Episodes

  • Northeast Arc at 70 — Growth Across the Decades (Jerry McCarthy)

    Northeast Arc at 70 — Growth Across the Decades (Jerry McCarthy)
    Sep 6 2024

    When Jerry McCarthy arrived at Northeast Arc in 1979, the organization was supporting just a couple of hundred individuals in 19 communities. By the time he retired 36 years later, the agency was supporting more than 10,000 people in 200 communities. In this interview, McCarthy reflects on that growth — highlighting what it took and the challenges along the way.

    About Northeast Arc

    Northeast Arc was founded in 1954 by parents of children with developmental disabilities who wanted to raise their sons and daughters as full members of the community. By having the courage to challenge professionals who told them their children could not be educated and would not live to become adults, these parents created the systems that enabled them to attend public schools, develop friendships, reside in the neighborhoods of their choice and to earn a paycheck. Over the years, our programs have expanded to support children and adults with a broader range of disabilities, including autism and physical disabilities. Today we serve thousands of people in nearly 200 cities and towns across Massachusetts. The goal of the Northeast Arc is to ensure that children and adults with disabilities are able to live, work, engage in civic life and play in the community. We work toward that goal by offering a wide variety of programs including Autism Services, Day Habilitation, Deaf Services, Early Intervention, Employment Services, Family Support, Personal Care Assistance, Recreation, Residential and Transition Services. Northeast Arc is overseen by a volunteer Board of Directors composed of individuals with disabilities, parents and siblings of people with disabilities, and business and community leaders.

    Learn more at ne-arc.org.

    Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NortheastArc

    Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northeastarc/

    Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NortheastArc

    Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/northeast-arc
    Show More Show Less
    47 mins
  • Northeast Arc at 70 – Pioneers Then & Now (Jackson Skane)

    Northeast Arc at 70 – Pioneers Then & Now (Jackson Skane)
    Apr 8 2024

    This year, Northeast Arc is celebrating 70 years of changing lives and discovering abilities. And to celebrate that anniversary we are speaking to the agency’s early leaders who helped pave the way for the work we do.

    Our organization was founded by people who challenged the status quo for people with disabilities and pushed for inclusion in all facets of life.

    In this episode, you'll hear from Jackson Skane, a youth ambassador to our Board of Directors, a passionate Autism Advocate, and an important voice as we shape our organization’s future. Jackson will explain how Northeast Arc helped him find acceptance and inclusion, and how he wants to use his experiences to help other kids with unique abilities.

    About Northeast Arc

    Northeast Arc was founded in 1954 by parents of children with developmental disabilities who wanted to raise their sons and daughters as full members of the community. By having the courage to challenge professionals who told them their children could not be educated and would not live to become adults, these parents created the systems that enabled them to attend public schools, develop friendships, reside in the neighborhoods of their choice and to earn a paycheck. Over the years, our programs have expanded to support children and adults with a broader range of disabilities, including autism and physical disabilities. Today we serve thousands of people in nearly 200 cities and towns across Massachusetts. The goal of the Northeast Arc is to ensure that children and adults with disabilities are able to live, work, engage in civic life and play in the community. We work toward that goal by offering a wide variety of programs including Autism Services, Day Habilitation, Deaf Services, Early Intervention, Employment Services, Family Support, Personal Care Assistance, Recreation, Residential and Transition Services. Northeast Arc is overseen by a volunteer Board of Directors composed of individuals with disabilities, parents and siblings of people with disabilities, and business and community leaders.

    Learn more at ne-arc.org.

    Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NortheastArc

    Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northeastarc/

    Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NortheastArc

    Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/northeast-arc
    Show More Show Less
    17 mins
  • Northeast Arc at 70 – Pioneers Then & Now (Robert Herlich)

    Northeast Arc at 70 – Pioneers Then & Now (Robert Herlich)
    Mar 14 2024

    This year, Northeast Arc is celebrating 70 years of changing lives and discovering abilities. And to celebrate that anniversary we are speaking to the agency’s early leaders who helped pave the way for the work we do.

