The Arc of Southeast Iowa was founded in 1957 by a group of parents and professionals interested in the welfare of individuals with disabilities. We offer direct, support programs to individuals with disabilities. Our organization has been involved in the legislative process, providing informational classes, increasing public awareness and much more.

Throughout our sixty-year history, The Arc has been instrumental in identifying missing services for people with disabilities. Our organization helps develop programs and services for clients and their families in our eight-county region.

Supporting Families

When waiver services became available in Iowa, legislators and professionals began to recognize the importance of helping families support their loved ones with disabilities at home. The Johnson County Department of Human Services received funding for waiver services. As part of the “new, integrated family plan,” these funds were transferred to The Arc to secure in-home services.

Name Change to The Arc

In the 1990s, The Arc grow and build on the groundwork set in the late 70s and early 80s. This began with a name change. ‘The ARC’ became ‘The Arc,’ which meant the agency stopped recognizing the acronym ARC or “Association of Retarded Citizens.” Instead, the organization took on a descriptive meaning for ‘The Arc’ – which representing a bridge in services.

Individual Care & Assistance

Other changes also rapidly occurred in the nineties: The Arc became a provider of Managed Care through the Medicaid Waiver Home and Community Based Services. Through these contracts The Arc provides:

  • Individual and Group Respite Care
  • Supported Community Living
  • Job Coaching
  • Job Placement
  • Consumer Directed Attendant Care
  • Intermittent Medical Monitoring and Treatment under waivers: The Health and Disability, the Brain Injury, Elderly and Physical Disability, and HIV/AIDs waivers

Expanding Services

Our services continued expansive growth and now are utilized more than ever before. Between 2005 and 2009, The Arc quadrupled its client base and now serves more than 500 families each year.

In addition to our Medicaid services, The Arc of Southeast Iowa actively listens to families who identify needs and creates programs to positively impact those who require assistance. Additional programs and services offered by The Arc include:

  • Sibship
  • Daycare/ Preschool
  • Summer Day Camps
  • Family fellowship
  • Information and Referral Services

The Arc has stated throughout its history that all individuals with disabilities have the right to a life that includes opportunities for integration, normalization and consumer choice. This belief has influenced The Arc’s direction and approach to service provision. The Arc’s dedication to this belief is demonstrated every day by the community-based services it nurtures and supports. In view of The Arc’s history, we look forward to a bright future.

To better reflect and recognize growing services in our eight-county service area, The Arc of Johnson County changed its name to The Arc of Southeast Iowa effective August 1, 2007. The Arc’s commitment and ties to Johnson County remain strong. Iowa City remains the home base for our administrative offices. We continue to serve a record number of individuals and families in the Johnson County and surrounding area.