Ulster-Greene ARC - Organization



	This is Ulster-Greene ARC________________ Ulster-Greene ARC is about family, service, advocacy, inclusion, and community. We were founded by families in 1956 who insisted that their children with disabilities have the same opportunities for schooling, vocational training and housing as any one else. These early pioneers established the first community-based services for people with disabilities in Ulster and Greene Counties. It's upon that legacy of family choice that Ulster-Greene ARC fights for the human rights of people with disabilities to remain in their community as full and productive members of society. In fulfilling this mission Ulster-Greene ARC offers: early intervention services beginning at birth; preschool and school services; day services; vocational training and employment; residential services that meet a wide range of needs; clinical services; service coordination; adaptive and assistive technology services; transitional services for students in special education; family support services; guardianship services and advocacy; and transportation. Our services focus on the individual choices of the people we serve and their families. Email us for more information about Ulster-Greene ARC at info@uarc.org
Agency Facts Profile_______________________________ We are a not-for-profit agency that serves nearly 2000 people who have developmental delays or disabilities throughout the mid-Hudson and Catskill Mountains region. The disabilities include mental retardation, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, autism, Down syndrome and cerebral palsy, to name just a few. Developmental disabilities are those that have an onset usually at birth but before the age of 21 and which are permanent in nature. The exception is traumatic brain injury which can occur at any time, but which is permanent in nature. We teach people daily living skills that can lead to higher levels of independence. These skills might include personal hygiene, learning how to take public transportation, learning how to open and manage a bank account, learning how to shop, cook, and keep a home. Basically, our services are centered around personal and family choice. We provide advocacy for families by helping them obtain the services they need at Ulster-Greene ARC or other area agencies. This advocacy might take the form of assisting someone with the legal process of guardianship or obtaining special education services or finding ways to become better included in the community. We are able to act as lifetime guardian for people with disabilities providing peace of mind for often elderly parents who worry about the future of their children. We are able to assist family members in securing legal guardianship for themselves and are able to assist when it comes to preparing for the future. We advocate for funding and legislative policies that preserve and improve needed services for people with disabilities. Our own transportation system includes 150 vehicles that travel about 1.8 million safely-driven miles each year. In our rural community, transportation is the vital link to work, to neighbors, to church and synagogue, to recreation. It means the difference between segregation and community inclusion. As part of our outreach, we offer defensive driving courses to the public in the interest of community safety. These courses are taught by our certified driving professionals. We act as good neighbors by upgrading our properties, keeping them well-maintained and beautifully landscaped. We believe strongly in the ideals of voluntarism. The people we serve, their families and our staff give generously of their time to help the community by volunteering at fire and rescue squads, religious groups or organizations, sports associations, local soup kitchens, school groups, service clubs and in many other ways. Our Residential Services meets the individual needs of people for housing or related services. We offer services that help people with disabilities remain with their families by providing services in their home. We also offer a range of choices from help in finding an apartment to 24-hour care in one of our community homes.