and neither is our commitment.
Celebrate with us and be part of the movement!
Create your own "Advocates Unite" Facebook Frame: Click here.
Registration for the 76th Annual Convention! Together, We Rise: The Need for Collective Action April 29–30, 2026 | Hybrid Event | Bloomington-Normal or Virtual
“Classroom to Community: Empowering Transitions Through Aspire’s Employment Training Program"
Presented byAmanda Hedberg and Garrett Reynolds, Aspire Wednesday, April 29 | 11:30 AM –12:15 PM
Discover how Aspire’s Employment Training Program transforms the transition from high school into a true launchpad for adulthood, creating pathways to competitive employment, deeper connections, and long-term success.
Got4titude is an organization designed to strengthen fathers and father-figures of neurodivergent children through community, practical tools, and a steady place to belong.
Founded in 2024 by Kirby Rabalais, the mission is to transform the lives of fathers raising children with disabilities by providing empathetic support, guidance, and real-world resources.
Got4titude understands the emotional journey and unique challenges that come with parenting a child with disabilities—whether you’re navigating a new diagnosis or you’ve been in this for years. You’ll find connection with people who “get it,” along with tools you can actually use at home, at school meetings, and in everyday life.
Kirby has walked this road personally as a father of a child with disabilities, and he combines lived experience with modern coaching techniques to offer support that’s both empathetic and practical.
Our listening sessions are part of Focus on the Future, The Arc of Illinois’ initiative to strengthen and redesign Illinois’ IDD system so people with disabilities can fully participate in community life.
In partnership with the Disability Partners IDD System Redesign Coalition, we’re gathering input from self-advocates, families, providers, and allies to shape policy recommendations ahead of our May 20, 2026 statewide summit.
We’re building a system that is easier to navigate, responsive across the lifespan, and centered on informed choice.
Three ways to participate: • Take the Survey, click here. • Join a Listening Session: Virtual | Mar 31 at 10:30 AM | click here. • Share Your Story, click here.
Your voice matters. Join us — and help shape the future.
The Arc of Illinois is hosting its 14th Annual Informational Seminar, a full day of learning and updates for families, self-advocates, professionals, and community partners.
The event is free for families and self-advocates (registration required), with CEUs available for professionals.
Keynote speaker Tonya Piephoff, Director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities, will provide important budget and service updates. Lorene Reagan, Ligas Court Monitor, will also share key insights related to the Consent Decree.
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