3485 Poplar Avenue
Suite 210
Memphis, TN 38111
T: (901) 327-2473
F: (901) 327-1197 www.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.