Ken Oakes
Board President-Elect of The Arc of Philadelphia
Ken is currently the Board President-Elect of The Arc of Philadelphia. He chairs the Programs, Advocacy, Services and Supports Committee (PASS).
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 ed consultant, and most recently as a special education director. Today, semi-retired, Ken teaches graduate school at Arcadia University and does consulting work in special education.
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, Ken is the Vice Chair of the Local Right to Education Task Force, the representative for The Arc PA on the State Task Force on the Right to Education, a board member of The Arc Pennsylvania, and a Rendell appointee to the Governor's Committee for People With Disabilities. In addition, Ken is the President of the Mazzoni Center Board of Directors, and a member of the Executive Committee of the Equality Forum. 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.
Ken lives in Mt Airy with his partner of many years, Ed Rice.
The Arc of Philadelphia / PDDC • 2350 W. Westmoreland St • Philadelphia, PA 19140 • 215-229-4550