75 Years In, What’s Next? A Conversation with News Icon Judy Woodruff

At a pivotal moment for disability rights, and as The Arc marks 75 years of impact, we open this year’s Convention by grounding ourselves in what has always driven change: the leadership and lived experiences of people with disabilities and their families. Together, we’ll reflect on The Arc’s enduring legacy and explore why our collective power and personal stories are essential to shaping what comes next.

Our keynote speaker, Judy Woodruff, brings a rare and powerful perspective: as a parent of a person with a disability and as a news icon who has covered 12 presidential elections and decades of national policy.

A respected voice in Washington, DC and across the country, Judy has worked for NBC, CNN, and PBS. She currently serves as Senior Correspondent for the PBS News Hour, following 11 years as Anchor and Managing Editor. In 2023, she launched “Disability Reframed,” a reporting project dedicated to elevating the experiences and perspectives of people with disabilities. Through interviews and in-depth reporting, the series challenges assumptions, explores barriers, and centers disabled people’s voices in urgent national conversations. Judy has long worked with The Arc and other advocacy organizations to bring disability issues into the public eye and into the national dialogue where they belong.