Our History
The Arc of Northern Bristol County was formed back in 1959 as a grassroots, non-profit 501©3 organization by a small group of parents who were concerned about the quality of life of their children with disabilities. Back then, when a child was born with a disability, the family was advised to place the child in an institution and “forget” about them. Families who chose to keep their children at home were on their own. As a result of The Arc, families who were once alone found support among other families facing similar challenges. Together, they built a support system and lobbied for funding for educational and supportive services that today enable people with disabilities to lead productive lives as participating citizens of our communities.
Today, The Arc of Northern Bristol County serves over 1,200 children and adults with developmental disabilities, and their families, with a wide array of individually designed supportive services that assist people to live fulfilling lives as participants within their communities. People of all ages who live in the Massachusetts cities and towns of Seekonk, Attleboro, North Attleboro, Taunton, Raynham, Dighton, Rehoboth, Norton, Mansfield, Middleboro, Lakeville, and Berkley are served by The Arc of Northern Bristol County. We also continue to serve a few people who used to live in our area and moved to Plymouth and Brookline, Mass. Because of our commitment to the people we serve, we became licensed in Rhode Island when some of our constituents moved there, and we continue to serve them. Now we serve about a dozen individuals with residential supports in Cumberland, Lincoln, and Providence Rhode Island through our new dba proAbility. We are a grassroots organization dedicated to helping people with developmental disabilities to grow and achieve their goals and dreams.
Services that the Arc of Northern Bristol County provides include Family Support, including information and referral, advocacy, respite, training, education; Individual Supports that enable people to live in their own apartments, or with families in Shared Living arrangements; Representative Payee to assist with money management; Guardianship services to help with medical and important life decisions; Recreational activities and trips, sports teams, and vacations; Life Enrichment activities such as computer education, job skills development; health, safety, and nutrition, and life skills; arts and crafts, dances, theater, and painting classes; dances, social events; and other assistance as needed.
We work with many community partners including a wide array of volunteers and friends from many local organizations and businesses. The United Way is also our partner, and funds our Project REC-Connect Recreation Services.
