Katherine (Katy) Neas was appointed the chief executive officer of The Arc of the United States (The Arc) In Washington, D.C. Neas has more than 35 years of experience in disability policy and public and nonprofit leadership. Her tenure with The Arc of the U.S. will begin in January.
Neas has devoted her career to disability rights. She joins The Arc from the U.S. Department of Education, where she was deputy assistant secretary in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. Prior to that role, she was executive vice president of public affairs for the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and for Easterseals.
Neas is past chair of the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities (CCD). Earlier in her career, she was a legislative assistant to then Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Disability Policy, where she worked on landmark legislation such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
She will be responsible for leading the nearly 75-year-old organization and its Washington, D.C.-based national office for 578 chapters across the United States. She steps into the role at a pivotal moment for disability rights, as issues like the caregiving crises, ongoing exclusion from schools and workplaces, and threat of losing hard-won civil rights.
“Stepping into this role as CEO of The Arc feels like coming home,” said Neas via a statement “Throughout my career, I’ve been lucky to work arm-in-arm with fierce advocates and caring providers to drive progress. That open collaboration and trust is what makes The Arc so special – never losing sight that we do this WITH people with disabilities, not just FOR them. I’m in awe of The Arc’s profound legacy, from pioneering special education access to spearheading community living. Now, I’m honored to continue that legacy into the future, but we won’t rest on past wins. Together with families, self-advocates, and partners, we’ll build an even stronger organization to meet the challenges ahead. I can’t wait to listen and learn from every corner of this community and lead inclusively into the next era of success. The Arc’s brightest days lie ahead.”
