“Support from family is often essential to the well-being and inclusion of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). With an ongoing scarcity of direct care workers, families must increasingly fill in the gaps to ensure their loved ones have the support they need to live independently in their communities. Yet managing the needs of people with IDD without the necessary government support is leaving caregivers stressed, isolated, in poor health, and suffering financially. It’s a public health issue that’s impacting millions. What’s more, the majority of people with IDD don’t have long-term plans for when family members lose the ability to help them. As a member of the Steering Committee of the Act on RAISE Campaign, The Arc will fight to ensure people in power are building policies and programs that acknowledge, respect, and sustain family caregivers. Family caregivers deserve our support, too.”
– The Arc