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

All Things Disability

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. 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.

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