About Us

 

We founded The Arc of Orleans County in 1970 on simple principles:

  • That people have the right to participate in their community to their full ability.
  • That people have the right to a supportive network of friends and advocates.
  • That people have the responsibility to care for themselves and their neighbors in a safe, holistic, healthy community.

We started with Camp Rainbow in 1970, allowing children with disabilities to form lasting, healthy relationships with other children. We followed that two years later with Rainbow Preschool, which brought the same opportunity to a more structured educational environment.

As the years went by, we responded to the community’s needs by adding vocational services, recreation services and residential services. We began to provide support for families, then added clinical services for the people we serve.

Today, we go far beyond serving people with developmental disabilities. We help the elderly; provide support for businesses, opportunities for families and children. We can even detail your car.

We are one of 58 chapters of NYSARC Inc., which was founded in 1949. Through the decades, both NYSARC and The Arc have gone through some changes. ARC used to stand for Association for Retarded Children, but we changed the C to Citizens in 1987. And in 1993, we eliminated the acronym altogether, because we realized we serve so many people in so many different ways.

But our mission, our vision, and our principles remain the same.

Mission

The Arc of Orleans County is a not-for-profit human service agency that offers support, advocacy and a variety of services and opportunities primarily for individuals with disabilities and their families to pursue their desired quality of life.

Vision

The Arc of Orleans County is a partnership of the people we serve, volunteers and staff working to improve our community through empowerment/opportunities, holistic approach, natural support, teamwork, productive employment, advocacy, self-sufficiency, appropriate technology, rights recognized by all, ownership, community membership, innovative approaches and valuing diversity.

Our Principles

Encourage Community Membership: People have the opportunity to work and volunteer in settings that are both socially and physically integrated. They perform different social roles and participate in community life.

Encourage and Build Relationships: People make and have friends and remain connected to natural supports.

Protect Individual Integrity and Rights: People exercise their rights and are free from abuse and neglect. The Arc respects cultural and religious beliefs.

Promote Individual Choice and Shared Responsibility: People have meaningful choices both in their daily lives and in planning for their future.

Ensure Health and Security: People experience the best possible health and are kept reasonably safe from harm.

Teamwork: Staff and volunteers work together for the good of the person receiving services to provide the best combination of service and support.

 

Additional Information About Us

IRS Form 990s:

2009 Form 990

2008 Form 990

2007 Form 990

2006 Form 990