    Our organization was founded by people who challenged the status quo for people with disabilities and pushed for inclusion in all facets of life.

    In this episode you'll hear from Robert Herlich, who has been involved in NeArc programs for half a century, served on the Board of Directors for 14 of those years and was an early leader in the self-advocacy movement in Massachusetts. Robert played an instrumental role in removing the "R-word" from the Massachusetts agency that eventually became the Department of Developmental Services. Please note: This episode does include a few mentions of the "R-word" in the context of the renaming discussion.

    About Northeast Arc

    Northeast Arc was founded in 1954 by parents of children with developmental disabilities who wanted to raise their sons and daughters as full members of the community. By having the courage to challenge professionals who told them their children could not be educated and would not live to become adults, these parents created the systems that enabled them to attend public schools, develop friendships, reside in the neighborhoods of their choice and to earn a paycheck. Over the years, our programs have expanded to support children and adults with a broader range of disabilities, including autism and physical disabilities. Today we serve thousands of people in nearly 200 cities and towns across Massachusetts. The goal of the Northeast Arc is to ensure that children and adults with disabilities are able to live, work, engage in civic life and play in the community. We work toward that goal by offering a wide variety of programs including Autism Services, Day Habilitation, Deaf Services, Early Intervention, Employment Services, Family Support, Personal Care Assistance, Recreation, Residential and Transition Services. Northeast Arc is overseen by a volunteer Board of Directors composed of individuals with disabilities, parents and siblings of people with disabilities, and business and community leaders.

    Learn more at ne-arc.org.

    Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NortheastArc

    Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northeastarc/

    Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NortheastArc

    Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/northeast-arc
    Show More Show Less
    12 mins
  • Northeast Arc at 70 – Pioneers Then & Now (Mike Goodstein)

    Northeast Arc at 70 – Pioneers Then & Now (Mike Goodstein)
    Jan 31 2024

    This year, Northeast Arc is celebrating 70 years of changing lives and discovering abilities. And to celebrate that anniversary we are speaking to the agency’s early leaders who helped pave the way for the work we do.

    Our organization was founded by people who challenged the status quo for people with disabilities and pushed for inclusion in all facets of life.

    In this episode, we're joined by one of those early leaders, Mike Goodstein, who served as the long-time treasurer of our organization, when it was known as the North Shore Arc.

    About Northeast Arc

    Northeast Arc was founded in 1954 by parents of children with developmental disabilities who wanted to raise their sons and daughters as full members of the community. By having the courage to challenge professionals who told them their children could not be educated and would not live to become adults, these parents created the systems that enabled them to attend public schools, develop friendships, reside in the neighborhoods of their choice and to earn a paycheck. Over the years, our programs have expanded to support children and adults with a broader range of disabilities, including autism and physical disabilities. Today we serve thousands of people in nearly 200 cities and towns across Massachusetts. The goal of the Northeast Arc is to ensure that children and adults with disabilities are able to live, work, engage in civic life and play in the community. We work toward that goal by offering a wide variety of programs including Autism Services, Day Habilitation, Deaf Services, Early Intervention, Employment Services, Family Support, Personal Care Assistance, Recreation, Residential and Transition Services. Northeast Arc is overseen by a volunteer Board of Directors composed of individuals with disabilities, parents and siblings of people with disabilities, and business and community leaders.

    Learn more at ne-arc.org.

    Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NortheastArc

    Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northeastarc/

    Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NortheastArc

    Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/northeast-arc
    Show More Show Less
    20 mins
  • The Power of Film to Promote Inclusion: Dan Habib

    The Power of Film to Promote Inclusion: Dan Habib
    Jul 20 2023
    Dan Habib is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and is currently director of the Inclusive Communities Project at the Westchester Institute for Human Development. Dan's films include Who Cares About Kelsey?, Including Samuel, Intelligent Lives, and his most recent film, My Disability Roadmap, which Dan produced along with his son Samuel, who experiences cerebral palsy and epilepsy due to a rare genetic disorder called GNA01 neurodevelopmental disorder. About Northeast ArcNortheast Arc was founded in 1954 by parents of children with developmental disabilities who wanted to raise their sons and daughters as full members of the community. By having the courage to challenge professionals who told them their children could not be educated and would not live to become adults, these parents created the systems that enabled them to attend public schools, develop friendships, reside in the neighborhoods of their choice and to earn a paycheck. Over the years, our programs have expanded to support children and adults with a broader range of disabilities, including autism and physical disabilities. Today we serve thousands of people in nearly 190 cities and towns across Massachusetts. The goal of the Northeast Arc is to ensure that children and adults with disabilities are able to live, work, engage in civic life and play in the community. We work toward that goal by offering a wide variety of programs including Autism Services, Day Habilitation, Deaf Services, Early Intervention, Employment Services, Family Support, Personal Care Assistance, Recreation, Residential and Transition Services. Northeast Arc is overseen by a volunteer Board of Directors composed of individuals with disabilities, parents and siblings of people with disabilities, and business and community leaders. Programs are operated by a professional staff led by a Chief Executive Officer with 35 years of experience at the helm of the organization, and are supported by a large volunteer corps. Learn more at ne-arc.org.Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NortheastArc Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northeastarc/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NortheastArc Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/northeast-arc About Northeast ArcNortheast Arc was founded in 1954 by parents of children with developmental disabilities who wanted to raise their sons and daughters as full members of the community. By having the courage to challenge professionals who told them their children could not be educated and would not live to become adults, these parents created the systems that enabled them to attend public schools, develop friendships, reside in the neighborhoods of their choice and to earn a paycheck. Over the years, our programs have expanded to support children and adults with a broader range of disabilities, including autism and physical disabilities. Today we serve thousands of people in nearly 200 cities and towns across Massachusetts. The goal of the Northeast Arc is to ensure that children and adults with disabilities are able to live, work, engage in civic life and play in the community. We work toward that goal by offering a wide variety of programs including Autism Services, Day Habilitation, Deaf Services, Early Intervention, Employment Services, Family Support, Personal Care Assistance, Recreation, Residential and Transition Services. Northeast Arc is overseen by a volunteer Board of Directors composed of individuals with disabilities, parents and siblings of people with disabilities, and business and community leaders. Learn more at ne-arc.org. Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NortheastArc Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northeastarc/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NortheastArc Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/northeast-arc
    Show More Show Less
    31 mins
  • Forget Me Not: Fighting for Inclusive Education

