BEDFORD- The Arc of Indiana is committed to helping all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities realize their goals of living, learning, working, and fully participating in the community. The Arc of Indiana was established in 1956 by parents of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who joined together to build a better and more accepting world for their children.
The Arc of Lawrence County provides an impressive scope of services to support area residents with disabilities as they prepare for and enter the workforce. “They’ve got gainful employment here. There are all kinds of programs to support these individuals. It’s a wonderful situation.” said Lawrence County Arc Co-President Charles Edwards. They hosted a lunch event on October 24 to share what they do and meet the clients and staff that make The Arc such a special place. “Folks don’t have a clear understanding of what exactly we do here. We have to change that.”
The Arc offers Pre-Employment Transition Services that begin when the individual is still in school to build the required skills for gainful and sustained employment post-high school. The program is based on five focus areas:
- Career counseling
- Post-secondary education
- Workplace readiness training
- Self-advocacy
- Work experience
The Arc provides employment opportunities onsite through its manufacturing services, which are subcontracted from area businesses. This presents clients with an opportunity to work and develop professional skills and provide valuable subcontract manufacturing to businesses. The employees take great pride in meeting quality standards and delivery deadlines. Some of the capabilities of the manufacturing center are:
- Product packaging
- Assembly
- Labeling
- Shrink wrap
- Sealing
- Poly bagging
- Cleaning
- Riveting
- Folding boxes
Employment in the community is vital at The Arc. Working in partnership with businesses across the area since 1986, the program assists individuals in finding jobs and receiving onsite training. Great care is taken to ensure the applicant is the right fit for the job and receives proper training after obtaining the position. Stonebelt and The Arc provide continued support for the worker, which can last the entirety of their employment. If needed, they can advocate for raises on behalf of the employee and help them navigate the workplace as required.
The Milestones Skill Development Program specializes in rehabilitative services for those who experience mental health impairments. In partnership with Centerstone, it offers coping skills education, coaching, and training in school, at home, or within social and community settings. The goal is to modify and relieve symptoms that cause inappropriate and disruptive problems in relationships, social participation, and activities of daily living.
Spiritual support is offered through grief and end-of-life counseling. Death and loss affect us all, and having an advocate who will help through counseling is a vital resource to those at The Arc. Everyone experiences spirituality differently, and through individualized support plans, they can meet each person’s needs.
Stonebelt’s Residential Services program offers several options for living arrangements, including having one’s own apartment or living with family. Stonebelt has nine group homes in Monroe and Lawrence Counties. Each home provides a 24-hour staffed environment serving up to seven clients. Supervised Group Living has ongoing training in daily living skills and access to professional staff such as nurses, social workers, and dieticians.
There are many ways to get involved and volunteer with Stonebelt. If you want to make a difference in our community by volunteering for indoor/outdoor cleanup, leading BINGO, or just being a friend for spiritual companionship to clients, email smckenney@stonebelt.org.
