The Arc Jacksonville

The Arc Jacksonville serves and advocates for people with intellectual and developmental differences so they can reach their full potential and take part in community life. Its vision is a Jacksonville where people of all abilities enrich their communities and have real choices about how they live, learn, work and thrive. A group of local parents and citizens founded the organization in 1965, and it has grown into a community partner offering housing, education, employment, family resources and mental health services across Northeast Florida.

Living options range from fully independent to round-the-clock care. The Arc Jacksonville Village, which opened in 2016 as the first independent living community of its kind in the nation, is an affordable, apartment-style neighborhood with one and two-bedroom apartments, a community center, game and fitness rooms, a movie theater, an accessible swimming pool and a dining hall. Residents build skills in decision-making, wellness, employment and self-advocacy while enjoying full access to the wider community. Six community homes in Jacksonville neighborhoods provide 24/7 care with individualized plans, and The Lodge pairs residential living with independent living skills training and mental health support.

Learning programs start in high school and continue into adulthood. The On Campus Transition program, running since 2006 at the University of North Florida, lets students ages 18-26 audit courses, join clubs, live in student housing and work with UNF peer mentors. Career Campus and certificate programs with Florida State College at Jacksonville prepare young adults for competitive employment, High School High Tech and Summer Career Camp help teens explore careers, and the four-week Summer LIFE Experience lets adults practice independent living in an apartment setting. Xplore, a day program built around real-world learning and volunteering, rounds out the options.

Work is central to the mission. Community Employment offers personalized job placement, on-site training and ongoing coaching, Mobile Teams complete contracted work in community settings with an employment specialist, and participants at Triumph Industries earn a paycheck at the on-site fulfillment center. Laundry Caddie creates jobs for adults with autism, Down syndrome and other intellectual differences.

The Thriving programs focus on quality of life. The Achievement & Enrichment Center offers skill-building, recreation and community involvement, Specialized Aging Support serves adults at risk of dementia and supports their caregivers, and therapeutic services integrate mental health care and occupational therapy into daily programming. Club Arc brings adults together for themed social nights at The Village and at the Westside location.

Families do not have to navigate the system alone. The Advocacy, Support and Knowledge (A.S.K.) program provides guidance, training, workshops and referrals at every age and stage, along with a comprehensive resource guide called The Path and email lists for families and professionals. Life Path Planning & Management offers future planning and ongoing case management, The Arc Jacksonville Pooled Trust protects benefits for people with disabilities, and members can access reduced-cost guardianship assistance. To begin, families complete the Get Started form and a team member follows up within 72 hours.

The community can join in by volunteering individually or as a group, completing student internships, becoming members, joining the Circle of Giving with a monthly gift, or attending Dinner with Bill & Friends, the fall celebration that honors employers, advocates and the legacy of Bill Sackter.