Our Mission: The United Arc supports people living with intellectual and developmental disabilities in achieving the universal goals of inclusion, choice, and independence.

Our Vision: All people living with intellectual and developmental disabilities achieve the fullest expression of their lives.

Greetings,

Here we are in May already!  Time does fly by, especially with so many exciting things happening.  We have our Annual Business meeting coming up, and the launch of our online auction.  Be sure to check it out!

Please stay healthy and safe,

Lynne Marie Bielecki
Executive Director

Welcome to The United Arc Team

Hired April 2021:

Ann Martel,

Adult Services, Residential, Direct Support Professional Referred by Aaron Martel

Jenna Blair,

Family & Youth Services, Positive Parenting, Family & Youth Services Case Worker

Callan Angrisani,

Family & Youth Services, Positive Parenting, Family & Youth Services Case Worker

Referred by Jakob Conway

Fred Warren, Director of Human Resources

Are you interested in joining our fabulous team or know someone who is looking for a career opportunity that makes a difference in lives of others? Check out all the wonderful jobs we are currently offering by clicking the "Career Opportunities" button below.

Juli Moreno, Director of Adult & Support Services

Acheiving Goals

Michelle Parker has been looking to work with children in childhood development in which she previously independently gained certification. Michelle was invited to do an interview for The United Arc’s Coffee and Conversation with state officials.

Michelle did a great job telling her story of lifelong enthusiasm in working with children. She has applied for a substation position at Tiny Tot’s Day Care in Athol and was faced with a CPR and First Aid requirement that she would need to complete before having an interview. Without hesitation she asked for help finding a place that would offer certification. Michelle had found that the local YMCA was teaching online classes but was finding it difficult to work with the online format without the interpersonal one on one instruction.

State Representative Susannah Whipps reached out to Michelle after seeing her presentation to help her get certified by sending the contact information for Mark Vitale, a local CPR and first aid instructor and EMT. Michelle asked for help from her direct support staff to set up a time and date to get one on one lessons. She completed the training and was complimented by Mark that he had never seen such a good rhythm during her chest compressions and he does CPR for a living. She then called Tiny Tots and submitted her certification.  She went in for an interview then another, and the next week they called her and told her that she got the job!

 Michelle was so over joyed saying “I can’t believe I got the job” and “this made my day” she worked so hard to get the job, and most of all independently applying and advocating for her wants and needs to obtain a lifelong goal.

Over the past year, the Grandparents and Kinship Caregivers group have maintained their connections through the world wide web. While these meetings have supported the members and their families, the Grandparents are ready to rekindle their physical connections. Thursday, May 6^th will be the first in-person group. Let us welcome the Grandparents back, hooray.

Susan Jones, Director of Family & Youth Services