    Forget Me Not: Fighting for Inclusive Education
    Apr 27 2023
    New York City is the most segregated school system in the country for students with disabilities. The documentary "Forget Me Not" shines a light on this system and the battles many parents fight to get an inclusive education for their children. The film, released in 2021, follows parents and filmmakers Olivier and Hilda Bernier after their son, Emilio, is diagnosed with Down syndrome and they find themeslves fighting for his right to be educated alongside his peers. The documentary shows the impact of New York City’s segregated education system and recounts the harmful legacy of institutionalization, but also highlights models of inclusive education.Watch the film's trailerSchedule a community screening of the filmAbout Northeast ArcNortheast Arc was founded in 1954 by parents of children with developmental disabilities who wanted to raise their sons and daughters as full members of the community. By having the courage to challenge professionals who told them their children could not be educated and would not live to become adults, these parents created the systems that enabled them to attend public schools, develop friendships, reside in the neighborhoods of their choice and to earn a paycheck. Over the years, our programs have expanded to support children and adults with a broader range of disabilities, including autism and physical disabilities. Today we serve thousands of people in nearly 190 cities and towns across Massachusetts. The goal of the Northeast Arc is to ensure that children and adults with disabilities are able to live, work, engage in civic life and play in the community. We work toward that goal by offering a wide variety of programs including Autism Services, Day Habilitation, Deaf Services, Early Intervention, Employment Services, Family Support, Personal Care Assistance, Recreation, Residential and Transition Services. Northeast Arc is overseen by a volunteer Board of Directors composed of individuals with disabilities, parents and siblings of people with disabilities, and business and community leaders. Programs are operated by a professional staff led by a Chief Executive Officer with 35 years of experience at the helm of the organization, and are supported by a large volunteer corps. Learn more at ne-arc.org.Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NortheastArc Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northeastarc/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NortheastArc Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/northeast-arc About Northeast ArcNortheast Arc was founded in 1954 by parents of children with developmental disabilities who wanted to raise their sons and daughters as full members of the community. By having the courage to challenge professionals who told them their children could not be educated and would not live to become adults, these parents created the systems that enabled them to attend public schools, develop friendships, reside in the neighborhoods of their choice and to earn a paycheck. Over the years, our programs have expanded to support children and adults with a broader range of disabilities, including autism and physical disabilities. Today we serve thousands of people in nearly 200 cities and towns across Massachusetts. The goal of the Northeast Arc is to ensure that children and adults with disabilities are able to live, work, engage in civic life and play in the community. We work toward that goal by offering a wide variety of programs including Autism Services, Day Habilitation, Deaf Services, Early Intervention, Employment Services, Family Support, Personal Care Assistance, Recreation, Residential and Transition Services. Northeast Arc is overseen by a volunteer Board of Directors composed of individuals with disabilities, parents and siblings of people with disabilities, and business and community leaders. Learn more at ne-arc.org. Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NortheastArc Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northeastarc/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NortheastArc Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/northeast-arc
    Show More Show Less
    31 mins
  • Representation Matters: Emily Perl Kingsley

    Representation Matters: Emily Perl Kingsley
    Mar 20 2023
    In this week's episode Emmy-award winning writer Emily Perl Kingsley shares insights from her decades-long career as a writer on Sesame Street. After Emily's son, Jason, was born with Down syndrome in 1974, she pushed to make the show more inclusive, producing a variety of episodes focusing on a range of disabilities. Emily has written more than 20 children's books. And in 1987, Emily wrote the widely read essay, Welcome to Holland, which compares the experience of finding out their child has a disability to having a trip to Italy rerouted to Holland. That essay has been reprinted tens of thousands of times throughout the world, translated into multiple languages, and has inspired millions of families with hope that they would have the same kinds of opportunities and experiences.About Northeast ArcNortheast Arc was founded in 1954 by parents of children with developmental disabilities who wanted to raise their sons and daughters as full members of the community. By having the courage to challenge professionals who told them their children could not be educated and would not live to become adults, these parents created the systems that enabled them to attend public schools, develop friendships, reside in the neighborhoods of their choice and to earn a paycheck. Over the years, our programs have expanded to support children and adults with a broader range of disabilities, including autism and physical disabilities. Today we serve thousands of people in nearly 190 cities and towns across Massachusetts. The goal of the Northeast Arc is to ensure that children and adults with disabilities are able to live, work, engage in civic life and play in the community. We work toward that goal by offering a wide variety of programs including Autism Services, Day Habilitation, Deaf Services, Early Intervention, Employment Services, Family Support, Personal Care Assistance, Recreation, Residential and Transition Services. Northeast Arc is overseen by a volunteer Board of Directors composed of individuals with disabilities, parents and siblings of people with disabilities, and business and community leaders. Programs are operated by a professional staff led by a Chief Executive Officer with 35 years of experience at the helm of the organization, and are supported by a large volunteer corps. Learn more at ne-arc.org.Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NortheastArc Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northeastarc/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NortheastArc Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/northeast-arc About Northeast ArcNortheast Arc was founded in 1954 by parents of children with developmental disabilities who wanted to raise their sons and daughters as full members of the community. By having the courage to challenge professionals who told them their children could not be educated and would not live to become adults, these parents created the systems that enabled them to attend public schools, develop friendships, reside in the neighborhoods of their choice and to earn a paycheck. Over the years, our programs have expanded to support children and adults with a broader range of disabilities, including autism and physical disabilities. Today we serve thousands of people in nearly 200 cities and towns across Massachusetts. The goal of the Northeast Arc is to ensure that children and adults with disabilities are able to live, work, engage in civic life and play in the community. We work toward that goal by offering a wide variety of programs including Autism Services, Day Habilitation, Deaf Services, Early Intervention, Employment Services, Family Support, Personal Care Assistance, Recreation, Residential and Transition Services. Northeast Arc is overseen by a volunteer Board of Directors composed of individuals with disabilities, parents and siblings of people with disabilities, and business and community leaders. Learn more at ne-arc.org. Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NortheastArc Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northeastarc/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NortheastArc Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/northeast-arc
    Show More Show Less
    29 mins
  • Community Inclusion: Steven Eidelman

