Developmental disabilities are increasing in the United States, underscoring both the service demand and the funding shortfall that The Arc of Baltimore is experiencing.
“Statistics indicate that what used to be an occurrence on the order of one in every two or three thousand individuals [with autism] is now more like one in every 200 individuals,” said Stephen Morgan, executive director of the 58-year-old nonprofit provider of programs and services to Baltimore City and County children with developmental disabilities and their parents.
“There?s a bit of a debate over whether that?s just a more exact diagnostic capability [or an actual rise],” Morgan said. “Regardless, it?s clearly a condition that?s increasingly presenting itself for care and treatment.”
The Arc of Baltimore (which originally meant The Association of Retarded Children), a 650-employee group with an annual budget of $40 million, now runs a range of residential assistance, employment and training, and family support programs that help about 3,000 challenged residents.
It will host a Celebrity Golf Tournament May 22.
Programs include the operation of 100 residential homes for 300 disabled residents, half of which offer full-time supervision; employment opportunities, ranging from in-house, contracted-out landscaping and custodial services to placement with host companies; six employment day centers for vocational training, networking, medical care and contract work; and in-home, family outreach, including foster and respite care, training, and recreational offerings to clients and their families.
“I found the program and the services excellent,” said Towson?s Elizabeth Shearin of her son?s association with the nonprofit, which placed him in his present job at the Marriott Courtyard in Hunt Valley. “Our son has been with them for about 35 years, and any request or problem we?ve had they?ve taken care of them immediately.”
Terry Breschi, a Phoenix resident whose 15-year-old sister is another client, agreed. “ARC is a great resource for families. The organization is full of warm and loving people.”
With about 2,000 people on its waiting list, Morgan is concerned. “The funding levels aren?t where they need to be even to maintain the current programs.”
