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Ken Oakes
Board President

Ken is currently the President of The Arc of Philadelphia Board of Directors, and serves on the board of the parent corporation for the Arc and PDDC, SpArc Philadelphia (Services, Programs, Advocacy, Resources, Community).

Ken has worked with, for, and on behalf of children and adults with disabilities and their families for more than 30 years.  He began his career in the disability community while still in college working in group homes and a private school for children with severe disabilities.

He has worked as a special education teacher, a program coordinator, a master trainer, a special education director, and most recently a special ed consultant and an adjunct professor at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelpha.

Ken first got involved with the Arc in 1976 while in college.  He joined the Youth Arc organization and served as local and state president, then national treasurer.  Over the years Ken has served on many local, state, and national boards, committees, and commissions. 

Currently, in addition to his volunteer work with the Arc of Philadelphia, Ken serves on the board of the Arc of Pennsylvania where he co-chairs the Systems Advocacy and Governmental Affairs Committee and chairs the Education and Early Childhood Sub-Committee.  He represents the Arc of PA on the State Task Force on the Right to Education.

In addition, Ken serves as board president of the Disability Rights Network of PA (DRN), and is a Rendell appointee to the Governor's Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities.  

Ken also volunteers at his church, historic Christ Church in Old City Philadelphia.

Driven by his firm belief that children and adults with disabilities have a right to be fully included in their schools, their neighborhoods, their work places, and city, Ken devotes much of his free time working to advance the rights of citizens with disabilities.   Volunteering is one of Ken's favorite activities.