Welcome to
​The Arc of Indian River County
​

Mission Statement
 The Arc supports and empowers individuals
with special needs to achieve their life goals.
 
Vision
 The Arc will advocate for full acceptance of individuals
with special needs as valued members of our community

 The Arc of IRC celebrated it's 50th Anniversary!
Thank you to all that have supported us over the years!!!

Heather's Anniversary speech

             It’s hard to imagine a world where you are staring at your newborn and a doctor telling you as your baby
is blinking up at you that you need to put your child in an institution because they have Special Needs.  And yet, that was our world in the 1970’s.  Thankfully, a grass roots effort spread across the nation began to advocate for change.  And in 1975, a small group of passionate, undeterred parents helped bring that change to Indian River County - wanting their loved ones to grow up with their family, be part of their community, to have the opportunity to work, to live independently, to have friends. To give their children a future brimming with possibilities.
             The vastness of the English language cannot thank Joan Miller, Mary Ellen Replogle, Bob Kirby, Nadine Brown, Dr. Steve McIntosh, Gloria Gearhardt, and their families for all of the time, energy and effort in bringing The Association for Retarded Children of Indian River County to life in 1975.  We are fortunate that one of our founders is here this evening.  And I would like to pause and give a special thank you to Mary Ellen Replogle, for all that she has done for The Arc and the Special Needs community.  Her fortitude and belief in her son, John.  How that desire to let him grow up with his brothers and sisters, work alongside his brother at the Ocean Grill, to live on his own with supports – her outreach, networking, unending belief in John having a normal life and the entire Replogle family’s shared belief has had a ripple effect that has impacted thousands of people in Indian River County.  The Arc thanks you.
             When speaking with Mary Ellen over the years; pulling any information from the past was always met with a shrug, a smile and a shake of her head as she would reply, “We were just doing what we needed to and getting it done.” Well… Mary Ellen, you were right.  You guys certainly got it done.
             For the little organization that began in a small office off of 17th street by the power plant. To expanding from Children to Citizens in 1977 and changing the name to correlate to The Association for Retarded Citizens of IRC. The agency was beginning to impact the county as more and more families sought services locally, and in the mid-80’s The Arc partnered with IR School District and leased the land for 99 years where they built a workshop and during that time bought 2 properties turning them in to 2 – 6 bed group homes that still operate today.
             The 90’s saw partnerships develop with Special Equestrians, Special Olympics, United Way of IRC and the then Council on Aging or as we like to affectionately call it Senior Resource Association today while adding Supported Employment or Job Placement services and Supported Living.
             The 2000’s flashed and 2 more group homes were opened; a name change to Abilities Resource Center and living through steep rate cuts in 2006 and 2007; collaboration with Vocational Rehabilitation.
             The 2010 or teens…a merger with SunUp to become SunUp Arc and then returning to the national branding of The Arc; a 5th group home built; collaboration with Youth Sailing Foundation and Treasure Coast Community Health.
             2020s saw that fabled word of COVID; a 6th group home (and for the record – swore that was our last but we keep getting poked about adding more), a small endowment being opened at IR Community Foundation; collaborating with Sunshine Physical Therapy; in the 25 years that I’ve been involved with The Arc; this is the first time I can say – The Arc, at least for a few months, is completely debt free.  We paid the last of long term debt off at the end of 2024. And this year…we are standing in a 4.5 year dream that is finally a reality – our pavilion.
             I can’t tell you what the future will bring.  What I can do – is tell you that based on our history; that The Arc has a strong foundation thanks to the prior and current board members,some of you here tonight Dick & Chris Picken; Reese; Mary Beth; Mike, Herb, Mark; Janine; Greg Holton; Karl Zimmerman; who have devoted so much of their time, talent and treasure; community leaders; Meredith Egan w/ UW, Jeff Pickering w/ Community Foundation; partnerships, Vickie Soulee w/ TCCH, Karen Johnson Special Equestrians; Karen Diegal w/ SRA; Ginny Blossom w/ Sunshine Physical Therapy;  the wonderful foundations who support The Arc – JIF; JICSL; Grand Harbor; Bernard Egan Foundation; Jake Owen Foundation; corporate support from Verticalbridge and Corporate Air; volunteers and the thousands of dedicated staff over the years; most importantly the clients.  From the hundreds that are impacted every day, who greet the van drivers each morning while going to the day program; bag our groceries; talk about how they went out to dinner, to the advocacy in helping families receive services and navigate the state waitlist; to the thousands we have yet to meet and the ones who have left quiet footprints on our hearts as they have moved on.  The Arc is a story of thousands of lives being told, lived, entwined within the fabric of our community; filled with laughter, tears, triumphs, stumbles, advocacy, perseverance and becoming ever richer as each year passes.  Congratulations to The Arc and a special thank you to each of you and Indian River County for 50 years and a very bright future.

Thank you Ocean Grill and
the Replogle family for the
40th Ocean Grill Night to benefit The Arc of IRC!

The Arc at work and play
Special thanks to Verticlebridge and the Corvette Club 
for making our days educational and FUN!

In Indian River County alone, more than 3,000 families are impacted by
special needs such as down’s syndrome,cerebral palsy, autism and other
developmental and traumatic brain disabilities. 
 

Overview of The Arc
 
Annual Budget: $4.5 Million ~ Number of Employees:  75
 
Individuals Served: 200+ Special Needs individuals affected by
intellectual, developmental, emotional or traumatic brain disabilities.
 
Six Residential Group Homes: This 24 hour supervised program teaches the skills needed to live independently. These skills include: meal planning & preparation, laundry, self care etc..
 
Adult Day Training:  ADT provides training in areas of work preparation, daily skills & vocational preparation, behavioral intervention, social skills & community activities. 
 
Behavioral Services: Personalized Behavior & Treatment plans,
Crisis Management Training, Tools Training.
 
Supported Employment: Assistance with finding a job, job applications,
interview process, and on the job employment coach.
 
Supported Living: Assistance to people who live in their own home with
shopping, banking, money management and medical appointments.
 
Transportation: 21 vehicles provide door to door transportation.
 
Youth Employment Transition: Curriculum for ages 15 to 21.
20 hour class, community on the job training/internship.
 

Thank you Ocean Grill (Charley & Mary Replogle) and Vero Beach Polo Club (Gaston) for giving the residents of The Arc a special day watching the Ocean Grill Polo match. No horsing around, the residents had a fabulous time!

Thank you First Methodist Church of Vero Beach for hosting the 4th Annual Brunch and Bingo for the individuals at The Arc. 
As always, a great time was had by all!

Time to clean up!
Kiwanis/Youth in Action and The Arc
Beautifying the West Campus

Below are just a few of the fun things we did in 2024

The Arc's Annual Halloween Party


  Do you know of a business or club that would like to host a fun event for our friends?   If so, contact Noreen at 772.584.9511 or email [email protected]. We only have event openings for a few months left, so call now!

        We empower our special needs community.
Trusted, we provide the personal care, resources, programs, educational curriculum,
wheel chair accessible transportation, services and individualized support which only
The Arc of Indian River can do!

Call us today and let us know how we can serve you. 772.562.6854