Center News

Fall 2003 – Community Outreach

The ARC of Greensboro, Inc.

We completed an outreach project with The ARC of Greensboro. Our efforts included interviewing three people with disabilities who are ARC speakers, writing short speeches from the interviews, and then teaching the three men to present their speeches. The next step is for the three to advocate for themselves and The ARC of Greensboro by presenting their speeches in the community.

This was a very rewarding project for all involved. Next semester, we plan to put together a step-by-step guide for others who wish to replicate this particular project (in Greensboro and beyond). Our graduate assistant, oversees our outreach efforts. Anyone interested in more info about this project can reach Sarah directly at mwilde@uncg.edu.

Click on the links below to view their speeches.

• Chuck Flaherty
• John Van Hine
• John Venable

Alumni Fundraising

During an alumni fundraising event held at UNCG’s alumni house, we provided a storyteller who told two tales of tolerance. One was European the other Vietnamese.

Who is The ARC?

The ARC of Greensboro was formed more than 49 years ago by people concerned about the lack of services for their children, adults, and friends. Today, The ARC is one of the nation’s largest voluntary organizations. The ARC is composed of parents, educators, professionals in the field, individuals with mental retardation and community citizens. The common bond that pulls them together is the desire to improve the welfare of persons with mental retardation – approximately 7.3 million in the United States.

Triad Storytelling Circle

In September we hosted this group at our center. At the request of this group, we facilitated a workshop on how to give oral peer to peer feedback.

Western High School

We are working with a class of speech and drama students. Our work in this effort is designed to support the needs of the teacher and her students. This group of students are entering into high school forensics competition for the first time.

Tate Street Festival

In October we sponsored a storytelling event at the already popular Tate Street festival on nearby Tate Street. In support of the event, we completed all coordination of the storytelling and provided a few storytellers from our consultant pool.

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Chuck Flaherty

Hello my name is Chuck Flaherty and I am the President of the ARC of Greensboro’s Self-Advocacy Group. I am also an ARC of Greensboro board member. I would like to tell you how the ARC of Greensboro has helped me. Many of the things that I have accomplished would not be possible without the ARC of Greensboro. The ARC of Greensboro has taught me leadership skills to serve as the President of a club. I have also learned how to communicate for myself and others. When I speak up for myself it is known as self-advocating.

As the President of the ARC of Greensboro’s Self-Advocacy Group, I get to talk to senators about the work that the ARC of Greensboro does. I also let them know about the needs of my peers. The ARC of Greensboro, through my position as president of the Self-Advocacy group, has taught me the skills to speak for others in my group. I tell their stories to others. My position as president has also shown me how to have a voice and to understand the value in speaking for others. Through my experience of meeting with senators, I get to know new people and participate in new activities. At Self-Advocacy conventions, I explain to other group members how to get around Greensboro and I learn important skills by attending workshops.

I am also on the board for the ARC of Greensboro. As a board member, I get to have a voice on how the ARC of Greensboro spends money and how it develops programs. I also help the board give direction to the staff on how to organize these newly developed programs.

As you have heard, the ARC of Greensboro has helped me in many ways. I hope that my story encourages you to either continue to support the ARC of Greensboro with your time or money, or to begin to support this great organization. Your contributions will enable the ARC of Greensboro to help other citizens like myself have a voice and receive useful leadership skills gained through programs like the Self-Advocacy Group and other leadership building programs.

John Van Hine

Hello my name is John Van Hine and I have an amazing memory. My amazing memory allows me to stand here today and tell you how the ARC of Greensboro has helped me. Many of the things that I have accomplished would not be possible without the ARC of Greensboro. The ARC of Greensboro has helped me develop many job skills, life skills, and has allowed me to become a more informed, independent, and well-rounded citizen.

The ARC of Greensboro has helped me in several ways. First, the ARC of Greensboro found me my job at Chic-Fil-A. This is my first job. The ARC also provided me with a job skills coach. With the help of my job skills coach, I learned how to wash the windows, wipe the counters, refill the condiments, and prepare the trays at the Guilford College Chic-Fil-A. After some time working there, I won a national Employee of the Year award from Chic-Fil-A. The ARC of Greensboro continues to send a job coach by to see how I am doing at my job. When she stops by, it makes me feel really happy.

I also have a life skills coach from the ARC of Greensboro. Through working with her, I have become more independent. She stops by my house on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. So far, my life skills coach has taught me how to shave, how to fold laundry, and how to cook a little. She has also taught me how to budget the money that I put into my own bank account. I like my life skills coach – she’s very kind, nice, and friendly. When she stops by, it makes me feel happy and more independent.

Finally, my work through the Self Advocacy Group, sponsored by the ARC of Greensboro, is beneficial to my lifestyle. IÍve learned how to live in the Greensboro community. The Self Advocacy Group invites speakers to come talk to us about such issues as safety, transportation, and voting. From this group, I’ve learned such things as how to use the SCAT transportation system. This system has proven to be very useful and I often take SCAT in order to get to work.

As you have heard, the ARC of Greensboro has helped me in many ways. I hope that my story encourages you to either continue to support the ARC of Greensboro with your time or money, or to begin to support this great organization. Your contributions will enable the ARC of Greensboro to help other citizens like myself to become more self-sufficient and receive useful skills through programs like the Self Advocacy Group and through the life skills and job skills coaches.

John Venable

Hello my name is John Venable and I would like to tell you how the ARC of Greensboro has helped me. Many of the things that I have accomplished would not be possible without the ARC of Greensboro. The ARC of Greensboro has allowed me to become a more informed, independent, and well-rounded citizen. Indirectly, the ARC of Greensboro has helped me in a number of ways. It has made it possible for me to attend school and to receive an education that has given me necessary job skills and has taught me how to use sign language.

Because of the ARC of Greensboro movement, different community organizations and schools have developed programs. The ARC of GreensboroÍs influence in the community has changed peopleÍs opinions and opened opportunities for me. These opportunities have allowed me to take a sign language class at GTCC and sign a song by Celine Dion at my graduation and at the ARC of GreensboroÍs Awards Dinner. I have signed songs at other events too.

I graduated from McIver Education Center in Greensboro. My career development education at McIver helped me develop work habits and job skills necessary for my adult life. After graduating from McIver, I now have the ability to apply for jobs in the community and have worked at McKnight Hardware for 2 years.

Because of the ARC of Greensboro, the community knows that there is a need to create programs that are open to all community members and not just certain ones. The ARC of Greensboro has given me a voice and that means I will be able to participate in more and more community programs. Someday I will have an apartment of my own and the programs of the ARC of Greensboro will give me the skills I need to succeed independently.

As you have heard, the ARC of Greensboro has helped me in many ways. I hope that my story encourages you to either continue to support the ARC of Greensboro with your time or money, or to begin to support this great organization. Your contributions will enable the ARC of Greensboro to help other citizens like myself to become more self-sufficient and receive useful skills such as sign language.