March 2026

The Arc Connection

What an incredible show of support for our Valentine’s Raffle Fundraiser! Because of you, we sold more than 400 tickets — a powerful sign of this community’s commitment to the work we do at The Arc. Your generosity and belief in our mission make everything we do possible. Thank you for standing with us and with the individuals and families we serve.

Recently, our staff and I had the opportunity to make a presentation to a community group about The Arc and what we mean when we talk about intellectual and developmental disabilities. It was a meaningful reminder of how important it is to pause and refocus on our mission and the individuals at the heart of our work.

March is National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, a time to recognize the contributions, talents, and value of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and to reaffirm our commitment to inclusion and opportunity for all.

I/DD stands for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. These are lifelong conditions that begin in childhood and may impact a person’s ability to learn, communicate, navigate daily life, and live independently.

Intellectual Disabilities (ID) affect thinking, learning, and adaptive skills such as understanding information and managing everyday tasks.

Developmental Disabilities (DD) are a broader group of conditions that may affect physical, learning, or behavioral development. Examples include autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and other lifelong conditions.

Because these conditions are lifelong, the need for support is ongoing. That is why our work centers around three core focus areas:

Crisis Assistance — providing immediate support when individuals and families face urgent challenges.

Education — equipping families, caregivers, and the community with knowledge, advocacy tools, and resources. This focus area expands to include our work with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, promoting awareness and providing educational training.

Enrichment — creating opportunities for connection, growth, and meaningful community inclusion.

Together, these focus areas reflect our commitment to ensuring that individuals with I/DD and their families are supported at every stage of life. During Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month — and every month — we celebrate the strength, resilience, and contributions of the individuals we serve and recommit ourselves to building a more inclusive community.

Warmly,

Linda McDaniel, Executive Director

This month, we were deeply saddened to say goodbye to a dear friend of The Arc of Buncombe County, Lieutenant Colonel Donald George Hendricks, United States Air Force (retired).

Don was a steady presence and faithful servant to our mission for many years. As a devoted board member and longtime Treasurer, he generously shared his financial expertise, sound judgment, and calm leadership to help guide and strengthen The Arc. More than his titles, we will remember Don for his kindness, humility, and genuine care for the people we serve.

A memorial Mass celebrating his life will be held at Saint Barnabas Catholic Church in Arden, NC on March 21, 2026, at 10:30 a.m., followed by a reception at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Arc of Buncombe County, PO Box 1365, Asheville, NC 28802.

We are grateful for Don’s years of dedication and the lasting impact he made on our organization and our community.

The Arc of Buncombe County is grateful to JéWana Grier-McEachin, Executive Director of ABIPA (Asheville Buncombe Institute of Parity Achievement), for being a strong community advocate and partner. As host of Body & Soul on WRES 100.7 FM, JéWana regularly invites The Arc to join her as special guests to discuss our work around Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and our community education efforts related to alcohol.

Through ABIPA, JéWana advances equity, access, and opportunity for historically marginalized residents in Buncombe County. “At its core, ABIPA is about parity — making sure everyone has a fair opportunity to thrive,” she shares.

ABIPA’s advocacy is both personal and systemic, helping families navigate housing instability, access healthcare and food resources, and move through complex systems with dignity and support.

JéWana shared one powerful example of a family facing displacement while trying to access medical care for a child with chronic health needs. Overwhelmed by paperwork and unclear systems, they were nearing crisis when ABIPA stepped in to coordinate housing support and healthcare connections. Months later, the child’s health stabilized, the family secured housing, and the parent began pursuing employment. “That ripple effect — stability, dignity, forward movement — is the kind of impact we strive to create every day,” she shared.

Since Hurricane Helene, that work has only intensified. The storm magnified existing inequities, increasing housing displacement, food insecurity, job loss, and mental health strain. “Recovery isn’t just about rebuilding structures,” JéWana notes. “It’s about rebuilding stability, trust, and access to opportunity.”

We are grateful for leaders like JéWana who use their platforms to elevate critical conversations and strengthen collaboration across our community.

To learn more about ABIPA or get involved, contact JéWana Grier-McEachin at jewana@abipa.org

Hurricane Recovery: Walking with Families for the Long Haul

Thanks to a $40,000 grant from the United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County and the Buncombe County Long-Term Recovery Group, The Arc of Buncombe County has been able to expand our work supporting families recovering from Hurricane Helene.

While The Arc immediately addressed short-term needs following the storm, this new funding allows us to partner with families during the much longer and more complex phase of recovery. Rebuilding permanent homes, restoring stability, and navigating reconstruction can take years — and for many of the families we serve, the process is overwhelming without support.

Many of the individuals and families we are currently assisting are reaching the end of their FEMA housing allowances. As temporary support expires, difficult decisions must be made quickly. The Arc is working closely with community partners and local resources to help secure emergency housing, assist with relocation expenses, and prevent families from falling into unsafe or unstable living situations during this critical transition period.

Our longstanding focus on Crisis Assistance positioned us to respond quickly after the hurricane. Additionally, leadership experience in disaster recovery work alongside FEMA has strengthened our ability to navigate the systems and partnerships required for long-term recovery and reconstruction. This next phase of work includes rebuilding permanent homes, restoring stability, and helping families regain a sense of security — a process that can last for years.

Recently, we assisted a family in relocating so their home could finally be rebuilt — a year and a half after the hurricane. Their story is a powerful reminder that recovery does not happen overnight.

“The Arc deserves more funding to further their outreach and impact. We unfortunately live in expensive times in an expensive place. Without the assistance we received from The Arc, our Helene-damaged home would have never been rebuilt and we would still be living in hazardous conditions. They literally saved our hopes of starting fresh.”
                                                                         - Hurricane Recovery Client

With each family we serve, we are reminded that recovery does not happen in a moment. It is a long and steady process. We are proud to partner with families not only in times of crisis, but throughout the determined work of rebuilding. Below are a few photos from clients we have served in the past month.

Allison Ewart moved to Asheville with her family in May 2025 to spend more time outdoors in retirement. She and her husband, Sean, have enjoyed hiking, exploring the beauty of Western North Carolina, and getting involved with local charitable organizations.

The Arc holds a special place in the Ewart family’s heart, as their son, Patrick, has an intellectual and developmental disability (I/DD). Allison is especially motivated by the opportunity to support families through an organization that values inclusion, dignity, and empowerment. We are grateful to welcome her and look forward to the passion and perspective she brings to our work.

MARCH IS ….
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY AWARENESS MONTH
BRAIN INJURY AWARENESS MONTH

MARCH 1 -INTERNATIONAL WHEELCHAIR DAY
MARCH 21 - INTERNATIONAL DOWN SYNDROME DAY
MARCH 26 - PURPLE DAY FOR EPILEPSY