A Friends of The Arc update for you, Friend!

Dear Friend,

Happy Halloween! We’re quickly moving toward the holiday season, and there’s so much to share as we lead The Arc San Francisco into 2026!

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) and on October 9th, we proudly hosted our 23rd Annual WorkLife Awards. These awards celebrate the incredible participants and employers who make inclusion happen every day. Scroll down to see this year’s award winners, including the coveted Employee and Employer of the Year!

Mark your calendars for November 5th, our Workforce Development Team will host the first in a series of quarterly networking mixers. It’s a chance to connect with employers, advocates, and community leaders who believe in inclusive hiring. Can't attend? We still need your help. Keep reading to find out how.

Additionally, on December 2nd, we celebrate GivingTuesday, a global day of generosity. This year, we’re excited to introduce a brand-new program that your support will make possible. Curious? Keep reading!

We also acknowledge that many in our community are feeling anxious and uncertain due to threats to essential support systems, such as SNAP benefits; the spread of misinformation about autism; and increased fears surrounding immigration enforcement. Please be assured that we will continue to fiercely advocate for our community.

Our mission has always been to ensure safety, opportunity, and belonging for everyone, and that will not change.

Be well,

Kristen Pedersen

Executive Director

Celebrating Workforce Inclusion

Attendees at the 2025 WorkLife Awards in Friends Hall

On October 9, it was a packed house as we celebrated the incredible talent, drive, and impact of our employed participants and the employers who champion them at The Arc San Francisco’s 2025 WorkLife Awards.

This year’s theme, Inclusion. Intention. Innovation. – Shaping the Future Together - spotlighted how workplaces thrive when inclusion is intentional.

Congratulations to this year's award recipients!

Employee of the Year: Terrell McClanahan, Saluhall
New Employee of the Year: Asmodeus Chan, Saluhall
Intern of the Year: Catherine Prior, Salesforce
Resiliency Award: Paco Melgar, Salesforce
Employer of the Year: Saluhall
New Employer of the Year: Beacon Grand
Inclusion Champion of the Year: Kelsey Roeder, Saluhall
Volunteer Site of the Year: San Francisco SPCA

Congratulations to all milestone anniversary recipients! This year, we celebrated clients who have been employed from three to thirty-five years!

These honorees remind us that meaningful work, thoughtful supports, and community connections unlock new possibilities every day. Our gratitude goes to every participant, employer partner, family member, sponsor, and staff member who made the evening so memorable.

And a huge shoutout to The Arc SF’s Workforce Team, who work tirelessly to build bridges with employers ready to grow inclusive teams.

Together, we’ll keep raising the bar.

Donate to Support Workforce Inclusion

The Arc SF’s Fall Employment Networking Mixer!

Did you know that only about one-third of adults with developmental disabilities are employed? We’re working to change that.

On November 5th, The Arc San Francisco and our employer partner Morrison Foerster will co-host our Fall Quarterly Employment Networking Mixer: an evening dedicated to building employment opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities.

This informal event is part of a new series designed to spark connection, collaboration, and inclusive hiring. Join us for light refreshments, real-world success stories, and meaningful conversations with Morrison Foerster team members, employer partners, and The Arc SF’s Employment Team.

RSVP is required for building security. All guests must check in at the lobby before heading upstairs.

Can’t attend? We still need your help.

A simple introduction can make a world of difference. Maybe it’s a vendor, a friend at another company, or the owner of a small business you frequent. Someone who could open a door to employment for one of our talented job seekers.

Know someone we should meet? Email Aja Lawson, Associate Director of Job Development Services, at alawson@thearcsf.org.

Introducing The Arc San Francisco's Community Enrichment Fund!

Participants from The Arc SF are out in the community.

This GivingTuesday, we’re excited to share that your gifts will support something new and deeply meaningful at The Arc San Francisco: the Community Enrichment Fund.

In past years, GivingTuesday donations helped us provide gift cards to participants during the holidays. Now, we’re taking your generosity one step further by creating lasting opportunities for growth, connection, and joy all year long.

The Community Enrichment Fund is designed for any participant in any of The Arc SF’s programs. It provides one-time experiences that help our participants pursue personal goals and take part in community life.

Whether it’s covering the cost of an art class, a museum visit, a fitness session, or transportation to a special event, the Community Enrichment Fund helps ensure that everyone we serve can access the experiences they otherwise might miss out on.

The fund especially supports participants who face challenges at home, financial barriers, or transportation difficulties that make it harder to take part in community activities.

So save the date this Tuesday, December 2!

Together, we’re building a community where every person has the chance to learn, connect, and thrive.

We've been featured in the media!

These stories underscore the real-life consequences of policy decisions and the urgent need to protect services that support people with developmental disabilities.

NBC Bay Area: Speaking Out Against Autism Misinformation

Barbara Streett, Manager of the Our Friends Like Me program at The Arc San Francisco, recently spoke with NBC Bay Area to address misleading claims linking Tylenol (acetaminophen) use during pregnancy to autism. The segment included remarks from RFKS and former President Trump that have sparked concern among families and advocates.

Watch the segment here.

KQED Feature: Medicaid Cuts Threaten Disability Services in California

KQED recently highlighted the impact of proposed federal Medicaid cuts on Californians with disabilities, featuring Ron Ansley, a longtime participant in The Arc San Francisco’s ArtReach program, and health advocate Arlo Beckman.

With $30 billion in Medi-Cal funding at risk, programs like ours face an uncertain future.