Organizational Overview:
The United Arc provides advocacy and
support services for individuals with developmental
disabilities and their families in western
Massachusetts.
The Arc provides
an array of flexible support services for
families, community-based education, support
for inclusion and transition planning for
school aged children and teens, and residential
and vocational services for adults. Primary geographical areas of
services include communities in Franklin and
Hampshire Counties and the North Quabbin area
of Worcester County. (See Program
Services).
Advocacy activity
is important aspect of the Arc’s mission. The United
Arc sponsors two self-advocacy groups, offers
educational advocacy for students and their
families and brings family members together
for collective advocacy endeavors. The
United Arc has an active membership of persons
concerned about the well-being of individuals
with developmental disabilities. The
United Arc is an affiliated chapter of The
Arc of Massachusetts and The Arc of the United
States. The state and national organizations
maintain ongoing communication with the larger
Arc membership about legislative and budget
concerns that impact individuals with disabilities.
History
More than fifty year
ago Marguerite Canedy of Greenfield thought
hers was the only family around caring for children
with mental retardation. When she learned about
the Boston Association for the Advancement
of Exceptional Children she decided to get something
started in Franklin County. A notice in the
local paper attracted 26 people to the first
gathering on November 26, 1951. This group immediately
decided to affiliate with the National Association
for retarded Children. In 1952, members of
the Franklin County group assisted families in
Hampshire County to form a similar association.
Throughout the years both groups
provided networking and support for families
with common concerns for their children with
disabilities. Members of each association developed
recreation and educational programs in their
local communities, lobbied for passage of state
and federal legislation mandating the right to
an education for all children, and provided start-up
expertise and funding to establish vocational
and residential services.
Both
associations followed the national lead in
adopting name changes that reflected an increased
awareness of the rights of citizens with mental
retardation and the stigma of labels. The two "associations for retarded children" eventually
became "associations for retarded citizens" and
still later, "Arcs."
The Franklin County Arc became
a provider of services in the early 1970s and
over the years has contracted with the Commonwealth
to provide residential, individual support, family
support and vocational services. The Hampshire
Arc continued to focus on advocacy endeavors
sponsoring a self-advocacy group, carrying out
active legislative advocay, individual advocacy
and hosting community forums on disability issues.
In 1999, the two associations came together to
form The United Arc of Franklin and Hampshire
Counties.
Mission Statement |
