The Arc of San Diego

Today we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a prolific civil rights leader and icon. Today and every day, we are inspired by Dr. King and his commitment to inclusion, service, and compassion for others.

Happy New Year! From all of us at The Arc of San Diego, we wish you and your loved ones a safe, happy and healthy start to the year. We look forward to seeing what we can achieve together in 2021! #HappyNewYear

There are only 2 days left to give in 2020! While this year has been challenging, we are proud of the ways we adapted to continue serving children and adults with disabilities in our community. Every gift, no matter the amount, makes an impact on the people we support. . . Plus, this year when you give to The Arc of San Diego, you can claim a charitable giving deduction of up to $300 as a non-itemizer, thanks to the CARES Act. Visit www.arc-sd.com/donate to donate today!

We are proud to be featured alongside other amazing nonprofits in this article from GB Magazine. Thank you for being a great partner and helping us share our stories with the community! https://gbsan.com//10-things-that-make-your-giving-back-m/

From all of us at The Arc of San Diego, we want to wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season and a Merry Christmas to those who celebrate! While this year has brought many challenges, in many ways it has brought us closer together. We are grateful for your support in 2020 and we look forward to what 2021 will bring!

While we were not able to host our annual Holiday Golf Tournament in person this year, we are so grateful for everyone who still contributed! With the proceeds we were able to purchase gift cards and host a Gift Card Drive-Through for our clients for the holidays. A special thank you goes to Arc Foundation Board Member Jon Kurtin for spearheading the tournament and fundraiser every year, brightening the holiday season for so many of our clients!

This weekend clients in our Independent Living Services were surprised with these holiday care packages put together by San Diego Gas & Electric employees. Thank you for this act of generosity that spread so much holiday cheer!

Although it was challenging at first doing virtual learning, Nancy and her team did an excellent job giving activities and lessons for the children and parents. Every week is filled with new knowledge and activities not only for the children but the parents as well. It takes special types of teachers to continue to educate our children no matter the circumstances. . . It’s hearing things like this from parents that reminds us why it is so important to keep moving forward and finding new solutions. Thank you to everyone who has supported us this year, before and during the pandemic. Because of you we are able keep helping children and their parents, like Mia and her mom, Jackie, through these difficult times. To make a donation before the year is over, visit www.arc-sd.com/donate

For #NDEAM75 we would also like to recognize our employees and employer at #GillespieFieldAirport! Our Maintenance Team was recently recognized by the Airport for their outstanding work over the past few months at a time when the Airport has been short staffed. According to the Airport Maintenance Supervisor, During this difficult time, The Arc group has become a key element of our Gillespie Field Maintenance Program. Pictured from L to R: Arc staff member Ruby with employees Eric, Jacob and Taylor receiving certificates for their hard work.

"Small changes by those on Main Street and big changes by those on Wall Street can make the goal of economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities a reality." This powerful video from The Harkin Institute shares why the Americans with Disabilities Act was created 30 years ago, and what still must be done to achieve full inclusion in our society. https://vimeo.com/428235280 #ADA30 #NDEAM #NDEAM75

#NDEAM Spotlight: Jordan. Jordan has worked at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego for 15 years, helping to feed the Marines and maintaining the Mess Hall. Jordan is known by his coworkers for his positive attitude and always being willing to strike up a conversation. Over the past several months, Jordan and his team have had to prepare an increased number of to-go meals, due to more people social distancing and eating outside of the Mess Hall. Despite having more responsibility and the added stress of working during a pandemic, Jordan kept on going. He never let it curb his enthusiasm or take away from his optimism or friendliness. No matter what challenges Jordan is faced with, he always has a positive attitude and a smile. Thank you Jordan for being a valuable employee!

Why do we celebrate #NDEAM? Take a look at what #NDEAM means to us and why we strive to provide employment opportunities and support services to individuals with disabilities! #NDEAM75

For #NDEAM we would like to spotlight Eric, a valued member of our custodial team! Eric came to The Arc with challenges in his personal life, and struggled with attendance and professionalism at first. Now, it has been 6 years since Eric joined the team and not only is he one of our most reliable employees, but he just received the Client of the Year Award for his achievements in Employment Services. Congratulations, Eric!

This month is #NDEAM, and today is #NationalCustodianDay! We want to thank our amazing custodial team for everything they do. While many of our facilities have not been open for on-site programming, our custodial team has worked tirelessly to ensure our buildings are cleaned safely and consistently. Thank you for your hard work and dedication! #NationalCustodianDay #NDEAM

As negotiations continue for the next COVID-19 relief bill, months have passed without an agreement that provides much-needed relief for individuals with disabilities and service providers. Congress NEEDS to hear from us so that the critical needs of people with disabilities, their families, and the DSP workforce are represented. Visit https://p2a.co/hy2tD8v to take action now!

Today marks the beginning of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (#NDEAM)! . . We invite everyone to take the time this month to celebrate the significant contributions made by individuals with disabilities in the workplace. In 2019, we provided employment support to more than 450 individuals throughout San Diego County. We are proud to recognize each of our clients who are constantly working hard to achieve their career goals, and the employers who make it possible! #NDEAM2020

Congratulations to our CIO and Vice President of Infrastructure Rich Coppa on receiving the Top Tech Exec Awards Lifetime Achievement Award! We are proud to honor him and celebrate his contributions and achievements in technology over the years.

Delivering personal oral care kits to our clients at home is just one of the ways our DSPs go above and beyond every day! . . Thank you to our DSP Claudia for this thoughtful gesture and thank you to all of our amazing support staff who have made it their life’s work to improve the lives of people with disabilities. You are our heroes! #DSPRW2020

Happy National Direct Support Professionals Week! While we are grateful every day for our DSPs, we are especially proud to recognize them this week. Despite challenging circumstances over the past few months, our DSPs have still gone above and beyond every day to provide exceptional care for our clients. It is through your tireless efforts that we are able to empower individuals with disabilities to achieve their life goals. We could not do it without you!

#TBT to last year's Direct Support Professional Recognition Week! We are excited to celebrate our DSPs again this year for DSP Recognition Week September 13-19. Now more than ever, we look forward to recognizing the individuals who are the heart and soul of supports for people with disabilities.

Thanks to everyone who tuned in and supported our first ever Virtual Gala! We were able to raise more than $50,000 for our organization. This critical funding will ensure we are able to continue providing essential services to children and adults with disabilities in our community. To all of our supporters, could not do it without you!