Standing Beside The Arc of Ventura County

0:01 - The Arc supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through our programming.
0:07 - Our organization started in the city of Santa Paula by a group of parents and teachers who wanted something better.
0:14 - And so in 1954, we became a chapter of The Arc.
0:19 - Really, our purpose is to make sure that they're empowered to participate in their community and that we give them the support to do so successfully.
0:29 - Our community integration day programs are across the county and they really mimic school or work.
0:36 - We do that through volunteer work, educational opportunities.
0:40 - We go to the beach, we go to parks.
0:43 - We go on field trips, hiking and shopping, we go to the mall. It's fun.
0:50 - We become part of the community. That's what we're there for.
0:54 - (group chanting and clapping)
0:57 - People come and spend the day with us, and we learn together and teach together.
1:05 - He's the sweetest man alive.
1:07 - The MOVE Program is part of our day program activities.
1:12 - MOVE itself stands for Mobility Opportunities Via Experience.
1:17 - We have adaptive equipment that can take someone from a wheelchair to a standing position to get as much movement and exercise as they can.
1:27 - I think it's a great program that helps them feel independent and they're able to, you know, just get around in life.
1:34 - This help me to get my legs going and my strength.
1:42 - I'm being surprised and just being happy.
1:49 - Training for Independent Living is a program almost like home economics.
1:54 - They'll teach you how to like budget. You know, they'll teach you like where to go shopping, what bank you go to and cooking. You know, there's cleaning.
2:02 - Being a member of your community as well as being able to take care of yourself.
2:06 - I wanna be able to learn like how to be independent and, you know, I'm, I am adjusting that pretty well.
2:14 - Our employment services are great opportunities to learn about people with disabilities, what their strengths are and to bring them into your workforce.
2:23 - My job is at Ventura Townhouse. I am a busser. I've been there for a long time, for many years.
2:30 - I feel great. I hope more people come do the same thing like me, and more independently.
2:41 - With Arc, the experience has been awesome. We realized that they had a resource that would allow us bring somebody in full-time in a very independent position.
2:52 - I feel good. I have a job. They treat me politely. They gimme a lot of confidence by working here.
3:01 - The message I'd like to give the local employers is this: we're not asking for special treatment.
3:07 - We are simply asking for opportunity. There is no liability hiring individual with disability.
3:14 - It's nothing but benefit. Just allowing our service to support and provide the training that they need to succeed.
3:22 - Disability, whether it's intellectual and developmental, we're all learning to accept each other.
3:27 - And I think that The Arc is a big part of that. I'm proud of that.
3:31 - (uplifting music)

6:06
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