Ask The Arc

This summer, The Arc of Frederick County celebrated 10 years of operating The Arc at Market Street!  Serving as a third place where community comes together, The Arc at Market Street brought to fruition a vision to be a space where people with and without disabilities can learn about and support each other while advancing inclusion.

Purchasing and renovating 555 South Market Street was initiated when community members sought to partner with The Arc to lead and organize a service delivery model that included: a safe place for people with significant disabilities to access as they learn about and join activities that all people in Frederick can join; a place where people could build employment skills and receive training; and a place where the general community would visit and rent for special occasions and events, thus reversing the history of the location being a more segregated building only benefiting people with disabilities.

In partnership with families, people with disabilities, and vested community members, the spark that began in those early conversations and planning meetings now serves as a bright beacon of continued innovation.  Recently recognized with The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Full Community Inclusion Award, The Arc of Frederick County is a trusted, caring advocate and partner.

Revolutionizing day services, The Arc at Market Street is a launching pad where people with disabilities meet their Direct Support Professionals in the morning and then join meaningful activities in the community.  Knowing they can access 555 South Market Street for dignified personal care, specialized feeding protocols, therapies, and other needs throughout the day limits barriers to community involvement as each person's individual needs are safely met.

Enhancing employment skills is accomplished through The Arc's Culinary Arts and Hospitality Training Program.  Students learn cooking, baking, event set-up and take-down, janitorial, customer service, and other important employment skills while safely working as part of a team.  Excellent service and food is provided when people rent The Arc at Market Street for their events as well as through individualized orders and specialized sales.  Upon completing the program, The Arc supports participants with job development, placement, and on-going employment supports at many local businesses.

To facilitate inclusion, artists, musicians, fitness and yoga instructors, dance teachers, and others volunteer to share their talents and introduce people with disabilities to new activities at The Arc at Market Street.  These opportunities bring supports full-circle as people with disabilities' interests are piqued and skills are built while at the same time, The Arc can serve as a resource for community members who want to open up their shared places to people with disabilities.

For more information, visit arcfc.org or call (301) 663-0909.