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How Do I Navigate through the Maze of Services?

How Do I Navigate through the Maze of Services?

The Arc provides navigation services to connect people to available resources and offers a variety of programs such as respite care, family support, and individual empowerment.  Clinically-trained Support Coordinators facilitate a monthly Parents’ Day Out, Sibshops, Self-Advocacy, and Hispanic Outreach Support Group.  These supports are available to all community members.
In addition, Support Coordinators provide individualized assistance to inform people of resources they might be eligible to access.  Several resources have waiting lists or are time-sensitive, so knowledgeable navigation is helpful at various stages on one’s journey.
The Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) is a funding source for home, employment, and community services for people with developmental disabilities.  Applicants must be found eligible for services and are frequently put on a waiting list to access full services.  It is important to be identified eligible as early as possible, so applying for this life-long support is highly encouraged.  Applicants can contact DDA directly at: 1 (888) 791-0193.  The Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) is a separate, employment-specific support that is often blended with DDA.  DORS can be reached at: (240) 629-7581.
The Autism Waiver provides individual support, family training, respite care, and other services to qualifying Maryland students with autism.  While this support is at capacity, securing a position on the Waiting List Registry to apply is critical.  Families can put their child on the registry by calling 1 (866) 417-3480.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) can provide Supplement Security Income (SSI) for eligible families based on income.  Most adults with developmental disabilities will be eligible for SSI upon their eighteenth birthday, however maintaining assets in ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) accounts and monitoring other income and savings limits is important.  Advanced planning will limit complications with accessing this monthly cash and insurance benefit.  Support Coordinators can provide guidance in preparation for contacting SSA at 1 (888) 772-1213.
Futures Planning is provided by trained Support Coordinators to assist with referrals to create Wills and Special Needs Trusts; provide information on Alternatives to Guardianship; and help families prepare Letters of Intent to pass the torch to the next caregiver.

Disability-specific resources are frequently leveraged with housing, financial, and community services to maximize benefits while safely supporting people in their communities.  Contact The Arc at (301) 663-0909 for helpful assistance!

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Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy

PRIVACY POLICY General Statement Thank you for visiting The Arc of Frederick County’s website. Your privacy is very important to us. The information we collect about you (member) when you become a member, donor, or constituent, is used to process your membership, donation, or request for information and referral, and to provide you member benefits. This privacy statement applies to The Arc of Frederick County’s website only. Links to other websites and to services hosted by other companies can be accessed from our site. Please be advised that the privacy policy on these other sites may differ from our own privacy policy. Information Collection We do not collect personal information automatically on people who browse our website. We log your IP address, your browser type, and your access times. We utilize this information to conduct site performance evaluations, to see where visitors are coming from, and to keep track of page “hits”. This data helps us determine what content our members find most appealing so that we can maximize your usage of this site. This is recorded for internal website management only. When you become a member of The Arc, we ask you to fill out a form that requests (or we otherwise seek to collect) your name, address and email address, and telephone. Some of our services do require personal information from the user. If you contact The Arc of Frederick County with a request or question, we may ask for your name, address, email address, and phone number to provide you with the requested information or response. This information is supplied by the user, with the user’s consent and awareness, for purposes that are clearly described to the user at the time the information is requested. Use of Information Your name and address information is used solely to process your membership, donation, or request for information and referral. As noted in our Donations Policy, The Arc of Frederick County does not share our donor lists with outside organizations, with the exception of The Arc of the United States and The Arc of Maryland. Donors may request that their names not be shared with these two organizations. To do so, please send your contact information to info@arcfc.org or by telephone 301-663-0909 x133. Communication From time to time, we may send out email messages or postal mail soliciting your support, prompting a call to action, or alerting you of what’s new at The Arc of Frederick County. In addition, you may receive communications from us if you have contacted us for a particular reason, and/or to receive the information or service you have requested. All email communications from us will contain instructions for unsubscribing from future emails. Copyright Information All materials published on this website are protected by copyright. Materials that are copyrighted (including text, brochures, and photographs) may not be reproduced, retransmitted, or distributed without the written consent of the Executive Director of The Arc of Frederick County. If permission is granted to reproduce materials from this site, we ask that credit be given to The Arc of Frederick County. If you would like permission to reproduce an item from this website, please contact info@arcfc.org. Please specify the URL and article or feature that you would like permission to reproduce. Note: website visitors may print our Fact Sheets and other brochures for personal use. File Security All employees of The Arc of Frederick County take your personal information very seriously. All employees must learn and obey our security policies. Access to members’ personal information is limited to key management personnel and our member and donor services departments. The information is ID and password protected. Your Consent By becoming a member, donor, or constituent of The Arc of Frederick County, and/or by using our website, you consent to the collection and use of the information you provide to us as described above. If we make any material changes in our privacy practices in how we use your personally identifiable information, we will post a prominent notice in our bimonthly newsletter, The Link, and on our website prior to implementation of the change. Contact Us If you have any questions about this privacy statement, the practices of this site, would like to review your personal information, or feel that this site is not following its stated information policy, please contact us at info@arcfc.org or 301-663-0909 x116.
Terms & Conditions

Terms & Conditions

In the course of its regular fundraising activities, The Arc of Frederick County will accept donations of the following: money, securities, real property, and personal property. The Arc of Frederick County may elect to refuse gifts of cash, securities, real estate, or other items of value if there is reason to believe that such gifts are incompatible with the mission of the organization, conflict with its core values, or would create a financial, administrative, or programmatic burden. The Executive Director will refer questionable gifts to the Board of Directors for guidance on a case-by-case basis. Arc staff are encouraged to bring to the attention of the Executive Director any concerns they may have about the appropriateness of accepting any gift. The Arc of Frederick County may elect to refuse gifts of any type if the potential gift poses a conflict of interest -- including but not limited to real conflicts of interest, appearances of conflicts of interest, or perceived conflicts of interest. When donations are accepted with restrictions, those conditions will be honored. If The Arc of Frederick County cannot meet those conditions, staff will ask the Board of Directors for guidance about returning the donation or requesting modifications in the donor's conditions. Requests by donors to remain anonymous, have their names removed from mailing lists, or to restrict appeals will be honored. Information about donors that should be private will not be made public. Donors will not be subject to excessive pressure when solicited for contributions. The Arc of Frederick County does not share our donor lists with outside organizations, with the exception of The Arc of the United States and The Arc of Maryland. Donors may request that their names not be shared with these two organizations. The Arc of Frederick County does not hire outside fundraisers or pay fundraisers on a percentage basis. Volunteers who solicit contributions for The Arc of Frederick County will be monitored by the Board of Directors.

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