For over 66 years, The Arc of Chester County has been a leading provider of services to people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Through an array of programs, the dedicated staff guides individuals toward achieving success, empowering people to attain their greatest level of independence and enhancing their quality of life.

The Arc was begun by caring parents who wanted to improve the lives of their children with developmental and intellectual disabilities. In the 1950s, if a child had an intellectual disability, he or she either had to stay home without supports and services or were institutionalized. Some local parents decided to defy conventional wisdom by advocating for the right to a public education and for a community service system that embraces and values people with disabilities.

According to Executive Director Jeanne Meikrantz, The Arc has stayed true to that core service of advocacy that founded the organization, something that sets it apart from other human service and social service organizations.

“Through our legislative advocacy, we continue to work on laws, regulations, and barriers that still obstruct a person with disabilities from being included in their community or interfere with them being able to have the same access to services that we would take for granted,” she said.

Currently, for example, The Arc is working with legislators to end discrimination against people with disabilities with respect to receiving organ transplants.

The Arc’s system advocacy helps individuals with disabilities and their caregivers navigate the very complicated government systems to understand what benefits they are entitled to and how and where to access supports and services.

“We’ll work with individuals and caregivers to get them connected with the county, the mental health and intellectual and developmental disability office, and the county assistance office,” said Meikrantz. “We’ll help them navigate the system and educate them on what services are available to them and help them secure those services.”

Through its education advocacy, The Arc provides experts who are highly trained in education law, to ensure a child has an appropriate education plan, and that students make meaningful progress through elementary, middle, and high school.

“They will work with the parent and the student and the school district to identify what the education needs of the child are and that those needs are being met,” said Meikrantz.

Besides the core advocacy programs, The Arc provides additional services for individuals with disabilities – such as self-directed services, in home and community services, community inclusion/recreation, camps, children’s early learning home, community and preschool services, and transportation services – which are detailed here.

One of the additional services is The Arc’s comprehensive employment program, which helps youth and adults with disabilities find and keep a job that is best suited to them at companies throughout the community.

“Through an assessment process, we are able to really hone in on what the individuals enjoy doing for work, and what they would be good at,” said Meikrantz. “Then, we work with local businesses to place that individual where their talents and skills are going to be valued and needed by that employer.”

The Arc currently has 75 community partners that employ more than 140 individuals with disabilities.

Although The Arc of Chester County receives 95 percent of its funding from the government, the organization must secure a significant amount in private funding each year in order to maintain its current level of service for individuals with disabilities and their families.

“Almost every service that we provide is underfunded, and underfunded significantly,” said Meikrantz. “We are able to touch the lives and help about 3,000 people each year, and the only way we are able to do that is through our public partnerships and fundraising efforts.”

In order to close the gap between government funding and the cost to provide its services, The Arc does grant writing to organizations and other forms of outreach to business and foundation partners, along with an annual Walk, Run, and Fun Day. It also depends on a significant number of volunteers to help keep costs down.

All gifts are important to The Arc of Chester County, regardless of their size or method. Individuals and organizations can learn of ways to support The Arc here.

If your business participates in EITC, please consider designating a contribution to The Arc of Chester County. Indicate that you want your donation to go to Charlestown Playhouse, Inc., which is the approved EITC Pre-K Scholarship organization representing The Arc of Chester County. Make sure to identify and designate The Arc of Chester County to be the recipient of the funds.

Although The Arc does serve many people with disabilities and their families throughout each year, there are still many who could take advantage of those services, if they only knew what was available to them. Indeed, many refer to The Arc as the county’s “best-kept secret.”

Meikrantz agrees with that perception, and obviously finds it disheartening.

“When we go to an event and introduce ourselves to somebody new, they say ‘Who are you? What do you do? I’ve never heard of you,’” she said. “If the community in general doesn’t know we are here, then they don’t know that we are a resource that might be available to them or a loved one, to a neighbor, a co-worker or someone else, so we are compelled and eager to get rid of that perception.”

In an ideal world, individuals with disabilities and their caregivers would not need to fight for needed services, funding, and equal rights and the access the rest of us take for granted.

“Our dream is that at some point the services we provide won’t be needed because the community will just embrace people with disabilities, give them the same access, and there won’t be any barriers or laws that preclude individuals with disabilities from participating fully in their community,” said Meikrantz.

Until then, The Arc of Chester County will advocate for equal rights, education, inclusion, and adequate funding for individuals with disabilities and their caregivers, and in doing so, continue to honor the legacy of its founders.