The Arc of Dauphin County is a 501(c)3 non-profit grassroots organization founded in 1953 by a group of parents wanting a better life for their loved ones with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). The organization began at a time when children with I/DD were typically sent to live in state facilities, away from their families. Because Medicaid support required individuals to live in institutions to receive federal funds as well as the cost was too much to bear to care for loved ones at home. The parents that founded The Arc of Dauphin County wanted to keep their children at home where they were loved and could be part of family life. These parents became strong advocates for their children’s education and inclusion in society, by even creating their own school.
