We are an independent advocate for individuals with developmental disabilities and mental retardation and their families in need of assistance and support in the community. Our goal is to enable people with mental retardation and developmental disabilities to become active community members and to be included in activities open to everyone.

Description:
We provide family support in English, Portuguese and Spanish and conduct Disability Awareness Education training in the school systems. Our Family Advocates are all parents of children with developmental disabilities and they assist other parents with similar children in a variety of ways.
The majority of families we serve are referred to us by other families we have helped, schools, and other agencies. The majority of families we serve are low-income to very low-income and many have multiple family issues to resolve. The majority of our families request assistance with the special education process in their schools.
We respond to whatever family need presents itself and connect the family with a range of services in the community they do not know exist. Much of our work is done in the family's home, in the schools and with state and federal offices.

History:
The ARC was started by parents in 1959, as other ARC's across the nation were also getting underway in the 1950's and 1960's. Parents were seeking alternatives to institutionalizing their children with mental retardation in the large state schools, most of which are now closed. It was parent initiative which started the community based services we now see in our area, many of which require the crucial support of the United Way to serve those in need.

Contact people:

Dan Smith, Exeuctive Director, (phone), (email) Lisa Furtado, Assistant Director, (phone)

Office fax number: (508)996-8553

Address:

412B County Street New Bedford, MA 02740 (See a map)

Web Site: None specified

Directions:

We are on County Street in the carriage house behind the Interchurch Council Building. It is 2 blocks south of Union Street and two buildings south of the Grace Episcopal Church on the same side of the street. Go into the the second driveway; it is marked IN on the pillar.

Overall Experience   
I loved volunteering and found enegertic people to be around.

Advocacy Resource Center of Greater New Bedford serves families with children with developmental disabilities. I used a volunteer day from my company to help with ARC's Annual Golf Tournament. I found them through this website. It was great time helping with their Golf Tournament 6/6/05. Thank you Gloria! posted by omalley7 on June 7, 2005

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