Tag: Pat Hornbecker

Hope and Unity: Charting a Positive Path Forward

Dear Friends,

On behalf of all of us at The Arc of California, we hope you are enjoying a peaceful holiday season and a gentle close to the year. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Yule, another tradition, or no holiday at all, our hope for you is simple: that you feel supported, connected, and not alone. This time of year invites reflection and rest. It’s a moment to pause, to take care of ourselves and one another, and to draw strength from the relationships that carry us forward.

Our community is built on shared experiences, mutual care, and the deep knowledge that we are stronger when we stay connected. This year has been a testament to our resilience and unwavering commitment to our mission. We continue to advocate for the rights and well-being of people with disabilities and creating a more inclusive society.

As we look forward to the year ahead, we do so together. We are grounded in compassion, renewed by rest, and ready to protect and preserve the services and supports that our community relies on. We are filled with renewed energy and determination to continue our advocacy. Whatever challenges come, you are invited to be a part of the community that shows up, listens, and keeps moving forward side by side.

Embarking on this journey into 2026, let us remember that our strength lies in our unity. Families are at the core of our support. You are the foundation upon which our movement was built and continue to be our greatest allies. Together, we can achieve great things and create a future where everyone is afforded the same opportunities and protections.

Thank you for being part of The Arc of California community and for your unwavering support and dedication. We look forward to continuing this journey together in the year ahead.

With warmth and gratitude,

Pat Hornbecker, President, The Arc of California Board of Directors

Jordan Lindsey, Executive Director, The Arc and UCP California Collaboration

…and all of us at The Arc of California

A Thanksgiving Message of Hope and Strength by Pat Hornbecker

By Pat Hornbecker, Parent-advocate and President, The Arc of California Board of Directors

This Thanksgiving, my heart is full of gratitude for the love, resilience, and unity that define our community. As a mother of four — including Joseph, my extraordinary 45-year-old son who lives with a developmental disability — I understand the joy, complexity, and strength that come with supporting a loved one.

As President of the Board of Directors of The Arc of California, I am honored to stand with more than half a million Californians with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.

This year has not been easy. Threats to healthcare, education, and essential services have created real uncertainty for many families. Regressive policies and funding cuts continue to put pressure on the vital supports our loved ones rely on. These challenges are heavy, and it’s normal to feel the weight of them, but none of us are facing them alone.

To every parent, caregiver, self-advocate, and ally who shows up every day with courage: your strength fuels this movement and inspires me daily. Behind every policy debate is a family like yours and mine. Behind every statistic is a person with hopes, goals, and a future worth fighting for. Your experiences shape the work we do, and your resilience is the foundation of everything The Arc stands for.

The Arc of California remains unwavering in its commitment to protect the civil and human rights of people with disabilities. We continue to work alongside families, Regional Centers, service providers, school districts, and community partners to ensure that California’s policies expand opportunity rather than limit it. Our mission is grounded in inclusion, dignity, and full participation — values we will never compromise.

As we gather with loved ones this Thanksgiving, I hope you find moments of peace, connection, and renewed hope. Progress may take time, but together, our collective voice is powerful. When we support one another and speak out together, we move our state and our nation closer to a future where every person belongs and thrives.

From my family to yours — and especially from Joseph, who continues to teach me perseverance and joy — I wish you a warm and meaningful Thanksgiving. Thank you for being the heart of this movement. Together, we will continue forward: one step, one voice, one family at a time.

With gratitude and solidarity,

Pat Hornbecker

Reflections on The Arc’s 75th Anniversary National Convention

By Jordan Lindsey, Executive Director, The Arc and UCP California Collaboration

Last week, I had the privilege of attending The Arc of the United States’ National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, marking the organization’s 75th anniversary. It was energizing to be surrounded by chapter leaders, self-advocates, families, and partners from across the country who are all working to advance the rights and inclusion of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

A highlight of the event was the keynote conversation with Judy Woodruff, a renowned journalist and longtime disability advocate. Hearing her speak about the power of personal stories—and how her own family experience has shaped her work—was incredibly moving. Her remarks were a timely reminder that our voices and lived experiences remain the driving force behind meaningful policy change.

Throughout the convention, sessions underscored The Arc’s leadership over the past 75 years—from advocating for community inclusion to helping secure landmark laws like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). It was grounding to reflect on how far our movement has come, and inspiring to see how chapters nationwide are carrying this legacy forward.

