The Arc of San Diego

Goals-- The Arc of San Diego strives to support and empower people with disabilities by creating opportunities to assist them in achieving their personal goals, reaching their maximum potential, and living as independently as possible. In classes, production centers, group living arrangements, and individualized counseling the dedicated staff of The Arc patiently guide individuals with disabilities toward living the most self-sufficient and fulfilling life possible. These vital services improve the quality of life for people with disabilities and enhances their individual life choices as a member of the community.

Services and Activities:
• Early Intervention Services provide family-centered early educational services to children from birth to three years old with developmental delays or those who are at-risk for delay. The program focuses on motor skills, social interaction, self-help, cognition, and speech.
• Adult Day Programs serve people with physical and cognitive challenges. They provide support with essential life skills such as grooming, communication, behavioral management, and socialization.
• Community Inclusion Services provide opportunities for clients to engage in volunteer activities, vocational training, paid work experiences, and post-secondary education in integrated community settings.
• Employment Services offers individual and group placement opportunities in a variety of industries that include employment preparation and on-the-job support.
• Supported Living Services offers residential support and training in person-centered planning, household and money management, health and personal safety, and accessing community resources and recreational activities.
• Independent Living Services supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in their desire to live on their own and be part of their local communities.
• Respite Services give families short-term relief by providing care for a loved one with a disability in-home or in our weekend, overnight Respite House.
• Residential Services allow individuals with disabilities to safely live as independently as they can.
• Personal and Leisure Services provides quality recreational therapy activities for teens and adults. Activities help participants with independence, health and wellness, social skills, communication, confidence, inclusion, and self-esteem.
• Our Place Wellness Center provides a variety of health and wellness courses to people with disabilities.

All of the services at The Arc of San Diego are directly aligned with our mission statement to empower our clients to fulfill their life goals. We stand by our belief that people with disabilities have unlimited potential and the right to equality of opportunity.

We strive to maximize the independence and enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities in every way possible. We work to benefit their lives by constantly implementing best practices, utilizing basic and applied research, promoting public awareness, directing education using technology such as iPads, engaging in public advocacy, promoting intervention services, and most of all making sure we always provide compassionate and individualized support.

The Arc of San Diego is guided by the following strategies and principles of service:

• That all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have strengths, abilities and inherent value; are equal before the law; and must be treated with dignity and respect.

• In the community imperative: that all people have the fundamental moral, civil and constitutional rights to live, learn, work, play and worship in safe and healthy communities of their choosing.

• In empowering people with the supports needed to ensure individuals with disabilities will live in dignity and self-reliance in their own community.

The Arc of San Diego is the region's largest nonprofit provider of services to people with disabilities - currently operating over 20 locations throughout San Diego County. Annually, we serve 2,000 children and adults with a wide range of intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Arc of San Diego provides the most comprehensive set of services for people of all ages and with all spectrums of disabilities such as Downs Syndrome, those with intellectual disabilities, Cerebral Palsy, and and other diagnoses.

As an overall organization, The Arc of San Diego has been evaluated and accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). CARF accreditation is a demonstration of The Arc of San Diego’s commitment to the highest quality of service. CARF evaluators conduct a site visit to determine how closely The Arc conforms to its standards of programmatic excellence. Per CARF’s most recent evaluation, The Arc of San Diego received CARF’s highest rating and recommendation for accreditation – a three-year accreditation.

The Arc of San Diego has worked tirelessly for over 70 years to serve the most vulnerable among us. As a result of our longevity and expertise, we have grown to be the most complete and most impactful organization benefitting people with disabilities in the San Diego region. The Arc of San Diego employs a staff of experienced, fully committed, compassionate, and capable direct support workers and a management team of exceptional expertise in the field of serving individuals with disabilities.

Over the past 70 years, The Arc of San Diego has acquired and maintained over 20 sites throughout San Diego while serving 2,000 individuals with disabilities annually. We serve children and adults, offering an extensive array of life skills training and quality of life services. Each client is unique in his or her abilities, health, and life goals. Our greatest accomplishment is our ability to provide each individual with a set of highly individualized and customized services designed to assist in overcoming specific challenges and fulfilling each person's life goals.

As an accredited Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation (CARF) organization, The Arc of San Diego upholds the highest standard of quality, value, and optimal outcome of services for people with disabilities. This accreditation signifies The Arc of San Diego as an industry leader. Earning the highest ratings from CARF each time we are evaluated speaks to our range of accomplishments and standards of service.