The Arc Of Lehigh And Northampton Counties Inc

Programs: Sparc-the sparc program is a state-licensed adult training facility that serves adults in lehigh and northampton counties. It is staffed by a program director, program specialists, and a team of direct support professionals. The program is designed to provide opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to explore interests, develop skills, and interact with their communities in a supportive, noncompetitive environment. The needs of each participant are met through a person-centered approach, helping develop daily living, communication, socialization, habilitation and community integration skills. Individuals participate in a variety of core concentration options based on their abilities and personal choice that include:community volunteerism - participants learn and enhance work-related skills by volunteering their time and talents at more than 16 community volunteer sites, doing activities such as light cleaning, hospitality, delivering and serving food, landscaping, patient interaction through music, managing various thrift shops and mailings. Community outings - participants enhance their social skills by, visiting museums, shopping skills, bowling, miniature golf, movies, and community recycling centers. Daily living skills - participants who need more assistance from staff are given the opportunity to learn skills such as managing their lives through personal safety, personal hygiene, communication skills, money identification and emergency procedures. Therapeutic services - participants receive a variety of regular stimulating activities such as, pet therapy, music therapy, horticultural experiences, and wildlands conservancy sessions.

agency with choice-the agency with choice program allows the individual/managing employer the ability to select their own support service professional (ssp). This handpicked employee will be an employee of the arc for payroll, tax and worker's compensation purposes; but will be subject to the day-to-day direction and control of the individual/managing employer for their service activities. The arc's agency with choice program is based on the philosophy of self-determination and empowers persons with disabilities to enhance the quality of their lives. Providing individuals with the opportunity for choice and control over their services and supports acknowledges that they are the best judges of their own needs and how those needs should be met. This includes the ability to:choose and control the services they receivedirectly recruit or select their personal support service professionalsdetermine how and when the services will be providedreceive assistance and training on an as-needed basis from the arc of lehigh and northampton counties to manage their own support service workersthe arc's agency with choice program is currently available to individuals with waiver funding in lehigh and northampton counties.

advocacy-adult advocate:the arc of lehigh and northampton counties is the only provider of adult advocacy for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are experiencing issues that threaten their quality of life. The adult system is encumbered with regulations and has typically experienced a lack of funding. We provide free advocacy services for adults who are living with their families or in community-living arrangements. Our adult advocate is here to offer individuals and families expert advice and assistance with any issue such as employment, residential, social service delivery system, or criminal justice. The arc also provides assistance at agency planning meetings. We are always vigilant regarding suspected abuse and uphold the consumers' right to self-determination. Education advocate:the arc has always been a leader in education advocacy. The arc of pennsylvania, founded in 1949, was the first organization in the country to advocate for the rights of children with disabilities to a free public education. In 1972, the arc of pa filed suit against the secretary of education, state board of education, and secretary of public welfare on behalf of 13 children who were denied access to free public education. Because of this lawsuit, the commonwealth of pennsylvania agreed to develop plans to identify, locate, evaluate, educate, and train all school-age children with developmental disabilities. This historic action led to the federal law known as the individuals with disabilities education act (idea), which afforded all students with disabilities a free appropriate public education (fape). This law has been reauthorized and is now called the individuals with disabilities education improvement act (ideia). The arc of lehigh and northampton counties is the lehigh valley's only provider of education advocacy for children/youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are experiencing problems/frustrations with the public schools, providing this service free of charge. Our education advocate is here to offer families free expert advice and assistance with any issue that threatens the education the child is entitled to receive under the law. Common issues relate to the student's individualized education plan (iep), classroom placement, and providing reasonable accommodations. The education advocate also offers assistance to families in developing an action plan and will make referrals to state and local service providers when necessary. The advocate always works toward empowering the parent/guardian to become an informed, active, equal member of his/her child's iep team, knowing that the child's parent/guardian is always the child's best advocate.