As I return to California, I’m energized by the shared commitment across the country to protecting rights, expanding opportunities, and ensuring full inclusion for people with disabilities. I look forward to bringing this momentum into our work in the year ahead.

A link to photos from the convention will be added HERE when they become available.

The Evolution of Motherhood: A Personal Reflection

By Pat Hornbecker, President, The Arc of California Board of Directors

Grandmother is a label I have come to cherish because of the children—some now adults—and their parents, who have included me in their families’ lives so intimately and with such love that I feel I truly belong. It was never a deliberate aspiration to become a grandmother; those decisions were not entirely up to me. I travel through numerous “grandma” names, as many grandmothers do. There is always a story behind how these names came to be, each reflecting the loving relationships, cultures, and styles of our family. My favorite name is “Mom-Mom” because I am mom’s mom! The journey has been nothing but joyous.

Mother was a title I did aspire to, though I had no idea of the challenges or rewards that lay ahead. Motherhood was also somewhat of a family expectation—to grow up, marry, and have children— in that order, of course. Those were the days when a woman’s life was guided by many rules and restrictions—regarding her livelihood, career potential, partnerships, affiliations, and aspirations. I watched the birth of the “women’s liberation movement,” which gave rise to freedoms never spoken of before. We began questioning the status quo and reaching for goals previously reserved for men. This movement brought us hope and infused a sense of creativity and adventurousness many of us had never felt before.

Of course, many other revolutions were happening at that time. We challenged the rigid rules of the past and asserted new ideas and theories about how the world could be. I watched in awe as the civil rights movement grew stronger, giving voice to those who had been ignored or worse. I witnessed the passage of laws ensuring equal access for people with disabilities. I felt the sincere passion of families pleading for their children with disabilities to be included and educated alongside their siblings and peers. We were testing all barriers to freedom while still striving to fulfill our dreams. I recognized this as a momentous period of growth, change, and opportunity for all who dared to reach out and take up a cause.

Fast forward to today—a time and place where the current status quo provides so much. The disability community now has access to civil rights, education, healthcare, social security, affordable housing, and networks of support organizations and services. And there are always families steadfast in their love and commitment. Yet, these hard-fought rights—the freedom to live the lives of our choosing, and our children’s—are now threatened. We are being called upon to stand tall against indifference and attack from others. We are being tested like never before to defend our lives and our community. Because, as we all know, at any moment, any of us could join this community. I am confident my sisters will “RISE UP” and fight to protect our families.

And so, I say THANK YOU to the women who came before me. Thank you for allowing me to take up the banner of motherhood at my own pace, following my instincts without judgment. I am grateful for the choices I have been given. I am blessed with four children who have taught me more than all my years of schooling. My son Joseph’s disability has been both a challenge and an inspiration for everything I do. I also thank the mothers of today, who energize me with their spirit of unwavering determination. Thanks to the mothers I have met over the years—those who keep me grounded, nurture me, and guide me through dark moments and scary days. I am never alone, for I have found my community—one that protects, represents, and holds me dear forevermore.

Happy Mother’s Day!

 

A Special Mother’s Day Message

By Pat Hornbecker, Board President, The Arc of California

Through the eyes of many generations, I see motherhood grow and change. I was fortunate enough to have my grandmothers in my life into my 30’s and my mother into my 60’s. And so, my three daughters and son Joseph were able to witness these all important and influential relationships. And the mother’s before me were also able to watch me move into motherhood with the exceptional experience of parenting a child with severe disabilities. He taught us all well! Now my daughters have kids of their own. I sit in the middle of this generational swing, observing the differences and similarities but most of all seeing the love that remains constant for all generations.

The expectations of mothers are different. We now can choose to become mothers, unless that right is taken away. We can expect acceptance for our choices without reprisal or shame. We can expect to have a career and motherhood run simultaneously with success. We can also choose to stay home to raise our children and expect respect. My grandmothers knew none of these choices and my mother only dreamed of the career she sacrificed as I came into her life as her firstborn child.

I see the mothers around me who have children like my Joseph, with great needs and gifts, and know that this experience binds us together. We support one another better now than ever before. We are building the infrastructure necessary to support our children and their siblings and communities. We have learned from our grandmothers and mothers that we are change-agents and the resource from which the future grows.

Mom, thanks for your strength and determination. Grandmas “Totsie” and “Nana” thanks for your lessons about family. Thank you to all the mothers who have taught me so much and given me strength every day.  Happy Mother’s Day 2023!

VIEW BY TOPIC