The Arc is gearing up for benefit walk
BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ARC OF MIDDLESEX Greg Schiano [r], Rutgers University's head football coach, sits with members of The Arc of Middlesex, a not-for-profit organization established by parents of children with developmental and other disabilities. Schiano is honorary team captain for the 2008 Step Up for The Arc Walkathon at Roosevelt Park in Edison on May 17.

NORTH BRUNSWICK - According to its leaders, The Arc of Middlesex helps people with various disabilities live out their hopes and dreams.

"Each person has their own personal goals and objectives," said Shari White, assistant executive director at TheArc concentrating in the service and needs of the disabled. "Goals include getting a job, owning an apartment, cooking, doing laundry, even becoming a doctor."

White said The Arc's goal is to move the people with disabilities toward their goals.

"We are here to support them, not to say their goals are impractical," she said. "With the goal of becoming a doctor, it is important to find out what excites the individual to become a doctor. Itmight have come fromthem being in a hospital, so we might help them get a volunteer position at a hospital. It's an opportunity for them to move toward their goal."

The Arc of Middlesex County, which has 19 locations in the county and approximately 200 employees, is a private, not-for-profit organization established in 1949 by parents of children with developmental and other disabilities. The board of directors consists mainly of parents, guardians and siblings of people with developmental disabilities, as well as people with the disabilities.

The organization is dedicated to promoting equal life opportunities for people who have developmental and other disabilities, and their families, with supports and services that encourage personal growth and quality of life through empowerment and choice.

The Arc of Middlesex is one of 20 chapters in the state under The Arc of New Jersey, which is affiliated with The Arc, a national organization supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The Arc of Middlesex County's vision is to be by 2012 the agency of choice providing comprehensive quality-of-life supports and services for a culturally diverse population of people with developmental and other disabilities and their families.

The organization is holding its 2008 Step Up for TheArcWalkathon atRoosevelt Park in Edison onMay 17.Greg Schiano, Rutgers University's head football coach, is in his second year as the honorary team captain for the walk, and various companies including PSE&G, DCH Brunswick Toyota, and GreaterMedia'sWCTC1450 andMagic 98.3 radio stations sponsor the walk.

The Arc of Middlesex serves approximately 400 children and adultswith lifelong physical and mental disabilities and their families,whowere referred to TheArc by the Division of Developmental Disabilities agency of the state Department of Human Services.

White said The Arc is there to support the individuals who have cognitive disabilities ranging from autism and Down syndrome as well as those having physical disabilities such as beingwheelchair-bound.

"We adapt them as much as they can to the environment," she said. "We help them get to the point ofmaximumindependence."

White said the individuals are either in group homes, supervised apartments, or supported living.

"We help them with living skills, banking, making medical appointments, teach themto cook, etc.," she said. "It's about their quality of life."

Erica Jeane Fischer, a program coordinator, is conducting a pilot program in food services for the individuals with disabilities focusing on skills such as cooking, money, differentiating between good and bad food, hygiene, safety in the kitchen andmorewith the hope for the students to work in the food service field.

"We go out into the community to volunteer sites such as Elijah's Promise in New Brunswick and the supermarket, so they can see howitworks in the realworld," she said. "My students are learning, and that is very exciting."

On a typical day at TheArc ofMiddlesex administrative building in North Brunswick, Shani Tracy, a program specialist, is running one of the many programs at The Arc. There are 19 people with various disabilities in the program.

A morning and afternoon schedule is written on the white board.

"We have a career time, where we describe different careers such as police officers and mail postal workers," she said. "This way the people with disabilities get the chance to learn about different careers. We take current events from newspapers and talk about the different events; we do memory skills, and go through the weather."

Tracy added that the program takes the individuals on trips to various places such as Wal-Mart, the Brunswick Square Mall in East Brunswick, the Woodbridge Center mall, and craft stores, to help the individuals become more comfortable with the different types of employment opportunities.

Anita Ball, assistant executive director, said the process for potential employees of TheArc involves hours of training.

"We need potential employees to have some basic training and experience in the field, since we interact with extremely vulnerable persons who have a myriad of needs," she said. "Medication training deals with various side effects and the interactions of different types of drugs."

Ball said TheArc ofMiddlesex is here for the children and adults with disabilities to help them develop the skills in life to become as independent as possible.

"My best advice for family members and caregivers is to start early in looking for help," said Ball. "Many families do not realize in time, and have to deal with long waiting lines."

LeeAnn Faura, director of supported employment services, is in charge of helping people with disabilities find jobs.

"We are there every step of the way in the job process, from writing résumés and going with them to interviews," she said. "We are there to build support for them."

Faura said there are a number of companies that TheArc hasworkedwith, including Bonefish Grill, Express, Gap, Goodwill Industries and Wegmans. The Arc also provides individuals with employment.

Sandy Berkowitz, director of vocational services, said volunteer opportunities are the bestway for the individualswith disabilities to learn new skills and hone the skills that they already have.

"We pick up the meals for Meals on Wheels and deliver the meals, we pick up a shopping list for the Jewish Family and Vocational Services and deliver the food to their kitchen,we pick up left over bread fromPaneraBread and deliver themto area nonprofit organizations and soup kitchens,we arrange and sort out books at local libraries, and we hang out and read stories at a day care center, which is great exposure for the young kids with handicapped people, " she said.

Berkowitz added that the programs at The Arc in North Brunswick has adopted a military base in Japan.

"We cut coupons, sort themout, andmail them over to the soldiers at the base," she said.Berkowitz said TheArc has 15 volunteer sites inMiddlesex County.

"We had 98 individuals with disabilities provide 325 volunteer hours over the past year," she said.

TheArc provides family support services, including respite, advocacy and recreation. Staff members receive ongoing training to provide information that will assist families in evaluating appropriate services for their needs.

For in-home respite, family support specialists provide a short-termbreak for family members. The staff person provides companionship and works toward mutual goals and objectives within various areas such as socialization, daily living skills and community integration.

The cash option/voucher program offers families the flexibility to have respite provided by family members, friends and natural supports. The provider is employed by the family and not considered an employee of The Arc.

Saturday respite is a supervised dropoff program for children and adults who have developmental disabilities. This is a structured program of education and leisure activities within the community, and emphasizes individual growth and socialization.

Families and individuals contact the agency for advice and recommendations regarding appropriate resources that may be available. Staff members assist people who have disabilities and their families to access the most appropriate services and encourage them to advocate on their own behalf.

The recreation program offers community events, various activities and classes throughout the year.

For more information about The Arc of Middlesex and the Step Up for The Arc Walkathon on May 17, call (732) 821-1199, ext. 145, and visit the Web site at www.arcmiddlesex. org.