3485 Poplar Avenue

Suite 210

Memphis, TN 38111

T: (901) 327-2473

F: (901) 327-1197 www.thearcmidsouth.org

info@thearcmidsouth.org

Board of

Directors

•

Corey T. Young

Treasurer

Professional Musician

Connie J. Booker

President

Business Owner

Bennie L. Cobb

Vice President

Owner, Eagle Eye Security and Training Services

Andrea Goodman

Secretary

The Hershey Company – HR Generalist

Carlene I. Leaper

Executive Director

The Arc Mid-South

Board of

Directors

Diane Anderson Advocate

Lester Brown First Tennessee Bank - Vice President, Relationship Manager,

Private Client Services

Shirley Cobbins

Universal Commercial Real Estate - Vice President

Judge Kathleen N. Gomes

Shelby County Probate Court

Terrence Green

Brown Missionary Baptist Church - Associate Minister

Florence Howard

SSCOMM, Inc. - Owner

Event Planning, Public Relations, Marketing and Training

Board of

Directors

Claudia Espinoza De Posada

Parent Advocate

Merle Smith

Retired/Volunteer Work

Sharon Webb

Life Changing Word Ministries – Senior Pastor

Agency

Philosophy

Based in Memphis, TN, The Arc Mid-South

is a 501c3 non-profit United Way agency

dedicated to empowering people with

intellectual and developmental disabilities

to achieve their full potential. We are

committed to providing advocacy and

services which enable individuals with

disabilities to realize their uniqueness,

worth, and full inclusion in society.

We offer a wide variety of programs and

services for individuals with disabilities,

such as autism, cerebral palsy, Down

syndrome, muscular dystrophy, and other

developmental and intellectual

disabilities.

In early 1950, a group of parents and civic

leaders organized to promote the general

welfare of citizens with disabilities with a

primary focus on intellectual disability.

The Arc was officially chartered by the

Tennessee Secretary of State on November

2, 1950.

What started as a grassroots movement

blossomed into one of Tennessee’s largest

disability rights advocacy organizations.

Agency

History

1950 Started first special education class in Memphis and Shelby County 1960 Began adult group homes 1962 Sheltered workshops dedicated 1968 Special education program implemented at Memphis State University 1969 Summer camp begun 1972 Mandatory Education Law Lobby enacted 1973 Adult Activities Center opens 1978 Child care program established 1980 Special Olympics Program begun 1985 Family Support Program established 1990 National Employment Training Program begun 1991 Summer Youth Program started 1993 Disability Awareness acknowledged 1994 Changed name to Mid-South Arc 1996 Occupational Skills Training & Advocacy Training Workshop developed

1997 Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Prevention Project implemented 1998 Career Development & Job Placement Program initiated 1999 Implementation of ”The Waiting List” Project 2001 50th Anniversary celebrated, computer training begun

2003 Established parental support group 2004 Produced Disability Resource CD

History/

Progress

2005 Career Development & Job Training program

started

2008 Agency approved to provide vocational skills

assessments

2010 Expanded through Aging Commission to

provide homemaker and personal care services

to elderly citizens

2011 Adopted national brand identity; Life,

Education, Training Skills Program established

2012 Expanded Family Support Services through

CHOICES funding

2013 Awarded Tenn. Dept. of Developmental

Disabilities Quality Assurance Four-Star

designation; established self-advocacy group

2014 First high-school diploma received by LETS

student; Second-year recognition of DIDD

Quality Assurance Four-Star Designation

2015 65th anniversary celebrated

2016 Begins participation in the Navy

Exceptional Family Member Child Care Aware

of America program

2017 Becomes approved provider through TennCare

CHOICES program

History/

Progress

Accountability

Profitability

Integrity

Communication

Teamwork

Customer Focus

Commitment

Respect

Pride

Core Values

Advocacy

Community Services

Parent Resources

Personal Assistance

Community-Based Day Services

Summer Camps

Weekend Retreats

Family

Support

Services

The Family Support Services department is

geared toward empowering individuals and

their families by promoting independence

and fostering family relationships.

The department provides in-home care so

that individuals with disabilities may

remain in their family homes with loved

ones where there is a sense of belonging,

an atmosphere to thrive, and

encouragement to live at an optimal level.

This also frees family members to pursue

employment, education and their own

lives for a few hours each day.

Program

Description

The Community Advocate assists parents in understanding laws such as the American with Disabilities Act and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

The Community Advocate is available to consult with parents of children ages 3-21 needing assistance advocating and ensuring that education and accommodations are available in the local school systems.

The Community Advocate trains parents and caregivers about vital issues concerning individuals with disabilities, such as:

• Medicaid Waiver

• Family Support

• Individual Assistance

• System Advocacy

• Self Advocacy

Advocacy

Education

The Arc offers workshops to educate the

public on disability issues. We maintain an

Information and Referral system of

services and work with other service

agencies, public schools, colleges, and

libraries to offer resources.

The Arc Appeal

The agency newsletter is published

quarterly and contains useful information

for the disability community as well as

general information on upcoming events.

Community

Services

The Parent Resource Library, located at

The Arc Mid-South office, provides books

and pamphlets on topics ranging from

special education and autism, to disability

law and Social Security.

The library also contains a computer with

free Internet access that is available for

use by appointment.

Parent

Resources

Respite The Arc Mid-South provides trained Direct Support Professionals as caregivers to work in the service recipient's home.

Our providers are trained in areas of physical management and mealtime challenges as well as other basic provider skills to help individuals with disabilities through providing more personal services such as bathing and dressing. These individuals provide more than just "sitting" services and are often used on a daily or regular basis to help the family.

