Advocacy Coordinator

The Arc of Texas envisions a world where Texans with IDD are included in their communities where quality supports and services are available to meet their needs and choices.

The Arc of Texas (The Arc) creates opportunities for all Texans with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to actively participate in their communities and make the choices that affect their lives. Since our founding in 1950, The Arc at the local, state, and national level has been instrumental in the creation of virtually every program, service, right, and benefit that is now available to over one million Texans with IDD.

Today, The Arc is primarily a public policy and advocacy organization that continues to advocate for including people with IDD in all aspects of society.

The Advocacy Coordinator (“the Coordinator”) supports The Arc’s Public Policy & Advocacy (PPA) team in advancing legislative and systems change efforts on behalf of Texans with IDD and their families. This position plays a key role in helping coordinate advocacy activities, supporting communication with local chapters and advocates, and assisting with legislative engagement efforts during session and interim periods. The role also helps prepare and support self-advocates and families to share their voices with policymakers, while strengthening grassroots advocacy across the state.

• Passion for disability rights, grassroots advocacy, and advancing policies that support Texans with IDD and their families.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with self-advocates, families, local chapters, policymakers, and community partners.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple projects, coordinate events and meetings, and maintain strong follow-through in a fast-paced environment.

Support the overall public policy and advocacy activities of The Arc to advance its mission, policies, and positions.

• Provide ongoing administrative, logistical, and technical support to the PPA team in advancing The Arc of Texas’ policy priorities and advocacy initiatives.
• Assist in drafting advocacy communications, including legislative newsletters, action alerts, advocacy materials, social media content, and other communications relevant to the IDD community and The Arc of Texas network.
• Coordinate planning and logistics for legislative advocacy events, including “Meet the Arc Day” at the Texas Capitol during legislative sessions and “Tour Across Texas” advocacy trainings conducted across local chapter regions during the interim.
• Conduct outreach and ongoing coordination with local chapters, self-advocates, families, and grassroots advocates to strengthen statewide advocacy engagement.
• Assist the PPA team in coordinating and supporting self-advocates participating in legislative advocacy activities at the Texas Capitol, including testimony, legislative visits, and hearings.
• Represent The Arc at conferences, community events, coalition meetings, and local chapter visits across the state, as assigned.
• As assigned, assist with conducting basic advocacy trainings and presentations for self-advocates, family members, and local chapters on legislative advocacy, and public policy issues affecting Texans with IDD.

Help ensure Local Chapters, members, and other stakeholders are informed and involved in policy decisions and advocacy efforts.

• Serve as a liaison between the PPA team, the Public Policy and Advocacy Committee (PPAC), local chapters, and other stakeholders regarding policy issues, legislative developments, advocacy opportunities, and organizational initiatives.
• Provide administrative and coordination support for the PPAC, including facilitating communication between the PPAC and PPA team, developing meeting agendas and materials, scheduling meetings, distributing meeting invitations, and supporting overall committee operations.
• Assist advocates connected to The Arc of Texas in preparing for legislative testimony, public comment opportunities, legislative visits, and participation in state agency advisory committees and stakeholder…