They have made something of a name for themselves locally in recent years at an annual fundraiser at The Commons selling everything from cake to cookies to pie at an event known as Always Ready for Chocolate.
But leaders of The Arc of Bartholomew County, a nonprofit advocacy organization with a new executive director, are beginning a renewed push to let the public know they are always ready for another sweet and even more serious effort — to empower those with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.
The chapter has pursued that mission since 1956.
“Our goal right now is to expand a little on what the community already knows about us,” said Grace Kestler, who assumed her executive director post in April after working as community outreach coordinator for Advocates For Children.
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She was interviewed at the chapter’s offices at 2060 Doctor’s Park Drive just off Central Avenue near National Road.
Kestler’s background includes serving as a leader in the Best Buddies program while a local high school student. Best Buddies pairs student leaders with students with disabilities to foster a culture of acceptance and respect.
“I wasn’t really fully aware of the work of The Arc until I got to know a board member,” Kestler said. “But this seems like a good fit (for me) since I’ve almost always been focused on disability advocacy.”
The Arc includes other groups within it, such as the Columbus Area Down Syndrome Support Group and the Columbus Autism Network. While the overall, 400-member local chapter focuses on advocacy and inclusion for people with disabilities, some other chapters are designed to function more as service providers.
“But we have the opportunity here to focus more on public policy and being a hub for resources to also redirect people to area service providers who are actually doing the (other) work,” Kestler said.
The executive director is sharing the agency’s guidance with board president Heather Baker and vice president Bethany Scruton. Baker’s daughter deals with autism, and the family connected with The Arc eight years ago.
“So I certainly have very valid reasons for supporting The Arc,” Baker said.
Scruton is a former Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation special education teacher who has become an autism coordinator there, working with students and their families. Since the Columbus Autism Network is linked with the umbrella agency of The Arc, families facing new diagnoses get to know The Arc in some form or fashion.
“We’re like a one-stop shop,” Scruton said of The Arc.
But she and the other leaders say they want to find new ways to reach more families with their advocacy — especially since some members of the public have confused The Arc with the local Christian bookstore The Ark Book & Gift when making phone calls.
“I think that there is sometimes a little bit of confusion,” Kestler said. “But The Arc of Indiana and The Arc of the United States are both very well-known organizations.”
Chapter members, including some known as self advocates who lives with disabilities, have lobbied at both the statehouse and in Washington, D.C. for years. Self advocate Brandon Boas has made such trips off and on for about a decade, and has long been outspoken locally about the needs of the developmentally disabled.
He continues to encourage lawmakers to increase funding for such agencies as Developmental Services Inc., which has helped him with everything from practical life skills to jobs since he was a child. He mentioned that The Arc’s work is huge for individuals such as himself with developmental disabilities to live fully productive lives.
“So I continue to speak out,” Boas said. “I’m not scared (of lawmakers). That’s because I care. I care about making changes for others.”
Baker mentioned that it’s also important for The Arc to effectively reach businesses with its advocacy mission.
“We want businesses to be able to say that they’re aware of The Arc — and to have a good partnership with us — so they can be more prepared to employ people with disabilities,” Baker said.
She added that the The Arc has renewed its goal of attracting more volunteers for tasks such as committee work on items such as pending legislation.
“And we have seen pockets of volunteer readiness,” Baker said. “But we don’t want to continue to rely on all the same people.”
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The Arc of Bartholomew County is an nonprofit organization advocating and working on behalf of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.
It maintains a library of resources including books, games, videos, medical equipment such as wheelchairs, and other items free for local residents to use.
Information: 812-372-0610 or email to [email protected]
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Launched locally: 1956
Office: 2060 Doctor’s Park Drive in Columbus
Mission: To advocate for public policies, perceptions and attitudes that empower those with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families
Members: About 400
Membership dues: $8 to $100, depending upon the level, such as individual or business.
Includes: The Columbus Area Down Syndrome Support Group and the Columbus Autism Network
Needs: More volunteers for tasks such as committee work on items such as pending legislation.
Website/email/phone: thearcbc.com, [email protected], and 812-372-0610.
Facebook: The Arc of Bartholomew County
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