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WHO WE ARE
Our Mission & Vision
Guiding Principles
Our Mission
The Arc of Oklahoma promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.
Our Vision
Our vision is for Oklahomans with IDD to be valued members of their communities, with the opportunity to realize their full potential and a future that is secure.
Our Core Values
People First
People with IDD are defined by their own strengths, abilities, and inherent value — not by their disability.
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Self-Determination
The Arc believes in self-determination and self-advocacy. People with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with appropriate resources and supports, can make decisions about their own lives and must be heard on issues that affect their well-being.
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Rights
People with IDD have human and civil rights, which must be protected.
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Equity
Society must remove barriers and correct injustices that limit opportunities for people with IDD. Extra action is needed to help people with IDD and their families, who face other forms of bias or discrimination.
Community
People with IDD are part of and contribute to the fabric of society. Everyone benefits when people with IDD are present and participate.
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Diversity
Human diversity is beautiful and powerful. We celebrate, honor, and seek to understand the differences in our identities and life experiences. The Arc believes that society in general and The Arc in particular benefit from the contributions of people with diverse personal characteristics (including but not limited to race, ethnicity, religion, age, geographic location, sexual orientation, gender, and type of disability).
Advocacy First
The Arc is a disability rights organization. We work with and for people with IDD, their families, and our communities to achieve change. We use the power of advocacy to improve the lives of people with IDD.
Stronger Together
The Arc unites our chapters to advance the human rights and wellbeing of people with IDD and their families. The success of our advocacy depends on the strength of the chapter network. We are stronger together.
Quality and Excellence
The Arc provides programs and services that people with IDD and their families want and depend upon in their daily lives. We strive for quality and excellence in all we do.
Shared Leadership
The Arc actively engages people with IDD and their family members in leading and guiding our work. These voices are the most important. The strong partnership between volunteer, experts, and the people we serve is critical to our mission.
Consensus
The Arc leads by building consensus around a clear vision for the future of people with IDD. We unite and mobilize people behind goals and strategies that will make that vision a reality.
For All People With IDD
The Arc works with and for ALL people with IDD. While our work also helps all people with disabilities, our priority is people with IDD and their families.
Partnership
The Arc works in coalition with other disability, civil rights, and human services groups. We value joint effort and step up to provide leadership when needed.
Open and Accountable
The Arc is accountable to people with IDD, their families, donors, and the public. We are committed to honesty and transparency.
Identity and Language
The Arc respects the rights of people with IDD to decide if or when to self-identify and the language they use when doing so.