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Organization Background

Not for profit started by parents and educators in 1961.

Established as Berks County Chapter for Retarded Children (later name changed to Berks County Chapter for Retarded Citizens; Association for Retarded Citizens, Berks County; to current - The Arc of Berks County).

Provided preschool programs, residential and sheltered employment opportunities until 1979 when Arc staff created a new agency, Prospectus Associates,Inc., direct services were spun-off.  Current focus is Advocacy - supports provided to individuals, families and agencies.  A Board of Directors guides the organization.

20th Annual
Building Bridges
Developmental Disabilities Conference

BACK TO BASICS

Thursday, April 12, 2007
Sheraton Reading Hotel,
Wyomissing, PA

click here for more info
Board of Directors
Glenn Unger, President
Bronwen Evans,
Vice President
Sister Francis Bisland
Dale Derr
Jean Dyer
Sally Fidler
Allison R. Larson
Arlene G. Otis, Ed.D.
Mary Quesada
Meg Snider

Personnel
Thomas D. Dareneau,
Executive Director
Sandra L. Kreider, Office Manager
Jeannette (Nettie) Snider,
Project Director, Independent Monitoring 4 Quality Project

Annual revenue generated from association with United Way of Berks County, contributions, membership dues and bingo sponsorship.

Members of: The Arc, US; The Arc, PA; Affiliate Agency of United Way of Berks County; Associate member of Pennsylvania Association of Resources for People with Mental Retardation (PAR)

Advocacy Functions - General

  • Information and referral - mental retardation; specialized and generic services; special education
  • Systems advocacy (identify needs; make recommendations; facilitate solutions)
  • Individual assistance (protect rights; obtaining appropriate services; mediating disputes)
  • Community education and awareness of issues impacting persons with developmental disabilities

Advocacy Functions - Specific

  • Support, coordinate and mediate with individuals, their families, agencies and schools to help insure that individuals receive appropriate services and maintain individual rights
  • Annual "Building Bridges Developmental Disabilities Conference" Mental Retardation resource booklet for Berks County mental retardation services
  • Independent Monitoring for Quality Project (IM4Q) (conducting self-satisfaction surveys with Berks County consumers)
  • Sabbath/Sunday (awareness of developmental disabilities in religious congregations)
  • Berks Community Trust program (financial trust program)
  • Annual Festival of Faith event (convening of persons with disabilities and religious congregations)
  • Court appointed Guardian of the Estate for individuals requiring management of their assets
  • Serve as Representative SSI Payee for individuals unable to handle personal funds
  • Staff and volunteer participation in the Berks County Right to Education Task Force
  • Hamburg Center Resident Rights Committee Transition Coordinating Council; Utilization
  • Quarterly presentations to students at Reading Hospital and Medical Center School of Nursing