two young men work in a lush green garden

Summer Teen Project in the City

Experiences to Build Skills for the Future! As a teenager with a disability, the goal of post-high school employment can seem huge. The St. Louis Arc provides a summer project, Neighborhood Experiences, which supports teens in identifying their post-graduation goals and in building the skills needed to achieve them.    What Makes This Different Than Summer…

round logo says The Council on Quality and Leadership CQL Accredited

Connecting at the Neighborhood Beauty Shop

The Neighborhood Experiences summer project is a steppingstone for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, ages 16-21, on their way to employment. Arc participants serve as volunteers with organizations or businesses they are interested in and practice hard and soft employment skills while making meaningful community connections. Through this experience, 14-year-old Arc participant A’Leah discovered…

Chakeeta – Empowered for a Good Life

  12,844 steps. That’s how many steps Chakeeta Thomas has taken today. “And it’s a light day,” laughs Chakeeta. “If I work a banquet, it’s always more.” Chakeeta is determined, resilient, with indefatigable energy. And, as her friends will say: she steps up.  A caseworker connected Chakeeta with St. Louis Arc when she was still…

A young man sits in a chair at work

Pre-Employment Training for Future Success

Pre-employment training goes beyond teaching job-specific skills. It aims to develop well-rounded individuals who are confident, joyful, and equipped with a range of employment skills. At the St. Louis Arc, the Pre-Employment Training program is a one-year program that helps individuals grow and refine their skills to work toward successful employment. Building Skills The program…

A coach points in the field, showing a softball player what to do.

Connecting on the Field

Dubbed our “ambassadors of fun,” St. Louis Arc’s volunteers are the backbone of many of our programs. In addition to having fun, Arc volunteers are shining examples of our core values – Respect, Collaboration, and Empowerment. As we celebrate Volunteer Appreciation Month, Kim H., a longtime volunteer, shared her story of volunteering with the Arc….

Colored pencils laid out to make a heart shape

Connection through Coloring

At the St. Louis Arc, the programs and services offered are designed to maximize choice and support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in building quality lives within the community. For Frank, who receives Arc residential support in his home, this focus on choice has provided an opportunity to build a connection within his community….

two people pictured from shoulder to waist, sit at a table while reviewing something on a tablet

Exploring LifeTech

The St. Louis Arc’s new assistive technology program, LifeTech, provides a unique opportunity for adults with an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD) to find and use new technology. The type of technology is tailored to each individual and is used to work towards a personal or professional goal.    For many individuals coming into the program,…

Camper doing crafts and smiling for the camera

Volunteering Continues Connection

Henry is a young and engaging young man who loves the St. Louis Arc’s R&R Camp program. For eight years, Henry spent several weekends a year participating in a variety of recreational and outdoor camp activities. He participated in arts and crafts, made friends, and enjoyed joking around with the camp counselors. This year, however,…

A staff member and a resident pose for a photo outside of the residential buildings

Join Our Circle

The St. Louis Arc employs more than 500 full-time, part-time, and seasonal employees. These employees make a difference in the lives of more than 4,500 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. At the St. Louis Arc, we empower people to live their best life. That is our mission – not only to…

A woman and a man sit while stretching their arms, above them are three canvas paintings spelling AWE

Aging With Empowerment

St. Louis Arc’s Aging With Empowerment (AWE) day program now proudly offers three unique sites in St. Louis County, including Creve Coeur, Hazelwood, and Maplewood. The AWE program focuses on community involvement and personal goal achievement just as our flagship Community Engagement programs do, but with a focus on supporting seniors, retirees, and those who…