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Last updated on September 8, 2008

Our mission is to work in partnership with our constituents, members and affiliated chapters to ensure that children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities have the supports, benefits, and services they need, and are accepted, respected and fully included in their communities.

Description:
We work with governmental and other organizations to improve existing services, acting as a catalyst to start new services, and conducting our own service programs.

Volunteer opportunities are available in Valley Thrift Shoppe, which funds the programs and services of The Arc, Upper Valley.

Volunteer opportunities are also available at various times of the year for special events, or to serve on a planning committee.

History:
The Arc, Upper Valley was founded in 1955 by a group of parents and concerned citizens to address the lack of educational opportunities in Grand Forks for children with mental and physical handicaps. This group of people began contacting legislators, setting in motion a movement that would eventually result in the establishment of special education classes for children with developmental disabilities as a regular part of the school system in North Dakota.

In 1962, The Arc established the Opportunity Training Center to teach job-related skills to people with developmental disabilities. The Arc also developed the first supported employment program in the state.
In 1980, while the national trend was to move people with developmental disabilities out of institutions, North Dakota’s state-operated institutions at Grafton and San Haven continued to house upwards of 1,200 people – over twice the national per capita average.

On September 26, 1980, The Arc filed a complaint in the United States District Court. That litigation virtually defined North Dakota’s modern system of residential and community services for individuals with developmental disabilities.

The court found that the care, treatment and facilities at the Grafton State School and San Haven violated the constitutional rights of the residents. North Dakota was ordered by the court to begin moving people with developmental disabilities from the state-operated institutions into community programs. The Arc, Upper Valley then built the first group homes in the state of North Dakota.

Today, The Arc, Upper Valley is stronger than ever, continuing its long-standing tradition of providing advocacy, education, research and family support for children and adults with intellectual, cognitive and developmental disabilities and their families.
Through its visionary leadership, The Arc continues to advocate for the fundamental moral, civil and constitutional rights of people with disabilities to live, learn, work, play and worship in safe and healthy communities of their choosing.

Contact people:

Pam Solga, Marketing Director, (701) 772-3148, (email) Dianne Sheppard, Executive Director, (701) 772-6191, (email)

Office fax number: (701) 772-2195

Address:

2500 DeMers Ave Grand Forks, ND 58201 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.thearcuppervalley.org

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