Program areas at The Arc of Fort Bend County
Advocacy:the Arc advocates for The inclusion of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities into all parts of The community - from classrooms to The workplace. We advocate for children to receive The services and supports necessary for them to benefit from instruction. In addition, we conduct monthly parent support group meetings. The Arc participates in legislative advocacy by meeting with local and state elected officials to promote programs and funding that support people with disabilities.
Recreation:along with our advocacy work, we provide recreational and social activities each month. Approximately 80 clients attend professional sporting events, dances, disney on ice, festivals, County fair, rodeo, movies in The County and surrounding area.the Arc sponsors weekly bowling for 40 - 50 members. In addition, The Arc sponsors The largest special olympics program in The area - offering 10 sports (local, area, regional, state) throughout The year and serving over 100 adult athletes and 100 volunteers. Athletes and bowlers are awarded at an annual sports banquet each year.parents of youth are supplied with information and tickets to "disability friendly" family events to attend in The greater houston area. Parents of youth aged 12 - 18 yrs enjoy 3 hrs a month of respite as their children participate in a supervised recrational program.
Facilities/residential and commercial:the Arc owns sixteen (16) residential properties, fifteen (15) of which are leased at below market rates to licensed providers to operate as group homes for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities. The Arc owns three (3) commercial properties, one (1) of which will serve as our office beginning in january 2024. Another is leased at below market rates to a licensed provider to operate as a learning center for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities. The third is leased at market rate to a compounding pharmacy. In 2023, The Arc spent over $137,000 maintaining all of these properties so that our clients could live and work in safe, attractive homes and a learning center in thriving neighborhoods.