Published in 1990, ARC Milestones highlights key moments in the history of The Arc and its national advocacy efforts. The timeline traces decades of work that advanced research, expanded access to education, strengthened federal disability policy, and promoted community-based services. It reflects national advocacy that influenced state-level efforts, including movements toward deinstitutionalization, inclusive education, and stronger civil rights protections for people with developmental disabilities.

The document contains terminology that was commonly used at the time but is no longer considered respectful. Today, disability advocacy centers on dignity, person-first language, and the leadership of people with lived experience. Even so, the milestones captured in this publication represent significant steps in the broader disability rights movement—progress that helped shape advocacy, policy change, and community inclusion in Washington State and across the country.

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