History

History of The Arc of Calhoun and Cleburne Counties 1959 – present

  • 1959: The Arc established in Calhoun County as The Association for Retarded Children by local parents of children with mental retardation.
  • 1960: The Arc incorporated
  • 1960: 1978 Agency all volunteer. Volunteers worked at state level to help pass Act 106, which established special education in Alabama; gave scholarships so that local teachers could be certified in Special Education; established a private school for children with moderate mental retardation: subsequently transferred into Anniston school systems; created social events for children enrolled in the school; changed the name of the agency to the Association for Retarded Citizens.
  • 1978: Hired a part-time director (Nan T. Christian). Office located in director’s home.
  • 1978: Became a United Way Agency
  • 1978: Began association with the Knights of Columbus and the KofC Tootsie Roll Drive
  • 1979: Established a pilot program with the local Girl Scout Chapter to sponsor a troupe of girls with mental retardation.
  • 1980: Took over full sponsorship of the Calhoun County Special Olympics Program, began with the athletics (track and field events)
  • 1980: Began the “Stepping Out” recreational program for adults with mental retardation along with the Anniston Parks and Recreation Department
  • 1980: Held a “Read-O-lympics fundraiser
  • 1982: Established the local Mental Retardation Advisory Council
  • 1982: Started association with Scottish Rite Masons to provide shoes for children with mental retardation
  • 1982: 1984: Printed 26,000 bookcovers for distribution to local schools
  • 1983: Established a one-week summer camp for children classified as “TMR” or “trainable mentally retarded”
  • 1983: Expanded the Special Olympics Program to include swimming, basketball and bowling in cooperation with Anniston PARD and the YMCA (program has continued to expand through the years)
  • 1983: Moved office to 407 Noble Street in the (then) United Way building
  • 1984: Hired a part-time staff assistant
  • 1984: Day camp extended to two –week camp
  • 1985: Hired a part-time recreation aide and office manager
  • 1985: Moved office to Lyric Square
  • 1986: Held the first annual fashions show and awards banquet
  • 1986: Created the camp for children with multi-disabilities (Camp Sertoma), as an eight day camp
  • 1987: Camps become six-week day camps
  • 1987: Created first adult day camp with Anniston PARD (one week)
  • 1987: Held camp for “EMR” children (“educate able mentally retarded”)
  • 1988: 1989: EMR camps offered for 10 weeks
  • 1990: Arc-Way Employment Program established
  • 1991: First Arc-Way clients hired (adults with mental retardation)
  • 1991: Began local affiliation of The Kids on the Block international educational puppet program
  • 1992: Changed name to The Arc of Calhoun County
  • 1992: Hosted The Arc of Alabama State Convention
  • 1992: Held first Elks Language Summer Day Camp for students (Special Ed and regular Ed) who receive speech therapy services
  • 1993: Moved offices to 20 West 14th Street, Anniston
  • 1993: Arc-Way programs discontinued
  • 1994: Stated Preschool Day Camps for children ages 3 -5 with developmental delays
  • 1995: Started Service Coordination contract with the Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, hired first case worker (Jill Stewart)
  • 1996: Alabama Education Trust Funds received, hired first family advocate and full-time program assistant/puppeteer coordinator (Di Lemons, Pati Tiller)
  • 1996: Changed name to The Arc of Calhoun and Cleburne Counties
  • 1997: Joined the group of non-profit agencies, known as the Calhoun County Alliance of Social Service Agencies, to try to establish a therapeutic service community on former Fort McClellan property
  • 1998: Began a Sibshops Program for siblings of children with disabilities
  • 1998: Cooperated with the Department of Rehabilitation Services and the Opportunity Center on the implementation of the Milestones (Supported Employment) project in Calhoun County.
  • 2001: Helped in the formation of the Calhoun County Autism Support Group
  • 2003: Sent two athletes (Ashley Scheid and Tina Allen) and a staff member (Pati Tiller) to the first Special Olympics World Summer Games to ever be held outside of the U.S. (had previously sent athletes to World Games inside the U.S.)
  • 2004: Nan T. Christian, first director of The Arc of Calhoun and Cleburne Counties retires, January 30, 2004
  • 2004: Joanne Pope is hired as the second executive director of the agency
  • 2004: Prevocational Trainer (Cathy Benton) hired to work with adults on a part-time basis
  • 2005: Hosted a record 181 athletes from local school systems at 2005 Special Olympics Athletics Events at Jacksonville High School
  • 2005: Kids on the Block International recognizes longtime Arc KOB volunteer Raymond Ervin by naming a puppet in one if its new programs after him.
  • 2005: Secured a grant through the VSA-arts program to offer weekly art classes for adult clients.
  • 2006: Helped in the formation of the Sharing the Care Respite Program for caregivers of people with disabilities or long-term illnesses.
  • 2006: Created Camp Spectra, a summer day camp for school students with autism. The camp takes the place of the annual Preschool Camp and serves 11 children.
  • 2006: Joanne Pope resigns as Executive Director after three years in the position. She works until January 15, 2007, through the transition of her successor.
  • 2007: Brenda Spurlin begins her job as The Arc’s third Executive Director on Jan. 3.
