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| Who
We Are : Our Mission |
| Until the
mid-1940's, individuals with mental retardation were generally
isolated, segregated, and provided a minimum of basic custodial
care. It was not uncommon for primary care physicians to advise
parents to place their son or daughter in an institution and
reconstitute the rest of their family as though their child
with mental retardation had never existed. The need for maintaining
family integrity became the driving force for the evolution
of the parents' organization which has become known as The Arc.
Chapters across the country have a paid membership of over 140,000
representing 300,000 family members who speak and act on the
behalf of over seven million citizens in the United States with
mental retardation. Operating under a statewide and national
umbrella, each Arc chapter is an independent unit. Some chapters
are major service providers in the communities and some concentrate
solely on advocacy. The Arc of Lehigh and Northampton Counties
is a blend of the two. |
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| Our
Mission |
| The mission
of The Arc of Lehigh and Northampton Counties is to educate,
advocate, and provide services for children and adults with
mental retardation and their families. The Arc's vision is that
people with mental retardation be fully accepted in society
with the right to choose where they live, learn, work, and play. |
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