St. Louis Arc

Mission

St. Louis Arc's mission is to empower people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families to lead better lives by providing a lifetime of high-quality services, family support and advocacy. 

Services Provided

St. Louis Arc works hard to provide the kind of individualized services that can really help make a difference to an adult, to a child, to a family. Services provided are designed to maximize choice and to support people, as they build quality lives within the St. Louis community.

Service areas include early intervention supports, autism supports, family supports, leisure/social/recreation supports, supported employment, transition services, day programs, residential supports, and aging services.

Number of People Reached

More than 4,000 people and families are supported annually. 

How Donations Are Used

Donations are used to help sustain St. Louis Arc programs and to provide scholarship funds to allow people with limited financial resources to participate. Over 90% of its funding goes directly to helping people and their families through our programs and services.

Project Spotlight

St. Louis Arc's new transition program, Launch, is designed for teens and young adults, age 16-25, who are interested in taking the next step toward their future. This program offers a combination of one-on-one coaching sessions and group classes to help individuals enhance their interpersonal and self-management skills in order to achieve goals in the areas of relationship development, education, employment, and independent living. 

Awards

In 2016, the St. Louis Arc became the eighth organization in the world to achieve Person-Centered Excellence Accreditation with Distinction by the Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL) Learn more about their positive accomplishments in its community.

Interest Fact

In 2020, St. Louis Arc is celebrating its 70th anniversary. The St. Louis Arc was founded in 1950 by a small group of families who wanted more for their children who had disabilities. It is still family-focused in terms of its approach to providing a lifetime of services. St. Louis Arc supports the whole family, not just the individual with disabilities.