The Arc San Francisco

Today marks the 27th anniversary of Olmstead v. L.C., a landmark Supreme Court decision that changed civil rights history.

On June 22, 1999, the Court ruled that people with disabilities have the right to receive services in their communities rather than being unnecessarily separated from them.

This belief has guided the work of The Arc San Francisco for 75 years.

But civil rights are fragile. A recent legal opinion from the federal government’s Office of Legal Counsel could weaken protections that help people with disabilities live in their communities.

That does not erase Olmstead. It reminds us that rights won through advocacy must continue to be protected.

Community living is not a privilege. It is a civil right.
We see the power of community living every day.

-In housing, when participants live in homes and neighborhoods they choose.
-In employment, when participants build professional skills and share their talents in local workplaces.
-In daily life, when participants make choices about their health, relationships, goals, and futures.

Today, we honor the self-advocates, families, and leaders who fought for this progress. And we continue standing together, speaking out, and building a future where everyone has a place to belong.

👇🏻What does community mean to you?

Photo courtesy of the U.S. Department of Labor Blog.

Image description: Lois Curtis stands in her art studio holding a yellow sign that reads “I AM OLMSTEAD” as part of the I Am Olmstead campaign. She is smiling and standing beside another woman, with colorful paintings and framed artwork displayed behind them.

Join the Center for Independent Living and Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation for a special hybrid screening of the Emmy-nominated documentary The Ride Ahead at the Ed Roberts Campus in Berkeley.

The film follows Samuel Habib as he explores disability, independence, employment, and adulthood. Stay after the screening for a panel discussion featuring Samuel and moderated by Jim LeBrecht (Crip Camp).

Attend in person or virtually and be part of this important conversation on disability, inclusion, and belonging.

For details and to register go to -bit.ly/CIL_TRA

Before The Arc San Francisco had programs, offices, or even a name, it had families.

Parents who loved their children. Parents who were told their children did not belong. Parents who refused to accept that.

In the 1950s, many families of children with developmental disabilities were told to send their children away to large institutions. They were told their children would not go to school, have jobs, or be part of community life.

But these families knew better.

Rosemary French and Alice Godfrey Batson Gibeau were two of those early parent leaders. Rosemary helped start our movement in 1951. Alice, our second Board President, gave voice to its purpose in 1953 when she told the press:

“These kids aren’t objects of pity.”
That message still matters.

As we celebrate 75 years of The Arc San Francisco, we are looking back at the people and moments that shaped our work. We begin with Rosemary and Alice because they remind us that The Arc SF was built by families who turned love into action.

That is the legacy we carry into The Next 75.

What does inclusion mean to you?
Share your hopes for the future in the comments.



Image description:
A square graphic. At the top, large orange text reads, “These kids aren’t objects of pity,” attributed to Alice Godfrey Batson Gibeau. The Arc San Francisco logo appears in the upper right. Two black-and-white archival portraits are centered below, labeled Alice Godfrey Batson Gibeau and Rosemary French. At the bottom, large gradient text reads “The Next 75,” with the words “Life-Long Learning, Employment, Wellness, Connection, Justice” underneath.

It’s Online Fraud & Scams Week in The Arc San Francisco’s Digital Literacy Class!

In partnership with AT&T and The Arc of the United States, participants are building essential digital skills through AT&T’s accessible online learning modules.

The internet is a powerful tool, but not everything online is what it seems. From phishing emails to fake websites and scam messages, learning how to recognize red flags can help keep us all safer online.

How confident do you feel navigating the online world?

Vote in the comments:
1️⃣ I already know how to protect myself online.
2️⃣ I’d like to learn more about staying safe online.

We’d love to hear from you!

We are excited to share the first edition of the Paul K. Longmore Center newsletter.

This new space will help us continue the conversations that begin at our events while highlighting disability culture, advocacy, leadership, storytelling, and community. Through event recaps, interviews, resources, and opportunities to get involved, we'll explore the ideas and people shaping the future of disability justice.

To launch the newsletter, we're looking back at Let's Flip the Script on Disability, the inaugural Lois Curtis Lecture. Whether you joined us in person, attended online, or are just discovering the conversation, we invite you to explore highlights from the event, meet our panelists, and listen to the discussion.

https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Let-s-Flip-the-Script-on-Disability--Watch-the-Conversation.html?soid=1101645407542&aid=FLXqrKqkt3M



Image Description: A black-and-white logo for the Paul K. Longmore Center at The Arc San Francisco featuring a hand-drawn portrait of disability rights scholar and activist Paul K. Longmore. The logo includes the text "The Paul K. Longmore Center at The Arc San Francisco" and the tagline "Knowledge | Inclusion | Power."

Thinking about the future of the people you love? So are we.

Join us on June 17th for an intimate morning where we'll sit down with special needs trusts attorney Stephen Dale, Esq., to talk estate planning, legacy giving, and The Arc SF's future. Star Café coffee and Wise Sons Bagels on us. ☕🥯❤️

Space is limited. To RSVP contact Melissa Ferrer at [email protected] or 415-961-4401 to confirm your spot.

It’s Navigating a Website Week at The Arc SF!

In partnership with AT&T and The Arc of the United States , participants in our Digital Literacy Class are building skills and confidence online using AT&T’s engaging learning modules.

Websites can help us learn new things, stay connected, explore hobbies, find resources, and so much more. The internet is full of possibilities!

What are some of your favorite websites to visit? Share them in the comments, we’d love to discover some new favorites!

&T

Image Description: A participant of The Arc SF and her mentor using a laptop.

June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate LGBTQ+ communities, honor history, and recognize the ongoing work to advance inclusion, visibility, and belonging for all.

Here in San Francisco, Pride carries a powerful legacy. This year marks the 56th anniversary of San Francisco Pride, one of the most iconic Pride celebrations in the world.

Learn more about this year's events at sfpride.org.

At The Arc SF, we believe everyone deserves to be seen, valued, and celebrated. During Pride Month, we honor the LGBTQ+ members of our community and reaffirm our commitment to creating a world where all people are welcomed, respected, and belong.

How are you celebrating Pride this year? Share with us in the comments!