Located at 2050 Airway Ave., The Arc of Mohave County is more than just a thrift store.The Thrift Store provides funding and job training to programs which support members with intellectual and developmental disabilities through education and advocacy.
Muchkin stopped by the Mohave County Arc to visit with staff and residents.
A private, nonprofit 501 (C ) 3 organization, the Mohave County Arc is a volunteer-based membership organization made up of individuals with intellectual, developmental and other disabilities, their families, friends, interested citizens, and professionals in the disability field.
Created in April, 1970 by parents who were concerned about the lack of life options available in Mohave County for adults with IDDs, The Arc of Mohave County now serves over 45 individuals per year, providing a safe and creative environment to learn like skills and develop personal growth.
They partner with both The Arc of Arizona, at the state level, and The Arc of the United States, at the National level. They are licensed and funded primarily by the State of Arizona Department of Economic Security Division of Developmental Disabilities (DES/DDD).
The Arc was founded on the belief that all developmentally disabled persons, regardless of disabilities, deserve the right to experience as quality and normal a life as possible. It is the goal of The Arc to provide training and opportunities that will maximize growth towards the greatest independence possible for each individual.
The Arc offers programs and services that support and enhance consumer independence, self-esteem, mutual respect, value and dignity. They provide activities, training and supervision to promote skill development and independence, communication and social relationships.
Their Day Treatment for Adults (DTA) program focuses on providing adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities experiences and activities geared to increase their abilities in areas of their lives including personal care, socialization, gross and fine motor skills, communication, and community and leisure activities. Program participants can engage in a variety of structured activities in the facility to promote skill development.
In addition, an integral part of the program is using the community as an experiential resource. Museums, restaurants, stores, parks, movie theaters, botanical gardens, farms, and a wide variety of places are used to help the participants learn what is available to them as citizens.
The DTA program can be seen as a precursor to vocational training, offering pre-vocational skills including hand-eye coordination, attention to a task, working cooperatively to complete a project, and response to supervision. DTA is also used as a supplement to vocational training, offering socialization and community leisure experiences to help broaden the participants interactions with others and community awareness. DTA is a unique resource assisting participants in maintaining the skills they have, while trained staff provide physical or supportive assistance as needed.
There’s more than meets the eye at the Arc, they have a full commercial kitchen, and a garden center.
If you would like more information on their programs or a tour of their facility, please call 928-757-4858.