#TheArcTourAcrossTX has us singing Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again” as we visit our local chapters across the state before the 2027 Texas Legislative Session begins. We can’t wait to see you!

Visit with staff, volunteers and participants of local chapters, meet self-advocates, families, and allies in local disability communities, learn about The Arc of Texas’ public policy pillars, and get tips to advocate for state-level policies that support Texans with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

When the 90th Texas Legislative Session begins in January 2027, we must continue to use our collective power to educate and encourage legislators to make decisions that help, rather than hurt, Texans with IDD. Together, we can!

Learn about The Arc of Texas’ public policy pillars.
Get tips to advocate for public policies that support Texans with IDD.
Connect with members of the disability community in your region.
Feel empowered to use your voice!

Advocacy

Public policy addresses a public issue through laws, regulations, and programs developed by governments. Advocacy is when you inform policymakers about issues you care about so they understand how their decisions impact people’s lives.

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Learn How to Advocate

Want to learn more about how to advocate confidently and strategically? Check out our “Legislative Advocacy Toolkit” intended to help you have conversations with legislators anytime! This toolkit is general — not specific to an event or issue.

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Remember to Vote

Elected officials have the power to impact the lives of Texans with disabilities positively or negatively. YOU have the power to help determine who gets elected.

Important Dates

Public Policy & Advocacy Team

We’re Hiring: Advocacy Coordinator

The Advocacy Coordinator reports to the Director of Public Policy & Advocacy and supports the team in advancing legislative and systems change efforts on behalf of Texans with IDD and their families. They play a key role in helping coordinate advocacy activities, supporting communication with local chapters and advocates, and assisting with legislative engagement efforts during the Texas Legislative Session and interim periods. The role also prepares and supports self-advocates and families to share their voices with policymakers, while strengthening grassroots advocacy across the state.

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Sabrina Gonzalez Saucedo

Director of Public Policy & Advocacy

Sabrina pairs passion for disability rights with experience as an analyst at The Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities, where she monitored disability issues and advanced public policy. She previously served as public policy fellow at Disability Justice Initiative of the Center for American Progress, and the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions in Washington, D.C. where she worked on policy at the intersection of disability and education.

She holds a Master of Public Affairs from The University of Texas at Austin’s Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs and a bachelor’s in political science from St. Edward’s University.

Michael Clarke

Deputy Director of Public Policy & Advocacy

Michael has passion for disability rights and experience as a policy advocate and Texas Capitol staffer. Shortly after high school, his first of 50+ letters to the editor was published in the Dallas Morning News. During the 2017 and 2019 Texas Legislative Sessions, he advocated for mental health services.

While at Texas State, where he earned a degree in advertising and mass communications, and a minor in political science, he interned for State Rep. Erin Zwiener, and later Communications Aide. He served as Deputy Director and Legislative Director for State Rep. Shawn Thierry, as well as Research Associate and Bill Analyst for the Texas Senate Research Center.