My ARC
Welcome to My Arc, your personal website for all things The Arc ECT. Here you’ll find easy access and information about programs, job listings, activities and more!
COMMUNITY LIFE & ADVOCACY
Our COMMUNITY LIFE & ADVOCACY (CL&A) PROGRAM empowers people with IDD to be active in their communities. The program promotes access, equity, and inclusion, fostering an environment where all participants feel valued. Unique to the region, CL&A participants choose from a variety of activities each month that align with their personal interests and goals:
• Personal Empowerment: Support groups that focus on relationships, workplace issues, grief, and personal goals.
• Self-Advocacy: Support groups that foster confidence and civic engagement by discussing relevant topics, such as rights, public speaking, and decision making.
• Health & Wellness: Activities that promote physical, mental, and social health.
• Cultural Enrichment: Visits to museums, plays, and community events.
• Volunteering: Participants give back by helping at food banks and community events.
• Other Activities: Computer classes, bingo, concerts, holiday parties, picnics, bowling, dining out, and scrapbooking.
Learn more!
Contact us for more info.
DEBBIE DENSMORE
Community Life & Advocacy Coordinator
Camp Harkness
During the summer, Camp Harkness provides a week-long, overnight camp for individuals with IDD. The camp is a fun and safe place for campers with similar needs, activity interests and social interests, to come together. Trained staff provide a supportive environment where our campers have opportunities to:
• Experience new leisure activities or enhance skills in areas in which you already feel successful.
• Develop a positive and confident self-image.
• Make new friends or get together with old friends
• Gain independence.
• Build enduring friendships and a lasting network of support.
• Participate in guided activities designed to enhance leadership, self-advocacy and team building.
RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS
The Arc ECT provides a variety of residential resources, based on your needs, desires and capabilities — from living independently, to living in a group home or a caregiver’s home — we believe in providing a loving, nurturing environment in which individuals can develop, grow and feel safe.
The Arc ECT provides a variety of residential resources, based on your needs, desires and capabilities — from living independently, to living in a group home or a caregiver’s home — we believe in providing a loving, nurturing environment in which individuals can develop, grow and feel safe.
The Arc ECT’s In-Home Support Program is designed to provide individualized and person-centered support.
You can lives in your own apartment, (with roommates in the community — or with family) and work with The Arc ECT to live as independently as possible.Learn more!
Contact us for more info.
MICHELLE TORRES
Program Director
ACCESSIBILITY
It’s tough to get around in eastern Connecticut without a car. But learning about public transportation is easy, fun, and helps you become as independent as possible.
Transit districts offer quick and efficient bus service to many locations in eastern Connecticut. Each website has a complete list of schedules.
• Wheelchair accessible
• Find your bus in real time
• You can order tickets online or pay on the bus
Estuary Transit District
Provides a Southeast Shuttle that serves the towns of New London, East Lyme, Old Lyme and Old Saybrook, with free transfers to Southeast Area Transit District.Northeast CT Transit District
Serves towns in the northeast region, providing deviated fixed-route service.Windham Region Transit District
Serves towns in the Windham Region.Southeast Area Transit District
Serving towns in the southeastern region.
New London
Red & White Taxi LLC
860.443-2255
Harry’s Taxi Service
860.442-4054
Waterford
Yellow Cab Company
860.443-4321
Blue Cab Company
860.443-4303Ledyard/Gales Ferry
Rose City Taxi
Port City Taxi
Mystic
Yellow Cab Company
Old Lyme
Yellow Cab Company
Norwich/Jewett City/Putnam
Norwich Taxi
Rose City Taxi
Putnam Taxi
These transport services are convenient and inexpensive — they get you a ride in minutes, day or night. There’s no need to wait for a taxi or bus. Payment can be made by credit card, cash, Android Pay, or PayPal. You need to install the Uber or Lyft app on your cell phone in order to use this system. Just go to their websites and follow the directions on how to set up an account.
UBER and Lyft offer special services for riders with accessibility issues, such as UBER WAV and Lyft WAV (wheelchair accessible vehicles).
The apps will tell you how much it costs for each ride you need.
ECTC is an organization promoting public transportation co-ordination in eastern CT. It has a great guide called “Getting Around Eastern Connecticut”.
ECTC’s Rides for Jobs program is a free, temporary transportation service for qualifying area residents. You can receive up to 60 days of transportation to employment if you have no other way to get to work. You also have unlimited transportation to job searches, workshops, and interviews.Ask your Job Coach or Case Manager to help you fill out an application to see if you qualify for this service while you find a permanent way to get to work.
• Ask someone at work who lives close by or who passes near your house on their way to work if you can carpool with them. Offer to pay for gas, or buy them a coffee in the morning. You’ll get there on time and make a new friend!
• Maybe you know someone who would be willing to drive you to the right bus stop, but not all the way to your job. Find out which bus stops are near your house and see if someone can drive you to the stop.
