Chris Knoerlein

Inclusion isn’t a straight line—it’s a 360-degree network of support!  

At The Arc Baltimore, we see this every day as families, staff, friends, and neighbors rally around people with developmental disabilities to help them live fulfilling lives.

As part of our inaugural Arc360 Gala, the Support from Every Direction mission appeal celebrates what’s possible when a community unites around a shared purpose. In the home shared by Yosef, Jay, and Jonathan, that support shows up in everyday moments that lay the foundation for growing independence, meaningful relationships, and genuine belonging - a vivid showcase of what Arc360 stands for.

Your gift helps make this circle of support possible, ensuring people with developmental disabilities have the resources, connection, and care they need to thrive.

Give today and be part of the difference.

For the past 21 years—arguably my entire adult life—I’ve known no world outside The Arc Baltimore.

I’ve served in many roles, from supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in their homes to my current work raising funds and sharing stories that bring our mission to life. I’ve volunteered with children with disabilities through our Parents’ Day Out respite program and family education series, and I’ve facilitated our dads’ support group for more than a decade.

I’ve arrived at the office before sunrise, and I’ve nearly fallen asleep at my desk long after the cleaning crew had gone home. This place isn’t just where I work. It’s part of who I am.

That’s why I’m deeply worried about the future of community-based providers like us. State budget constraints, ongoing threats to Medicaid, and recent federal challenges to how the Olmstead decision is interpreted put decades of progress at risk. The disability rights movement has fought to ensure that people with disabilities can live and participate in their communities—not be unnecessarily isolated in institutions. Today, that progress feels increasingly fragile.

I ask you to see the people with disabilities all around you. They are your family members, neighbors, coworkers, classmates, teammates, and friends. They want what we all want: to belong, find purpose, build meaningful relationships, and live lives defined by their own choices.

They don’t need to be portrayed as inspirational simply for navigating a world that wasn’t built with them in mind or viewed through a lens of pity. They deserve recognition for who they are: people with their own hopes, talents, ambitions, and contributions to make.

The Arc Baltimore helps make that vision a reality every day by creating opportunities for people with disabilities to pursue their goals, build relationships, and experience the belonging we all deserve.

But we cannot do it alone.

Please give today to strengthen The Arc Baltimore’s mission and protect the future of inclusive, community-based support. Your generosity helps ensure people with disabilities aren't left behind, their voices are heard, and the progress we’ve fought so hard to achieve continues.

After 21 years, I know firsthand what this mission means. I hope you’ll stand with us to ensure it continues for generations to come.