The Arc of Monroe Celebrates Disability Pride Month

Advocacy, Programs and Services

Every July, millions of Americans celebrate Disability Pride Month. The celebration began in 1990 when the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law. That same year, Boston held the first Disability Pride Day. The first official celebration of Disability Pride Month occurred in July 2015, which also marked the 25th anniversary of the ADA. Since then, cities across the country have celebrated Disability Pride Month with parades and other festivities. [1] Disability Pride Month is an opportunity for the disability community to celebrate its visibility and highlight accomplishments in a collective way. At The Arc of Monroe, everything …

Why Inclusion Matters and How The Strong National Museum of Play Showcases Inclusion

Programs and Services, Stories Of People We Support

Fairport Day Services is one of many programs at The Arc of Monroe that encourages community exploration and empowers the people we support to live more fulfilling lives. Recently, Fairport Day Services hit the road for a visit to Strong National Museum of Play. From the outset of their visit, The Strong displayed inclusion in a myriad of ways. From offering an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter, to having wheelchair accessible exhibits, to offering sensory-friendly accommodations, The Strong ensured that each guest felt welcomed and valued in the museum. “Inclusion is beyond the wheelchair ramp to get into the door …

The Arc of Monroe Forms New End of Life Committee

Health and Wellness, Programs and Services, Staff Perspectives

Written by Sue Sproule, Director of Nursing The Arc of Monroe nursing team works hard to best serve our staff and the people we support. In the first quarter of 2022 alone, the team ran 990 medical appointments for the people we support. Our latest endeavor is to develop an “End of Life” committee. What does end of life mean? I asked a few people who are on the committee, and this is what they shared: “Doing it my way. Living every day, including the last days of my life in comfort, support, and dignity where I want and with …

ArcWorks Receives Perfect Score on ISO Recertification Audit

Programs and Services, What's In The News

ArcWorks, The Arc of Monroe’s world-class integrated manufacturing site, has once again received zero corrective actions in its 2021 External ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 9001:2015 Recertification Audit. This achievement highlights the continuous improvement of the Quality Management System that ArcWorks has implemented. It also showcases the dedication and desire for quality practices by the ArcWorks staff, which is made up of people with and without disabilities who work side-by-side in an integrated setting. ArcWorks exceeded expectations of the auditor, driving him to add a note in his findings that said ArcWorks “looks better than most medical companies.” Receiving good …

Decking the Halls at Ballantyne Day Services!

Programs and Services, Stories Of People We Support

We decked the halls at Ballantyne Day Services this week with dancing, a bell choir, and a visit from the big guy himself, Santa Claus! . We designed Ballantyne to support the specific needs of aging adults, including those with dementia and Alzheimer’s. For more information, visit https://arcmonroe.org/day-services-ballantyne/ Check out the photos from our 2021 Celebration:

Guardianship Program Celebrates the Holidays

Programs and Services, Stories Of People We Support

This week we celebrated the holidays in style with a festive lunch with delicious food and loads of gifts, presented by The Arc of Monroe’s Guardianship Committee! Each guest was given a bag of gifts, each personally chosen just for them! The Arc’s Guardianship Advocates become a part of a person’s life, listening to their wishes and needs, and supporting them with decision-making in the areas of medical care, finances, personal life decisions and many other areas. For more information, visit https://arcmonroe.org/guardianship/ Check out the photos from our 2021 Holiday Luncheon!

Arc of Monroe Dedicates Residential Home

Programs and Services, Stories Of People We Support

Living in a safe, comfortable home is fundamental to the well-being of all people. That is especially true for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, for whom it is essential to provide the right environment to encourage independence. Our newest residence on Willowen Drive in Irondequoit is the perfect location for people we support to reach their full potential as a part of our community. This beautiful ranch is equipped to meet the needs of six people who benefit from living on one floor and in a quiet neighborhood. To celebrate the opening, staff, residents, neighbors, board members and supporters …

Summer and Fall Fests Celebrate The Arc!

Programs and Services, Stories Of People We Support

Did you get a chance to take part in any of the Summer or Fall Fests happening around The Arc over the past few months? The fun kicked off with Summerfest at ArcWorks, then there was a medieval theme festival at Lambert/Community Connections. Fairport Day Services was full-on country western, while Community Arts Connection celebrated “Music Genres thru the Ages.” The fun kept coming as Ballantyne celebrated with a Halloween theme! You can see a few of the photos here, but follow The Arc’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ArcofMonroe to see ALL the fun!  

Annual Awards Celebration Held in June

Programs and Services

This year’s 2021 Annual Business Meeting was a wonderful celebration held this June to honor four people that who have shown exceptional dedication and excellence at The Arc of Monroe. Held at the RIT Inn & Conference Center, four awards were presented, including the Weckesser Award, Walsh Award, Roger J. Robach Award and Robert & Winifred Wagner Award. Weckesser Award In 1998, The Weckesser Family established the Weckesser Award as a means to honor an individual who receives services at The Arc of Monroe. Nominees included Clyde Tisdale and Sue Wheeler, while this year’s winner was Dorothy Gilvens. Dorothy was …

emily uses speech generating devices to communicate

A Pandemic Success Story

Health and Wellness, Programs and Services, Staff Perspectives, Stories Of People We Support

In honor of Better Speech & Language Month, The Arc of Monroe is highlighting Emily and her Speech-Language Pathologist Mary Klimek, M.S., CCC-SLP.  Emily is a nonverbal communicator who uses sign language, gestures, and a speech generating device (SGD) to communicate her wants and needs and engage socially with others. Prior to the pandemic, I saw Emily once a week for therapy during day-program where we worked on expressive communication skills such as learning core word vocabulary and associating picture-symbols with meanings, specifically starting with core words “go” and “want.” During therapy sessions she had a difficult time attending to …