    Community Inclusion: Steven Eidelman
    Feb 16 2023
    Steven Eidelman says that we've undersold what people with intellectual disabilities are capable of doing. In this conversation he explains how we achieve the goal of making sure people with disabilities are fully included in our communities.Steven is the H. Rodney Sharp Professor of Human Services Policy and Leadership at the University of Delaware. In this role, he focuses on community based and inclusive supports to people with intellectual disabilities and their families, development of leadership in the intellectual and developmental disabilities field, and research on international policy and practice, particularly in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.Prior to joining the University of Delaware, Steven served as executive director of the Arc of the United States. He is past president of the American Association on intellectual and developmental disabilities, and has twice been honored with the organization's Leadership Award. Steve is also executive director of the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation. About Northeast ArcNortheast Arc was founded in 1954 by parents of children with developmental disabilities who wanted to raise their sons and daughters as full members of the community. By having the courage to challenge professionals who told them their children could not be educated and would not live to become adults, these parents created the systems that enabled them to attend public schools, develop friendships, reside in the neighborhoods of their choice and to earn a paycheck. Over the years, our programs have expanded to support children and adults with a broader range of disabilities, including autism and physical disabilities. Today we serve thousands of people in nearly 190 cities and towns across Massachusetts. The goal of the Northeast Arc is to ensure that children and adults with disabilities are able to live, work, engage in civic life and play in the community. We work toward that goal by offering a wide variety of programs including Autism Services, Day Habilitation, Deaf Services, Early Intervention, Employment Services, Family Support, Personal Care Assistance, Recreation, Residential and Transition Services. Northeast Arc is overseen by a volunteer Board of Directors composed of individuals with disabilities, parents and siblings of people with disabilities, and business and community leaders. Programs are operated by a professional staff led by a Chief Executive Officer with 35 years of experience at the helm of the organization, and are supported by a large volunteer corps. Learn more at ne-arc.org.Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NortheastArc Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northeastarc/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NortheastArc Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/northeast-arc About Northeast ArcNortheast Arc was founded in 1954 by parents of children with developmental disabilities who wanted to raise their sons and daughters as full members of the community. By having the courage to challenge professionals who told them their children could not be educated and would not live to become adults, these parents created the systems that enabled them to attend public schools, develop friendships, reside in the neighborhoods of their choice and to earn a paycheck. Over the years, our programs have expanded to support children and adults with a broader range of disabilities, including autism and physical disabilities. Today we serve thousands of people in nearly 200 cities and towns across Massachusetts. The goal of the Northeast Arc is to ensure that children and adults with disabilities are able to live, work, engage in civic life and play in the community. We work toward that goal by offering a wide variety of programs including Autism Services, Day Habilitation, Deaf Services, Early Intervention, Employment Services, Family Support, Personal Care Assistance, Recreation, Residential and Transition Services. Northeast Arc is overseen by a volunteer Board of Directors composed of individuals with disabilities, parents and siblings of people with disabilities, and business and community leaders. Learn more at ne-arc.org. Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NortheastArc Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northeastarc/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NortheastArc Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/northeast-arc
    Show More Show Less
    24 mins