In 2016, Comcast NBCUniversal provided The Arc Southern Maryland with a generous donation to allow us to establish a digital literacy lab. The funds supported the purchase of computers, desks, chairs, and learning materials. The lab has allowed The Arc Southern Maryland to become a Tech Coaching Center, with a curriculum that will help teach individuals with IDD about technology and how to incorporate it into their everyday lives. Skills learned will promote success for people with IDD both personally and professionally.

Through our partnership with Maryland Works & The Maryland DD Council, The Arc Southern Maryland has started our Transforming & Improving Practices (TIP) Program, which will focus on individuals receiving facility-based supports, turning their interests and strengths into community-based opportunities, including volunteering and employment.

The William S. Abell Foundation has awarded a grant to The Arc Southern Maryland which has allowed us to create our Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) and will continue to support the program over the course of 4 years. Our Pre-ETS will provide students, age 14-21, with the tools they need to transition from high school to employment or post-secondary education.

In 2017, Google provided the opportunity for The Arc Southern Maryland to run text ads on Google Search results with $10,000 of in-kind advertising every month.

In 2016, Dominion awarded a grant to The Arc Southern Maryland to help provide “Shelter in Place” emergency supplies that would sustain the individuals and staff at all of our residential sites for up to three days during events such as flooding, hurricanes, power outage, etc. Supplies included Meals Ready to Eat (MREs), water, hand-crank radios, and hand-crank food processors for the homes with individuals requiring a special diet of pureed food.

The Arc Southern Maryland is affiliated at the national level with The Arc of the United States, whose mission is to promote and protect the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively support their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.

The Arc Southern Maryland is affiliated at the state level with The Arc Maryland, whose mission is to create a world where children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have and enjoy equal rights and opportunities.