Advocacy & Public Awareness

The Arc advocates against indifference. The Arc educates the community about receiving, embracing, and engaging people with cognitive and intellectual impairments in all facets of community life through case advocacy and support, resource and skills development, and educational workshops or forums.

Advocacy By Definition:

Advocacy n. 1. Active support as of a cause, idea or policy.

Advocate n. 1. A person who argues for a cause; supporter or defender. 2. A person who pleads in another's behalf; intercessor.

The Arc of Mecklenburg County has been advocating with and for people with developmental disabilities for over fifty years. Advocacy can take many forms. It can be as simple as one parent helping another find a dentist or as complex as influencing legislation through a large grass-roots letter writing campaign.

Advocacy is what The Arc does best. The Arc provides advocacy to people with disabilities and their families. The advocacy varies but usually includes assistance in accessing services, reporting abuse, special education rights, community resources, benefits information, and parent support. Volunteers and staff from The Arc work to inform the community about disabilities and often sit on numerous committees, working groups, planning boards and advisory councils. By sitting on the various committees and boards, The Arc perspective is brought to the table so that people with developmental disabilities will be represented when and where decisions are being made. Information that is learned in these activities is then shared with members of The Arc throughout the region.

The Arc strongly advocates for policies, state and federal legislation that is consistent with the Core Values and Position Statements of The Arc.

Contact Information for Legislators

Below are a list of Senators and Representatives and their contact information so you can easily reach them for disability and legislative action.

NC Senate Members

Daniel G. Clodfelter, District 37

300 N. Salisbury Street Room 408

Raleigh, NC 27603-5925

Phone: 919-715-8331

Email: danielc@ncleg.net

Charlie Smith Dannelly, District 38

16 W. Jones Street Room 2010

Raleigh, NC 27601-2808

Phone: 919-733-5955

Email: charlied@ncleg.net

W. Edward Goodall, District 35

16 W. Jones Street Room 1414

Raleigh, NC 27601-28208

Phone: 919-733-7659

Email: eddieg@ncleg.net

Malcolm Graham, District 40

300 N. Salisbury Street Suite 620

Raleigh, NC 27603-5925

Phone: 919-733-5650

Email: malcomg@ncleg.net

Bob Rucho, District 39

300 N. Salisbury Street Suite 515

Raleigh, NC 27603-5925

Phone: 919-733-5655

Email: Bob.rucho@ncleg.net

NC House of Representatives

Martha B. Alexander, District 106

16 W. Jones Street Room 2208

Raleigh, NC 27601-1096

Phone: 919-733-5807

Email: Martha.Alexander@ncleg.net

Becky Carney, District 102

16 W. Jones Street Room 1221

Raleigh, NC 27601-1096

Phone: 919-733-5827

Email: becky.carney@ncleg.net

Tricia Ann Cotham, District 100

16 W. Jones Street Room 1307

Raleigh, NC 27601-1096

Phone: 919-715-0706

Email: tricia.cotham@ncleg.net

Ruth Samuelson, District 104

300 N. Salisbury Street Room 418B

Raleigh, NC 27603-5925

Phone: 919-715-3009

Email: ruth.samuelson@ncleg.net

Nick Mackey, District 99

16 W. Jones Street, Room 2217

Raleigh, NC 27601-1096

Phone: 919-733-5606

Email: Nick.mackey@ncleg.net

Beverly M. Earle , District 101

300 N. Salisbury Street Suite 634

Raleigh, NC 27603-5925

Phone: 919-715-2530

Email: beverly.earle@ncleg.net

Jim Gulley, District 103

16 W. Jones Street Room 1319

Raleigh, NC 27601-1096

Phone: 919-733-5800

Email: Jim.Gulley@ncleg.net

Ric Killian, District 105

16 W. Jones Street Room 1010

Raleigh, NC 27601-1096

Phone: 919-733-5886

Email: ric.killian@ncleg.net

Thom Tillis, District 98

16 W. Jones Street Room 1002

Raleigh, NC 27601-1096

Phone: 919-733-5828

Email: thom.tillis@ncleg.net

Kelly Alexander, District 107

300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 632

Raleigh, NC 27603

Phone: 919-733-5778

Email: Kelly.alexander@ncleg.net

United States Senate

Senator Richard Burr

217 Russell Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

Phone: 202-224-3154

Fax 202-228-2981

Senator Kay Hagan

B40A Dirksen Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

Phone: 202-224 3324

House of Representatives

Representative Sue Myrick

District 9

230 Cannon House Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20515

Phone: 202-225-1976

Fax: 202-225-3389

Website: www.myrick.house.gov

Representative Melvin L. Watt

District 12

2236 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20515-3312

Phone: 202-225-1510

Fax: 225-1512

Website: www.watt.house.gov

Representative Larry Kissell

District 8

512 Cannon House Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20515

Phone: 202-225-3715

Fax 202-225-4036

Website: www.kissell.house.gov