Who We Are
Today, The Arc Central Chesapeake Region is one of the region's most dynamic enterprises, responding in real-time to the vast, varied needs of the communities we serve across Maryland.
The Arc Central Chesapeake Region was founded in 1961 by parents who wanted their children with intellectual and developmental disabilities to have the same rights and opportunities as any other community member. More than six decades later, The Arc continues to be a leader and change-maker throughout the region dedicated to building the services people tell us they want and need while removing the barriers people face in accessing their communities. We don’t wait for others to take action—we believe it is our responsibility to meet people where they are, address the overlapping needs of our communities, and make a profound impact on people’s lives.
We continue to lead the way in innovating services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The Arc’s growth throughout our history is fueled by the urgency of our mission and supporting our communities where no one else is. We are providing–and often creating–the services people tell us they need in order to live the lives they choose for themselves. Whether that’s revolutionizing what quality mental healthcare can look like for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities or reimagining what holistic, person-centered support looks like in community-based services, being at the cutting edge of what’s possible in our communities is the driving force that keeps our enterprise thriving today.
We are committed to building inclusive communities that welcome everyone.
The Arc’s mission is a powerful declaration of commitment to advocacy, empowerment, and the creation of inclusive communities. People with intellectual and developmental disabilities cannot be an authentic part of the community if they live apart from it. Our enterprise serves the community more effectively by creating shared spaces that tackle the significant issues and systemic challenges that prevent communities from being diverse, equitable, and accessible. Together, The Arc, Chesapeake Neighbors, and Chesapeake Community Development are creating more opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live, work, connect, and receive the services they need to be successful in the community.
We believe investing in our employees and our organizational culture is part of investing in the health of our communities.
We are able to achieve incredible things throughout our community because we have energetic, thoughtful leaders at every level of our organization who feel supported in their work. When passionate professionals feel a deep sense of inclusion and belonging in their workplace, they are able to support the people we serve and create innovative new initiatives from a place of security and empowerment. A major part of our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at The Arc is ensuring employees feel safe and secure bringing their whole selves to work. When we meet our employees’ needs, we are meeting our communities’ needs. When our employees are supported, their families and support systems are supported, and our communities become even healthier, stronger, and more resilient.
Today, The Arc is many things. We are an economic leader in the region, a service provider revolutionizing what high-quality services look and feel like, a compassionate and inclusive employer that sees the value and potential in all our employees, and an entrepreneurial enterprise that tackles systemic community issues. Our strength is our ability to imagine new initiatives, possibilities, and futures for the communities around us.
1,778
Number of opportunities created through Arc-facilitated services.
2,282
People supported through Self-Directed Services.
163
People with disability & mental health diagnoses receiving tailored mental healthcare.
$9 Million
Paid to the 6,500 employees of Self-Directed Services Participants every pay period.
1.2M Miles
Driven by The Arc's fleet to provide community-based services (50X around the globe!)
600+
Number of employees across The Arc's enterprise.
4
Consecutive years without raising healthcare costs for employees while improving our Total Rewards (benefits) package.
87%
Percent of employees that believe The Arc is inclusive of people with diverse identities and backgrounds other than people with disabilities.
2X
Direct Support Professional wages have been doubled since 2017 from $9.88/hr to $20.00/hr.
17
Years Chesapeake Neighbors has been creating…
100
New units throughout the community by 2025.
140
Leaseholders, 95% of whom fall into the very low to low income category.
4
Mixed-income developments underway that offer a combination of market-rate and affordable units, creating inclusive housing opportunities for everyone.
100%
Percent of the units are regularly assessed for energy efficiency and solar capability.
4
Projects currently under development in Talbot County
180+
Units actively under development
373,450
Square feet currently under development
$70m+
Anticipated spend on construction
Our Core Values
We see the whole person, celebrate our differences, and offer the people we serve and our team opportunities tailored to them.
Fueled by the urgency of our mission, we continually push for better and more innovative approaches.
We are creative, resourceful, and have a “get it done” approach to overcoming challenges.
We value the different identities and experiences of the people and communities we work with, and we build respectful relationships to meet them where they are.
Where We Work
The Arc Central Chesapeake Region is a dynamic regional organization supporting more than 3,000 people statewide. Founded in Anne Arundel County in 1961, The Arc supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Anne Arundel, Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Talbot, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester counties and provides self-directed services to participants across the state of Maryland.
Our Team
At The Arc, we believe every employee here makes mission-critical decisions every day which enrich the lives of the people we support, improve our operations, and maintain our reputation for innovation and improvement.
The Arc is a high-impact place with leaders at every level of the organization. We are a community of passionate professionals dedicated to supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live self-determined lives, innovating services, and creating more equitable and inclusive communities.
Support The Arc
We need your help to create real change in our community.
When you give to The Arc, you become part of a movement that creates greater equity and access and finds innovative approaches to solving the most pressing community needs. Your gift gets us all one step closer to living in the fully inclusive communities we need and deserve by supporting two critical initiatives: Children, Youth, & Their Families services and innovation.
Recent News
January 16, 2025
Jonathon Rondeau Joins Waterfowl Festival Board to Advocate for Inclusion and Accessibility
January 15, 2025
Jonathon Rondeau Speaks on Housing and Community Development Panel about The Rise of YIMBYism
