On March 1, 2017 the nation observed Spread the Word to End the Word, a day dedicated for society to stop and think about the use of the R-word. At the St. Louis Arc, the Social Justice Committee honored the day by asking the question “Which words would you like people to use to describe…
How I Felt Before My Autism Diagnosis Recently we came across an article by Thomas Hassell, a contributor to The Mighty, titled “How I Felt Before My Autism Diagnosis”. Thomas shared how he is different now, verses when he was younger. That got us thinking about Arc participants who are transitioning to living independently, many…
Lindsey Moore, Behavior Specialist and Carly McElvaine, Leisure Coordinator offer strategies they use to support positive behavior in teens. Each topic will follow the story of an individual who is dealing with a specific problem. While this article will relate to situations at the St. Louis Arc’s summer programs, the strategies can be adapted to other…
Individual volunteers are an important part of the St. Louis Arc. But equally as important are our volunteer partnerships throughout the St. Louis Community that have long standing relationships with the Arc’s Community Engagement (CE) program. The Arc’s CE program provides individuals opportunities to explore their community on a daily basis through a mix of…
St. Louis Arc’s Annual Giving Tree For over 20 years, the St. Louis Arc has partnered with businesses and individuals in the St. Louis community for the St. Louis Arc Giving Tree. This year, 220 children were identified from our Capable Kids and Family, Parents Learning Together, and Belle Children Services programs for the Giving…
For the past 18 years, the St. Louis Arc has partnered with Webster University for the Shoot ‘n Hoops Basketball Clinic. This year’s clinic, held on December 3, was taught by the Webster University Men’s Basketball team. Twenty-eight Arc participants attended the clinic where they spent the morning running different basketball drills including dribbling, shooting…
Congratulations to Shanae J. on being named the November Employee of the Month at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital. Shanae has been working in Environmental Services for the past eight months, providing SSM’s exceptional level of customer service while cleaning and sanitizing patient rooms. Shanae was able to obtain this role with the assistance of…
At 22, Alex Ott is a confident, well-spoken and thoughtful young man. Just like anyone in their twenties, he loves to spend time with his family and friends and is often found at the swimming pool. He currently volunteers at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital and is working with St. Louis Arc staff to land…
Since 1983, the St. Louis Arc has been continuously accredited by The Council on Quality & Leadership (CQL), an international non-for-profit organization. We consider this distinction a badge of honor because CQL standards are recognized by federal and state government as benchmarks for excellence. Additionally, few organizations who specialize in taking care of people with disabilities ever…
Caregivers come in many forms, from parents and siblings to extended family and friends. In November, we celebrate National Caregiver Month. This month allows us to take a moment to recognize and honor family caregivers across the country. The theme for the 2016 National Family Caregivers Month is “Take Care to Give Care”. We understand…