Jump Start 2023

As a new year begins, many people look for opportunities to try new things, expand their networks, or develop new skills. The St. Louis Arc has many programs available to support people with disabilities and their families, and several still have openings.   Families and Individuals ARCH In-home Residential Support St. Louis Arc’s ARCH program (Assistance…

blue background, white compass, words navigating supports

Family Navigators

With hundreds of private and state programs supporting more than 4,000 individuals and families, navigating the vast world of supports at the St. Louis Arc can be overwhelming. Additionally, as individuals develop and age, so may their needs and interests. The Arc strives to assist people in finding the right resources, whether offered internally or externally. The Arc has identified several key staff roles to…

Jake sits on a porch swing at his home

Meet Jake

Make An Impact During Giving Tuesday Making Choices, For a Life in the Community Jake Martine will tell you his ultimate goal in life is to “live and dream big.” And to Jake, that means having fun in life, having a job, a home of his own, getting married and having a family, growing big…

giving tree gifts

What’s Happening

Podcasts, webinars, online meetings, Zoom scavenger hunts, virtual game nights. The current offering of programs from the St. Louis Arc not only brings about a new vocabulary but is also bringing a new or renewed interest in the agency’s events. Whether you are new to the Arc or are just having trouble maintaining your new…

particpants playing music and singing

A Celebration of Music

Creative Music Making The annual Creative Music Making (CMM) program provides a unique opportunity for individuals to come together to create music. Alongside St. Louis Symphony musicians and students from Maryville University’s music therapy program, Arc participants spend two days learning and creating music. On the third and final day, the group takes to the…

Adeline

Inclusion is Powerful

Shortly after Adeline Liss was born, her parents, John and Lisa, knew Adeline needed extra support. A friend who needed similar support for their child introduced the family to Belle Children’s Services, where six-month-old Adeline received vital early childhood therapies. Though they would not receive a diagnosis for her rare chromosomal condition until she was…

working-at-potbelly

Preparing for Employment

Sharon’s Tips & Tools To recognize National Disability Employment Awareness Month Sharon Spurlock, Director of Family Support, shares how to use the Life and Employment Guide from Charting the LifeCourse. The LifeCourse tools help individuals and family members clarify their vision of a great future. In this video, Sharon explains how individuals can explore incorporating…

Meet the Saputos

Guiding Families

At the St. Louis Arc, supporting the whole family is a vital part of our mission. No one understands that more than the Saputo family. Peter and Susan Saputo are quintessential St. Louisans. Born and raised here, they met, married and brought twin boys, Jack and Joe, into the world 18 years ago. Susan states,…

Supported Decision Making

How did you make decisions in the last month? Did you get advice about a medical procedure, google information about car repairs, or talk to your best friend about a relationship issue? We all get support for decision-making. Why can’t the same be true for a person with a disability? An Alternative to Guardianship Arc…

Grace Mehan at Duffy's Pub and Grill

Creative Music Making

For the past six years, the St. Louis Arc has partnered with the St. Louis Symphony and Maryville University Music Therapy program for Creative Music Making. Grace Mehan, a long time Arc participant shared her experience as a musician in this year’s program. My Experience in Creative Music Making I was one of the many…