The St. Louis Arc is now partnering with the Arc of the U.S. to promote virtual programs for people with IDD through their New Virtual Program Library. The Library includes programs and resources throughout the United States for individuals, families, and service providers to access virtually.

St. Louis Arc Virtual Programs

Transition to Adulthood

Bounce Forward

Bounce Forward events provide opportunities for young adults to network with peers who are looking to find a friend, a roommate, an apartment, or who just want to start thinking about their future. Events are held at various times throughout the year to help promote casual conversations and opportunities to meet others with similar interests.
Ages: 16-30 years old
Dates: Year-round
Time: Varies
Program Fee: Free
Join the Bounce Forward Facebook group to learn more about upcoming events.

Launch

Launch is designed for teens and young adults, age 16-30, who are interested in beginning to plan for their future. This program offers a combination of one-on-one coaching sessions and group classes to identify and work toward an individual’s goals. Through Launch, individuals will enhance their interpersonal and self-management skills in order to achieve goals in the areas of relationship development, education, employment, and independent living.Six people in a zoom call, holding up desserts they made during a Launch class.
Ages: 16-30 years old
Dates: Year-round. Varies based on individual scheduling
Time: Late afternoons/evenings
Program Fee: Monthly fee includes 5 individual coaching sessions and 5 group classes each month plus access to program specific weekly bonus offerings.
For more information and to register, contact JR Johnson at 314-495 -1443.

Adulthood

Note: Once you register for the class you will receive a confirmation and program flyer with a Zoom link to the class. 

Artist in You

Join our exciting virtual art class which offers basic instruction in drawing, painting, and multimedia art. Each class is taught by a board-certified Art Therapist. For more information, contact Sarah Ballance at 314-817-2229.
Ages: 18+young man in glasses holds up art made in the Artist In You Class during a Zoom call.

Cooking for Comfort

Enjoy a virtual experience in the kitchen while learning how to prepare easy, delicious meals. An experienced cooking instructor will guide participants in preparing tasty dishes. For more information, contact Donny Conner at 314-817-2293.
Ages: 18+

Motivation Monday

The Supported Employment Motivation Monday was first created in March of 2020 as a way for people to remain motivated despite spending more time at home. During each class via Zoom, we explore and practice new physical or mental exercises including Yoga, Kickboxing, 3 Mile Walk, Thai chi, Pilates, Zumba, Meditation, Gratitude Lists, and more! Our hope is to provide new ways for people to be active and maintain stamina which translates to being successful at an employment worksite. For more information, contact Jesse Knickmeyer.
Ages: 18+
Dates: Every Monday
Time: 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Program Fee: Free
Register by emailing Jesse Knickmeyer

PLUG IN!

PLUG IN is an ESports video gaming league where you will compete against another player each week. PLUG IN will provide hours of fun and engaging entertainment with your Arc friends. Potential video games could include Rocket League, Madden Football, MLB baseball, Basketball, Hockey, and Soccer. All are welcome to play in the league, including your family and friends! To participate, you will need a PlayStation 4 or an Xbox 1, Young man sitting on the floor in front of a TV with the XBox logo.and the ability to connect to the internet. You will get a tee shirt, participate in the End of the Year Celebration, and Tournament with the 1st place team winning a $50 gift card. For more information, contact Dan Correll at 314-817-2227.
Ages: 16+

Skills to Pay the Bills

Skills to Pay the Bills classes were adapted from the national curriculum developed by Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP). Via Zoom, we cover a variety of topics which relate back to 6 core social skills components:  Communication, Enthusiasm and Attitude, Teamwork, Networking, Problem-Solving & Critical Thinking, and Professionalism. Over the past 2 years we have expanded this class to being offered weekly and nearly tripled class topics.  Each class is designed to improve work-appropriate social skills to help individuals gain or maintain employment. Class topics include Power of a Positive Attitude, Connecting with Coworkers, Professional Ethics, Stress Management, Building Independence at Work, Budgeting, and so many more! Classes include a variety of activities, role-playing, videos, and discussion. Class capacity is 25 so be sure to RSVP if interested.
Ages: 18+people shown in a virtual zoom skills class
Dates: Every Thursday
Time: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Program Fee: Free
Register by emailing Jesse Knickmeyer

Supported Employment Engagement

Engagement Activities serve as an opportunity to practice social skills in fun ways. Each Zoom class has a new engaging topic such as Cooking Class, Trivia, Talent Show, Scattergories, BINGO, Scavenger Hunt, and more!  This is a fun way to practice working together in teams and create small-talk that would be appropriate for building relationships at work.  Class capacity is 25 so be sure to RSVP if interested.
Ages: 18+
Dates: Every Tuesday
Time: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Program Fee: Free
Register by emailing Jesse Knickmeyer

Weekday Fun Day

Please join us for a night of fun during the week! We are excited to offer all kinds of fun including BINGO, games, and crafts. For more information, contact Donny Conner at 314-817-2293.
Ages: 16+

Yoga & Meditation

This Yoga class is designed to teach participants Yoga poses. The benefits of this class include increased flexibility and muscle strength, weight reduction, improved respiration, energy, vitality, and an overall better quality of life. This class will be led by a certified Yoga instructor. For more information, contact Ashley Price at 314-817-2250.

Zumba with Sam!

Grab your water bottle and Zumba with Sam! This upbeat exercise class is appropriate for people of all abilities. Variations of exercises will be demonstrated for attendees who prefer to workout seated. You are welcome to have your camera on or off.
Ages: 18+
Dates: Wednesdays and Fridays at 10:00 am and Thursdays at 5:00 pm.
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Program Fee: Free
Register Online

Archived St. Louis Arc Workshops and Q & A Sessions

The St. Louis Arc’s Family Support department creates and distributes unique content to support families, caregivers, and individuals with a disability. In an effort to make workshops and Q&A sessions more accessible and convenient for all, session are recorded and posted to the Arc’s YouTube channel and Facebook Live. YouTube recordings feature timestamps to allow individuals to identify and hop to specific topics of interest or return to a section if unable to view the entire recording at once.