The Arc of Cumberland and Perry Counties

The Arc of Cumberland and Perry Counties, widely known as CPARC, serves as a cornerstone disability services provider, vocational training institute, and civil rights advocacy agency throughout South-Central Pennsylvania. Established in 1953 by local parents seeking community-based education and support for children with developmental disabilities, the organization has grown over seven decades into a major regional institution headquartered on Ashland Avenue in Carlisle. With an annual operating budget approaching 18 million dollars, CPARC provides person-centered services that empower individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live with dignity, achieve economic independence, build friendships, and participate fully in community life.

Vocational training and employment services prepare adults for long-term career success. Headquartered at a dedicated facility in Mechanicsburg, the S. Wilson Pollock Center for Industrial Training offers extensive vocational evaluation, job readiness instruction, career exploration, and specialized work opportunities in light manufacturing, packaging, labeling, and commercial assembly. Employment specialists partner with regional businesses to create competitive job placements, provide on-the-job coaching, and implement assistive workplace accommodations that benefit employees and employers alike. The agency also operates Sassy Gourmet Catering, an acclaimed culinary social enterprise where participants gain professional food preparation, customer service, and commercial catering experience while serving business and civic clients across the region.

Community living programs ensure accessible, supportive housing tailored to individual needs and preferences. CPARC operates an extensive network of licensed community living group homes throughout Cumberland and Perry Counties, providing 24-hour direct care, healthcare management, community access, and daily living skills instruction. For individuals capable of greater autonomy, the agency's semi-independent apartment living program provides personalized coaching with household management, grocery shopping, budgeting, meal preparation, and transportation, enabling residents to live independently in neighborhoods of their choosing.

Daytime enrichment and specialized care address distinct life stages and cognitive needs. Life Time Adult Day Care offers a nurturing, socially vibrant environment for older adults and individuals with medical complexities, featuring gentle physical exercise, music therapy, creative arts, sensory activities, pet therapy visits, and cognitive wellness exercises. The Community Fusion program coordinates small-group volunteer projects, civic engagement opportunities, and recreational outings, ensuring participants remain actively connected to their local towns and developing enduring friendships.

Family advocacy and educational navigation round out the agency's multi-faceted community mission. CPARC advocacy specialists assist families from the moment of initial diagnosis, providing parent mentoring, guidance through special education laws, and individualized representation during school meetings. The agency also hosts educational workshops, seasonal community dances, sensory-friendly holiday celebrations, social gatherings, and public awareness events that foster neighborhood inclusion. By combining large-scale vocational enterprises, quality residential homes, licensed day programming, and unwavering civil rights advocacy, CPARC ensures that individuals with developmental disabilities across Cumberland and Perry Counties have access to the lifelong tools necessary to thrive.