About

Mission/Vision

“Achieving full community life for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities — one person at a time”
Full community life means allowing individuals to express their choices and have confidence that others will honor those choices; ensuring that those we support are able to choose how and with whom they spend their time, and are able to work at a challenging and rewarding job.

The Arc of Howard County’s Programs and Services include:

• Employment
• Family and Individual Support
• Respite Care
• Residential
• Community Integration Program (Day Program)
• Supported Retirement
• Project SEARCH

Growing to Meet Needs

This year, the organization that began in 1961 as a volunteer parent support group will touch the lives of more than 750 individuals. The Arc is the oldest and largest non-profit organization that provides services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Howard County. From our experienced professional staff to our skilled job coaches and dedicated residential counselors, The Arc is people helping people in the most fundamental ways.

Since its inception over 57 years ago, The Arc has grown from a small group of parents to one of the county’s largest employers. Today, we have over 300 staff members and hundreds of volunteers. But there’s one thing that hasn’t changed – We still provide individual services from one person to another.