Advocating for the

rights of

citizens with developmental disabilities

The Arc of Whatcom County provides information and referrals, educational programs, and funding for people with developmental disabilities, their families, and the organizations that serve them.

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2009 Annual Report

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For list of Current List of the Arc of Whatcom County's

Board of Directors

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The Arc of Whatcom County is dedicated to meeting the needs of children and adults with developmental disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, autism, and Down syndrome.

Because their children with developmental disabilities require lifelong care, families face a tremendous challenge. The Arc's commitment is to ensure that whether it is a voucher for an infant car seat, specialized child care, help with special education services in the schools, vocational assistance after high school, or support to senior families with guardianship and long-term care planning, etc.; families who come to The Arc find the assistance that will make a difference in their lives.

Founded in 1936 when all children with developmental disabilities were institutionalized, the updated mission of The Arc is to improve the quality of life, increase the independence, and assure the full inclusion in the community of any person with a developmental disability. Full community inclusion remains a significant issue. Our vision is to be an effective resource, a strong advocate, and a dedicated base of support for individual with developmental disabilities and their families.

In Whatcom County over 2,000 persons with developmental disabilities, their families and service providers look to The Arc as their life-line, connecting them with available resources in our community, bringing them the latest information on ways to effectively meet the needs of their family members. State funded services place many children and families on waiting lists for 1-5 years. As our families' needs continue to grow, State funded supports continue to shrink.

Each child with a developmental disability is unique, with diverse care issues. The challenge for our agency is to design and implement individualized services for each exceptional child and their family. Please help us, help our families find their place in our community.

Program Information

Information / Referrals / Advocacy
The Arc of Whatcom County serves Whatcom, Skagit and Island Counties. The office is staffed Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm. Our goal is to act as a conduit, linking persons with developmental disabilities and their families with available resources in the community. Several hundred individuals and their familes, guardians, and caregivers are served annually.

Educational Programs / Workshops
The Arc of Whatcom County sponsors a variety of educational programs / workshops focusing on current issues that concern persons with developmental disabilities and their families. Topics include guardianships and special needs trusts, long-term planning for special needs families, special health care needs, special education services, individual education plans, transition from high school to work, residential issues and concerns, legislative advocacy, self-empowerment, self-advocate training, early learning issues for special needs families, etc.

Voucher Program
The Arc of Whatcom County provides vouchers to be utilized by individuals/families with developmental disabilities for the purchase of household items or clothing valued to $50. Written referrals are received in our office from case managers, residential support staff, guardians and other caregivers. When self-referrals are made, letters of support from case managers or another professional in the developmental disabilities field are required for eligibility.

Parent Coalition
Families needing assistance with services and supports meet with a trained Parent Advocate to formulate strategy to obtain services tailored to the needs of their family member. These needs may include special education services, futures planning for adult services such as guardenship, government supports such as Medicaid or other needs such as conflict resolution regarding standards of care.

Choice Project
Self advocates, young adults with developmental disabilities, learn the skills to utilize self-determination to meet personal priorities and goals. The various programs provided include; person centered plans, monthly youth self advocacy meetings, safety awareness group sessions, inclusion presentations to the community and work site assessments.

Down syndrome Outreach
Families needing information and education specifically related to Down syndrome are provided a trained Parent Advocate to address their needs. Families are also connected to other families to develop natural peer supports through fun family friendly events through out the year.

Medicaid Personal Care Parent Training
Six hours of continuing education are needed to fulfill parental obligations in receiving Medicaid Personal Care funding to care for their family member. Twice a year the Parent Coalition Program conducts trainings tailored to meet the needs of these families.

Legislative Advocacy
In an effort to ensure that the needs of persons with developmental disabilities are met with appropriate health and social services various opportunities are provided. Our Local Leadership programs offers families a chance to learn how to be effective advocates. Families are encouraged to participate in grass roots advocacy by writing their legislators, participating in seminars, telling their stories to their legislators at our Fall Legislative Coffee and obtaining updated information by our e-Alert list year round and during the legislative season.

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The Arc of Whatcom County

Address: 2602 McLeod Rd., Bellingham, WA 98225

Phone: 360-715-0170

Toll-free: 1-866-284-8444

Fax: 360-715-8522

E-mail: admin@arcwhatcom.org