About The Arc of Harrison County
Then and Now

Over 50 years ago a group of parents whose children had developmental disabilities established the Association for Retarded Children in Harrison County (ARC). At that time their children were excluded from public school and that prompted parents to establish a school for their own children and others in Mt. Clare, West Virginia. Later, the Right to Education law was passed and the Harrison County Board of Education assumed responsibility for educating children with developmental disabilities (DD).

Before long, ARC changed their name to The Association for Retarded Citizens (The ARC). Their next project was to begin a vocational work experience for adults with developmental disabilities by establishing a Sheltered Workshop located at the Episcopal Church on 6th and Main Street in Clarksburg, WV. A few years later, the Harrison County Sheltered workshop formed a Board of Directors and built a facility on Rt. 58 near Stonewood, WV.

In 1982 The ARC hired their first Executive Director, George Harrington. Recognizing an immediate need in Harrison County for residential services, The ARC purchased a house on Hickman St. in Clarksburg, WV. Residents of Harrison County with DD were provided a home as an alternative living arrangement to the state’s institutions. Many adults lived in the Hickman St. house while transitioning to living independently with varying degrees of support.

Between 1986 and 2000 The Arc contracted with the Job Training Participant Act (JTPA) contract to assist people with disabilities in obtaining and maintaining employment in the community. Between 1986 and 1990 the Arc provided a variety of Vocational Services. In 1986 the Arc started a janitorial business - Dirt Busters - and utilized a mixed crew of people with and without disabilities to contract with public and private entities for janitorial services. Other vocational programs began to crop up such as Developmental Disabilities Planning Council where the goal was to provide a Transition to Work Program to people with Developmental Disabilities. We also provided Community Based Vocational Services to students in Harrison County Schools in the Special Education Department and we contracted with the Division of Rehabilitation Services to provide Vocational Services to individuals with significant disabilities in Harrison, Doddridge, Marion, and Randolph Counties. We have continued our programs, helping hundreds of individuals improve their quality of life thought employment opportunities.
Today the contract with Department of Rehabilitation Services continues as well as a contract with Department of Health and Human Resources to help people with significant disabilities enter the work force. There is also a pilot program with Robert C Byrd High School Special Education Department to introduce students to their community and explore jobs opportunities before graduation.

In 1988 came The College for Living educational program. Based in community settings, the popular program thrived until funding ceased in 1994.

Since 1987 the residential program has expanded, providing services to dozens of people. Another house was purchased, this time on Horner Ave. in Clarksburg that provides two apartments. In 1989 our “group home” on Hickman St. was renovated to provide wheelchair accessibility and was converted from a large “one-family” home into two massive apartments that 3 women with DD called home for over a decade.

In February 1999, construction was completed on a new, fully accessible, 3-bedroom home in the North View section of Clarksburg. A second home with shared kitchen and living areas was completed in December 2000. This home is also a 3-bedroom facility with 4 bathrooms and 2 covered porches, located in Bridgeport WV. A third home, nearly identical to the second, was built in Elkins WV in 2001 and includes attached office space for Randolph County supervisory staff. Our fourth home will be located on Locust Avenue in Clarksburg and will be completed in 2006. The Arc and the West Virginia Housing Development fund provided funding. This program is sponsored by HUD to provide low-cost housing for people with disabilities.

In 1990, keeping with our “People First” philosophy and language, The Association for Retarded Citizens of Harrison County, “ARC”, became The Arc of Harrison County – a subtle yet significant difference that indicated our commitment to serving persons with mental retardation as well as other developmental disabilities and mental illness.

For the past ten years, The Arc has been proud to be the sponsor of the “Home of Your Own” project. The project’s state director, Al Wiggins, an employee of The Arc, spends his time creatively assisting folks with disabilities in experiencing the process of home ownership, be it to purchase or build a home. The Arc, the Benedum Foundation, and the West Virginia Housing Development Fund provide funding for this project. There are currently over 50 homes statewide that have been built or are in the process of construction or financing.

In 1998 we expanded our community support services in Harrison County to include Randolph, Barbour, and Upshur Counties and established an office in Elkins, WV. There are currently a total of 130+ employees of The Arc of Harrison County providing assistance and support to more then 40 individuals, enabling them to live in their own homes or apartments.

The Arc of Harrison County has assisted employers and community rehabilitation facilities in developing residential and vocational programs throughout West Virginia. Our vocational program was the first of it’s kind in West Virginia and has served as a model for nearly every other similar program operating in West Virginia today. The Arc continues to provide technical and programmatic assistance to other supported employment programs in the Mid-Atlantic region.

“State of the art” services to people with developmental disabilities are constantly evolving due to technological advances, teaching methods, and cultural and social attitudes. The Arc of Harrison County has been a leader of change for these services, and is committed to staying at the forefront of providing quality service to individuals in Harrison and surrounding counties.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Carol Moats – President
Larry Chafin – Vice President
Becky Jarvis – Secretary
Lisa Moore – Treasurer
John Oliverio
Kim Smucker
Beth Shank
Lisa Price
Donna Jo Young
Angie Carvelli