Who We Are
Our vision is a world where people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are treated with dignity and respect and have equal opportunities to live, learn, work socialize and participate in their home communities. The Arc of Minnesota Southwest is a regional chapter of the Arc of Minnesota. The Arc is a nationwide organization made up of parents, volunteers and professionals working to enrich the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Founded by parents in 1946, The Arc is the largest grassroots organization of its kind in the country. The Arc was founded by Minnesota parents more than 50 years ago as the Association for Retarded Children. In 1989, The Arc changed it?s name in recognition that people of many kinds of developmental disabilities, including autism spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, epilepsy and Down Syndrome, are served by The Arc. As a result of The Arc?s efforts, people with developmental disabilities now have more opportunities to live, learn, work, socialize and participate in their home communities.
What We Do
The Arc of Minnesota Southwest provides services to 17 counties in Southern Minnesota, including Blue Earth, Brown, Cottonwood, Faribault, Jackson, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Rock, Watonwan, and Yellow Medicine counties. The Arc was founded by Minnnesota parents more than 50 years ago as the Association for Retarded Children. In 1989, The Arc changed it?s name in recognition that people of many kinds of developmental disabilities. The Arc of Minnesota Southwest was formed in the late 1990s, when several small county chapters in Southern Minnesota joined together to pool resources. Counties continued to join the organization, and now we encompass 17 counties providing a variety of services.