Aging Commission Provider The Arc Mid-South provides caregivers to assist seniors with preparing meals, shopping for personal items, managing money, using the telephone, and doing light housework.

Personal

Assistance

Direct Support Professionals also help

ensure inclusion of our service recipients

in the community by taking them on

outings. As an approved service in the

client’s Individual Support Plan, these fun

interactions might include a day at a

shopping mall or a ball game. Their

purpose is to give clients the opportunity

to “live” outside their residence.

Community

Based Day

Services

The Weekend Retreats and Summer Camp are geared toward inclusion, independence, and interaction.

Monthly retreats are offered 10 times per year, except for the weeks that the Summer Camp is scheduled.

The retreats include activities such as attending the zoo, group activities that are designed to encourage interaction, arts and crafts that assist in empowerment, and outings that offer a taste of independence.

Summer camp is divided into two weeks in the summer, usually July and August. Campers participate in a number of recreational activities, and each summer a theme for the camp is selected.

Weekend

Retreats

Community-Based Assessment

Employer Recruitment

Job Coaching

Job Placement

Job Readiness Training

Vocational Evaluations

Life, Education, Training, Skills (LETS) Program

Career

Development/

Job Placement

The Career Development & Job Placement

program is geared toward ensuring that

individuals with disabilities have access to

real employment, with real wages, and the

necessary supports to maintain

employment in the community.

The overall benefit to the service recipient

is total inclusion in the workplace. The

recipient is able to earn wages and

contribute to their community.

Program

Description

Employers are contacted to match

potential employee skills with the

employer needs. CDJP strives in

developing long-term relationships

with employers to ensure a suitable

stable environment for students.

Employer

Recruitment

Job Coaching This service is provided to assist the student in their transition into their job duties and responsibilities. The Job Coach works with each student based upon their individual job needs.

Job Placement As students complete classes, The Arc’s job developers work with them individually to assess their skills and help them secure employment. The Job Placement Specialist’s objectives is to match potential employee skills with the employer’s needs and provide on-going support as long as needed.

Job Coaching/

Job Placement

The Career Development & Job Placement

program provides 360 hours of extensive

job readiness training, consisting of

interviewing skills, etiquette, application

assistance, resume preparation, and

computer skills.

The program also hosts a two-day job

readiness workshop during March to

celebrate “National Disabilities Awareness

Month.” The workshop focuses on goal

setting, dressing for success,

communication, interviewing skills, work

ethic, harassment, and other topics.

Job Readiness

Training

Individuals with disabilities are referred to

the agency by the Department of

Vocational Rehabilitation to evaluate a

person’s interest level, knowledge, skills,

and abilities in order to determine

appropriate job placement and

educational capabilities.

Vocational

Evaluations

The L.E.T.S. Program is designed to provide training, resources, and education to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Students are enrolled in 12-week-long classes to receive training in the following key areas:

• G.E.D. Test Preparation

• Money Management

• Benefits Planning

• Sex Education

• Job Readiness

• Health & Wellness

• Nutrition

L.E.T.S. Program

The Arc Mid-South is a chapter of the largest community-based organization in the United States.

The Arc’s commitment to individuals with disabilities is exemplified through an array of agency-sponsored events held annually:

• Disability Day on the Hill

• Wheelchair Basketball Tournament

• Job Readiness Workshop

• ADA Celebration

• Annual Awards & Benefit Gala

Community

Commitment

The Arc Mid-South can be supported

financially through memberships, gifts in

kind, sponsorships, and donations.

The Arc Mid-South also has various

committees through which individuals can

commit their valuable time. Volunteers

help us pursue the mission of “Empowering

individuals with intellectual and

developmental disabilities to achieve their

full potential.”

How to Support

Us

Advisory Committee

Advocacy & Community Education

Fiscal Development/Management

Gala Planning Committee

Office Administration

Planning/Operations

Program Services

Recruitment/Nomination

Special Events

Weekend Retreats/Summer Camps

Volunteer

Opportunities

Community citizens come together to plan

The Arc Mid-South’s annual Gala, an event

that celebrates the achievements of those

who have promoted empowerment of

individuals with disabilities and raised

money to invest back into those people’s

lives.

Gala Committee

Individuals come together to provide

support, advise, assist, and advocate the

agency’s programs and services. Advisory

committees also provide specifications for

the programs and help to ensure the

quality of the programs. The Advisory

Committee offers suggestions for

improvements that will help the agency

grow.

Advisory

Committee

The benefits of membership includes:

– Participation in the affairs of the

local, state, & national chapters.

– Representation in local, state, and

national policy forums.

– Opportunities to contribute time and

talent through volunteering.

– Reduced cost at conventions,

conferences, and special training.

– Included on the distribution list to

receive The Arc Mid-South’s

Newsletter, which includes

information about the organization

and disabilities.

Benefits of

Membership

$10 - Student,

Senior Citizen,

Self Advocate

$25 - Individual

Membership

$35 - Family Membership

$250 & up – Corporate

Memberships

Membership

Types

The Arc receives funding from the

Community Foundation of Greater

Memphis, Tennessee Council of

Developmental Disabilities,

Tennessee Dept. of Intellectual and

Developmental Disabilities, Tenn.

Department of Human Services,

and Tenn. Division of Rehabilitation

Services.

Other sources include individual

contributions, memberships,

sponsorships, and fund-raising

events.

Funding Sources

The Arc Mid-South

appreciates your

support.