  • 2008: “Art Art” moves to the Arc offices at 20 W. 14th Street for classes, taught by Margaret McNaron. Artist Peg Tyler later takes over for Ms. McNaron.
  • 2008: Contract for Early Intervention Services awarded to UCP of East Central Alabama by AL Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation. Arc’s two EI staff members (Jenny Anderson and Kristy Souder) become UCP staffers as of Oct. 1.
  • 2009: As part of a cost cutting initiative, the board takes over the duties of Executive Director beginning October 1.
  • 2011: Following the retirement of longtime Family Advocate Janet Price at the last of February, Mindi Amberson is hired as the agency’s new Family Advocate in April.
  • 2011: The Arc relocates is offices from 20 West 14th Street to 401 Noble Street, Anniston in May.
  • 2011: Two local adult athletes, Raymond Ervin and Michelle Swain, win gold medals in their respective singles competitions in the bocce competition in the Special Olympics World Games in Athens, Greece. Ms. Swain also earns a silver medal in team competition. Mr. Ervin gets the fourth place spot in team competition. The Games take place in July. Mr. Ervin wins his gold on his 42 birthday. The team sings “Happy Birthday” to him while he is on the medal stand.
  • 2012: The Arc’s summer camps for children and adults continue to grow. For the first time the four children’s day camps take place at the Bynum Community Center. Camp Spectra, the day camp for children with autism, splits into two groups with older children meeting in Session I during June and younger children meeting in Session II in July. Also in July the Adult Camp hosts a record number (31) of campers ages 17 and above.
  • 2012: In June, Mindi Amberson begins weekly support groups for parents of children with developmental disabilities. These groups meet each Tuesday in Calhoun County and each Thursday in Cleburne County.
  • 2012: Karen Chappell Davis is hired as The Arc’s fourth Executive Director in September.
  • 2013: Dot Lovelidge retires in March after 21 years of service to The Arc. Betty Kelley is hired to assume the job of Administrative Assistant.
  • 2013: Tammy Moreno is hired as The Arc’s Family Advocate, taking over for Mindi Amberson.
  • 2013: The Arc expands its educational outreach when in the 2013 -2014 school year; staff members begin programs at two local schools. Tammy Moreno begins a weekly Wednesday self-esteem program for at-risk students of Wellborn Elementary School while Pati Tiller instructs students in the self-contained unit of the Anniston Middle School each Tuesday morning as part of the Public Education Foundation of Anniston’s “Class Act” program.
  • 2014: The Arc of Calhoun and Cleburne Counties holds its first “Day Out for Awareness” event in Anniston’s Zinn Park on March 29. The event, part of The Arc of the U.S. observation of March as ID/DD Awareness Month, attracts some 162 people despite being held outdoors during periods of pouring rain. The event attracts national attention on Facebook.
  • 2014: Also in March, The Arc supports the organization of “Fit Friends”, a non-profit organization designed to promote the health and nutrition of adults with intellectual disabilities through instruction and exercise. Staff helps promote the program and attend the weekly Tuesday night meetings at the Oxford Civic Center. (The Arc board members vote to adopt “Fit Friends” as an official program of The Arc at their November meeting). Fit Friends is created and led by Oxford Special Education teacher Shannon Bridges.
  • 2014: In June, The Arc assists the City of Anniston’s Therapeutic Recreation Program in sending three local athletes to the Special Olympics National Games in Princeton New Jersey as part of the Special Olympics Alabama Delegation. Raymond Ervin and Eugene Johnson become a part of the State’s bocce team, each winning gold, silver and bronze medals. Bowler Mark Dugans, won a silver and a bronze medal as well as a fifth-place ribbon. Anniston Therapeutic Recreation Program Director Bernadette Mack Burroughs serves as a bowling coach for the state team.
  • 2014: October 2, staff members Tammy Moreno, Karen Davis and Pati Tiller attend the first meeting of the “Circle of Friends” support group for parents of children with disabilities. The monthly meetings, organized by Melonie Jones, are held at Leatherwood Baptist Church.
  • 2014: Consumer Melissa Akles’ artistic submission, a self-portrait entitled “I Am Not Afraid” is selected as the official artwork for the Alabama Disability Conference in Orange Beach the week of October 31. Akles joins The Arc’s staff and four board members in attending the conference, where she is officially recognized. Two Arc board members, Jerry York and Mark Dugans, receive The Arc of Alabama’s Volunteer of the Year and Citizenship Award (respectively) at the same conference.
  • 2015: Michael Abrams begins his term as Interim Executive Director of The Arc on January 5. He takes over for Karen Davis, who resigned after her husband accepted another job in South Alabama.
  • 2015: Tammy Moreno becomes the fifth Executive Director of The Arc on April 1, 2015.
  • 2015: Debra Harvey, retired from 35 years of employment as a teacher and (later) a transition specialist at AIDB’s Helen Keller School, joins the staff as Family Advocate on Spetember 1. Debra has previsouly spent several summers as director of The Arc’s preschool camp and camp for children with multiple disabilties.
  • 2015: League of Our Own: A representative from The Arc became a board member on the softball program for students with physical and intellectual disabilities. The Arc had been a founding member of the program when it began locally. Games are played on the LOOO Field, constructed by The City of Oxford on Recreation Drive.
