Disability Advocates and Professionals Join in San Diego for The Arc’s Annual Convention

San Diego, CA, Nov. 01, 2017 -- This week, The Arc’s National Convention will kick off in San Diego, California with nearly 800 disability advocates, professionals, and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) coming together to learn, forge connections, and energize the disability rights movement. This event will feature a number of exciting speakers, including New York Times bestselling author Deepak Chopra; Executive Producer of A&E’s hit show Born this Way & Chairman of Bunim/Murray Productions Jonathan Murray; and many others. The event will also feature the 2017 Catalyst Awards, where individuals and organizations from across multiple industries will be recognized for their outstanding achievements in promoting inclusion, equality and dignity of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

This three-day event, which will take place at the Sheraton Hotel & Marina, November 2 – November 4, will include:

• a keynote address by New York Times bestselling author Deepak Chopra who will share insights from his latest work You Are the Universe and explore some of the most important questions about our place in the world;
• honoring the cast and creators of ABC’s hit series Speechless; Apple; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher, and Flom, LLP; and others for their outstanding commitment to promoting equality and inclusion of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities during the 2017 Catalyst Awards;
• an opening panel discussion featuring Katie Driscoll, founder and Chairman of Changing the Face of Beauty; Jonathan Murray, Executive Producer of A&E’s hit show Born This Way; renowned actress and model Jamie Brewer; and Jeff Blade, CEO of Matilda Jane Clothing on the portrayal of individuals I/DD in mainstream media and society;

The Arc advocates for and serves people with I/DD, including Down syndrome, autism, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, cerebral palsy and other diagnoses. The Arc has a network of more than 650 chapters across the country, including 23 in California, promoting and protecting the human rights of people with I/DD and actively supporting their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes and without regard to diagnosis.

Editor’s Note: The Arc is not an acronym; always refer to us as The Arc, not The ARC and never ARC. The Arc should be considered as a title or a phrase.

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Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/48dd02e9-2a47-4daa-9ba1-2cc1d3534729

Kristen McKiernan
The Arc of the United States
301-437-6497
[email protected]