What is The Arc of Northeastern Pennsylvania?

The Arc of Northeastern Pennsylvania supports children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families in Lackawanna, Susquehanna, Wayne, Carbon, Monroe and Pike counties.

It was formed in 1955 by a group of parents seeking public education for their children with these disabilities.

There are approximately 850 local chapters of The Arc across the United States and is the largest organization dedicated to these individuals and their families.

Its programs range from:

• Adult Day Service Centers works with consumers and their families to develop a personalized service plan, designed to assist each participant to gain desired skills.

• Vocational Provides meaningful and gainful facility-based work experience

• Seniors program help those maintain current skill levels while increasing recreation and leisure opportunities such as enjoyed during retirement

• Supported Employment for adults to help gain and maintain employment

• Advocacy there for its members in the political arena, the school room and in the community

• Recreation offering diverse selection of both community and facility-based activities

• Community Residential homes that are monitored 24/7, assisting individuals to maximize their independence at home and in the community with trained staff

• Supported Living assisting individuals to function in the community without 24/7 staff supervision with scheduling appointments, budgeting, shopping, transportation, etc.

• Life Sharing through Family Living stressing the importance of enduring and permanent relationships as the foundation for learning life skills, developing self-esteem and learning to exist in interdependence with others.