  • 2015: In October, The Arc of Alabama presented the Arc Exemplary Educator award to board member, Shannon Bridges at the annual Alabama disAbility Conference in Orange Beach. Jon Holder presented the award.
  • 2016: In January, first meeting of People First, a national self-advocate group led by adults with I/DD organized a Calhoun and Cleburne county Chapter with the assistance of The Arc, Highland Heath Services and Jacksonville State University’s Lynetta Owens. Meetings are held the 3rd Friday of each month free of charge.
  • 2016: In March, a group from People First went to Montgomery to advocate on behalf of issues concerning people with I/DD.
  • 2016: In April, Long time Board Treasurer, Ron Drury, submitted his resignation effective at the end of the calendar year. He has faithfully served The Arc for 17 years.
  • 2016: June: Hired first Register Nurse for summer camps supported by funds from the Stringfellow grant. Music Therapist was contracted as results from funds from the West Anniston Community Foundation.
  • 2016: In August, The Arc held its 1st Annual Lip Sync Battle Fundraiser. Event was held at Oxford Civic Center.
  • 2016: June/July: Children Summer Camps were reduced from three weeks to two weeks due to budget cuts.
  • 2016: In November, Mr. James Purdue, Commissioner of Alabama Department of Mental Health, made a visit to The Arc office. He also attended a People First meeting later in the day at Highland Health Services.
  • 2017: Provided Job Readiness classes for self-advocates that addressed areas of health, nutrition and job skills. Funds provided by the Stringfellow Health Fund. Students from Wellborn High pre-vocational class, Action Industries and local self-advocates attended.
  • 2017: Received funding from the Daniel Foundation to add a new component to the Job Readiness classes. Plans to build two raised bed gardens to be cared for by students.
  • The Arc staff beings a Summer Instructional Gardening Program for adults in a modified area of the parking lot outside The Arc building. Materials from Oxford Lumber are used to construct the garden area.
  • 2018: In January, accredited by the Standards for Excellence Institute for successfully fulfilling the requirements of their Standards for Excellence® program. This accreditation illustrates our commitment to upholding the principles and practices of the Standards for Excellence®: an Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector.
  • 2018: The Arc met several new “Friends with Bikes” and became the recipients of funds raised through the Annual Benefit Ride for The Arc of Calhoun and Cleburne Counties.
  • 2018 -The Arc’s Special Olympics program becomes the first in the state to organize a Stand Up Paddle boarding team. Coached by Tim Cooper and Lara Hurst, the four-member team ultimately represents Alabama Special Olympics at the National Games in Seattle Washington the first week of July, winning gold and silver medals and acclaim as the youngest paddle boarding team competing at the games.
  • 2018: In July, sent a delegation of seven athletes and three coaches to join TEAM ALABAMA at the Special Olympics national Games in Seattle, Washington. This included the first ever stand-up paddle boarding team (see above) and atholtes from the City of Anniston’s Thearputic Recreation Program which included two bocce players, one of their coaches and a bowler.
  • 2018: In August, longtime board member and volunteer with The Arc, Rebecca Fearon,  was recognized as the recipient of The Community Foundation of North East Alabama’s 2018 Juliette Doster Award, in honor of her many hours serving our community through her volunteerism at The Arc.
  • 2018– Barbara Odum becomes the Coordinator for the People First Chapter following the retirement of Lynetta Owens.
  • 2019 – In June, Tim Cooper becomes the sixth Executive Director of The Arc after Tammy Moreno resigned to work in her brothers ‘business full time.
  • 2019 The agency celebrates its 60th Anniversary during its Annual Awards Banquet and Fashion Show in November. During the ceremony, the agency presents a Lifetime Achievement Award to its first Executive Director Nan Christian and recognizes the families of the initial founders, Dot Hall,  Angelise Johnson and Dot Burkhalter.
  • 2020 Our chapter is one of 24 groups across the country to selected to receive a grant through The Arc of the United States by the Corporation for National and Community Service to work toward promoting inclusive volunteerism and address food insecurity.  Self-advocates with The Arc’s People First begin on Martin Luther King Jr. Day to serve the community through volunteering with Meals on Wheels , the Soup Bowl and Community Enabler.
  • 2020 The board and staff of The Arc celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the agency’s incorporation (February 3, 1960) by kicking of the”60 for 60″ campaign, an initiative to attract 60 new members and/or donors to join us in our work on behalf of people with intellectual disabilities.

Mission and Values

Our Mission

The Mission of The Arc of Calhoun and Cleburne Counties is to serve individuals with ID/DD and their families through support, education, advocacy and public awareness so they can reach their chosen goals.

Our Vision

The Arc of Calhoun and Cleburne Counties is a visible, well-known resource that serves individuals with ID/DD and their families and networks with other agencies within a broad, diverse community.

What is The Arc?

The Arc National Website