The Arc Mercer, Inc.

The Arc Mercer, Inc. is the leading service provider and advocacy organization for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families in Greater Mercer County. Founded in 1950 when 12 visionary parents gathered in a Trenton home to create opportunities for their children, the nonprofit has grown into a premier agency recognized across New Jersey for service innovation. Headquartered on Ewingville Road in Ewing, the organization delivers residential, vocational, clinical, and recreational programs that empower individuals to realize their highest potential and lead dignified lives.

Residential services form a major focus of the agency's operations, managing dozens of community group homes and supportive apartment settings throughout Mercer County. These residences are designed to ensure safety, comfort, and personalized independence, with round-the-clock professional staff assisting individuals with daily living skills, meal preparation, personal healthcare management, and community socialization. The organization emphasizes personal choice and active participation in household and neighborhood life, helping residents develop lasting friendships, vital self-advocacy skills, and strong community ties.

Vocational and day programs provide participants with meaningful pathways to employment and skill mastery. A signature enterprise is the Arc Mercer Farm, an innovative community agriculture initiative where participants learn planting, cultivation, harvesting, and customer retail skills in an inclusive outdoor environment. The farm connects consumers directly with the broader public while fostering teamwork and environmental stewardship. In addition, the agency's supported employment specialists collaborate with local and regional employers to provide vocational assessments, job matching, and on-site coaching that sustain integrated employment in competitive workplaces.

Healthcare equity is addressed through the Arc Mercer Healthcare Center, a specialized medical facility established specifically to serve patients with intellectual, developmental, and cognitive disabilities. Staffed by compassionate physicians, dentists, and behavioral specialists trained in adaptive care, the clinic delivers comprehensive primary care, preventative health screenings, and specialized consultations in an environment adapted to reduce sensory overload and clinical anxiety. This clinical resource bridges a critical healthcare gap for hundreds of individuals and families across central New Jersey.

The agency maintains a comprehensive, agency-operated transportation system with a dedicated vehicle fleet ensuring safe, reliable transit to day habilitation sites, jobs, medical visits, and leisure destinations. Community recreation offerings include evening social clubs, holiday celebrations, fitness classes, and weekend excursions that foster enduring friendships and social connection. Through support coordination and family respite services, the organization also provides essential relief, guidance, and peace of mind to family caregivers throughout the region.

Leadership and staff actively advocate for policy initiatives and civil rights protections that advance inclusion, fair wages, accessible transit, and community accessibility across New Jersey. By pioneering community-based models of specialized healthcare, agricultural enterprise, vocational achievement, and supportive housing, the organization continues to set regional and statewide benchmarks for excellence in developmental disability supports.