The mission of The Arc of Tempe is to empower and enrich the lives of persons with developmental disabilities. The Arc of Tempe is dedicated to effecting change at the community level. Our vision is a diverse and thriving community in which all individuals are valued, participating citizens. The Arc of Tempe, a grass-roots, community-based organization, was founded in 1965 by a group of parents seeking resources for their children with developmental disabilities. The Arc of Tempe, along with other local and state Arc chapters across the nation, joined The Arc of the United States in advocating for persons with developmental disabilities and their families to ensure that citizens with developmental disabilities could work, learn, live and play in their own communities. Prior to the mandating of special education and the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, The Arc of Tempe successfully launched a preschool program for children with developmental disabilities. This later became a day program, and, in 1981, the current Life-Skills & Recreation Program for teens and adults was established. Today, teens and adults with developmental disabilities from Tempe and the East Valley participate in the Life-Skills & Recreation Program; learning practical life-skills, self-advocacy and community involvement through hands-on activities and enrichment classes. True to our founders' dreams, these participants work, live and play in their own communities, and The Arc of Tempe is proud to be a part of their successes.
