This organization provides support and education to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and their families. Their main services are primarily limited to Cumberland and Dauphin counties, but their residential services extend to Dauphin and Franklin counties.

Advocacy: they provide adult, educational, and systems advocacy for individuals with disabilities and their families. Adult advocacy services are free and provide assistance with navigating the adult service system or to resolve specific issues, they also offer seminars and classes to adults with disabilities to increase skills and knowledge as well as provide social opportunities. Eligibility for adult advocacy services requires a diagnosis of ID and/or autism and the individual must reside in Cumberland or Perry counties. Educational advocacy helps families with children who are eligible or suspected to be eligible for special education services. Special education advocates: help ensure that the child receives a free and appropriate education, assists families in understanding special education processes and laws, clarify individual education plans and can attend IEP meetings, and provide seminars on school-aged education-related topics. Systems advocacy advocates provide information about legislation and regulation changes to families and individuals.

Residential Services: they provide a variety of residential services for individuals with disabilities, including: group homes, apartment clusters, cluster plus program, apartment living, and community supports program. Group homes are where individuals live together in a family setting with staff supervision up to 24 hours a day, staff teaches daily living skills to individuals to help them become more independent. Apartment clusters are apartment buildings managed by The Arc and provide daily support and assistance in life skill areas as necessary. The cluster plus program is similar to the apartment clusters, but also provides an evening meal, family style, to assure nutrition and socialization. Apartment living: staff provides minimal support as needed to individuals who live in their own apartments in the community. The community supports program is for individuals remaining in their own home, and staff provide support and services as necessary on a pre-scheduled basis to ensure continued independence and to allow individuals to enjoy life in their community. To view eligibility requirements for these programs, visit this page: https://cparc.org/eligibility-requirements/

Center for Industrial Training: provides free job training, volunteer, and employment opportunities in Mechanicsburg for individuals who face challenges because of injury, illness, economic status, or disabilities. Industrial setting employment contracts with corporate partners to provide steady income to trainees who participate in jobs at their warehouse. Food service employment is available for participants who want to help make daily lunches for staff and fellow trainees, as well as make boxed lunches and catering orders for various programs. Transitional employment services provide real work experiences at community businesses, offering individuals a transitional stage between facility-based and community employment. For individuals ready for competitive employment, they offer placement services and long-term support, including help applying, interviewing, securing, and maintaining employment in the community. Contact: (717) 766-8512.

Community Fusion: a day program for adults with intellectual disabilities. Program sites are in Carlisle, Mechanicsburg, and Shermans Dale, but often take place in the community. If participants stay at the site, they enjoy different activities, based on their interests, including but not limited to: using tablets and computers to play games and check e-mail, playing cards and board games, making crafts, socializing with peers, or learning laundry or cooking/baking skills. When participants go into the community, they enjoy helping their community and volunteer at different non-profits, this includes, but is not limited to: sorting food at local food banks, visiting residents at nursing homes, and completing light cleaning jobs.

Contact:
(717) 249-2611
https://cparc.org/
Main Office: 71 Ashland Avenue, Carlisle, PA 17013
Center for Industrial Training: 262 Silver Spring Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050