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Feature Article

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Community Living Historyby Lillian Barker-Godfrey and Paul KyteIntroductionBy the mid to late 70s, the provincial focus of services for the mentally disabled had shifted from education, which was then well established through special education programs, to vocational day programs. During this time, community services also changed from a volunteer base to a more professional base. While volunteers offered personal involvement and contact for people with disabilities, it was often difficult to establish long-term commitments to supports. It was also thought that professionals were better able to provide the continuity and level of support that was needed.

The North Frontenac Association for the Mentally Handicapped's (NFAMH) day program at Mountain Grove started in May 1974, and was run primarily by volunteers one day a week. In 1976, the association obtained funding from the Ministry of Community and Social Services to establish a formal workshop with hired employees. In 1979 the day program moved from the old public school into a newly purchased building in Mountain Grove.

The newly established ARC (Adult Rehabilitation Center) Industries bused disabled individuals from a large geographic area, including Wagarville/Godfrey, Snow Road, Harlowe, Sharbot Lake and Parham. Over the years, the ARC Program evolved to include four separate areas. The two largest and busiest areas were the sewing and wood working areas. Two employees, Jerry Saylor and Joe Jarvis, ran the wood working area and assisted disabled individuals in learning and using wood working skills. With their help, disabled individuals assembled a variety of wood products, including picnic tables, rocking horses, birdhouses, shelves, and other made-to-order items. The wood working room also had a seasonal crew which was paid for by the community to cut grass and do other yard maintenance tasks.

The other hub of activity, the sewing room, was initially run by Jane Arnott and Grace Scott, and then by Arlene Uens. The sewing room instructor was assisted over the years by a number of other part-time, students, and short-term grant employees to support individuals to learn sewing skills. The disabled were involved in every aspect of manufacturing sewn products, such as quilted pillows, oven mitts, hot hands, tea cozies, baby blankets, etc.

The wood working and sewing areas combined their talents to produce footstools with quilted cushion tops, as well as magazine racks/knitting baskets with quilted panel sides. All of these high- quality products were sold from the ARC building, as well as being marketed at craft sales in Kingston, Ottawa, Smiths Falls, and Oshawa. On and off over the years, the ARC program also sought out various contracts that helped to bring in revenue, including the assembly of fireplace fan inserts for Tweed Steel.

ARC's other two areas were the literacy program (run by two Board of Education employees) and the Life Skills area. Throughout the work day, individuals would leave their work for a period of time to receive academic instruction in the literacy program, or instruction in daily living skills (cooking, cleaning, personal care, etc.) in the Life Skills area.

In addition to providing jobs for the disabled, the ARC Program did so much more during its existence. It was an environment in which families felt safe sending their disabled adult children for the day, which sometimes provided the only break a family and adult child would get from each other. It was a place where people came together and contributed to a common purpose; a place where their contributions were valued by others, and for which they received a small honorarium for their work. Although the Centres daily focus was production, the ARC Program provided regular attention to each individuals personal growth and development. Most gained self-confidence and self-respect and an improved quality of life while learning work skills and work ethics. They formed friendships that continue today.

Our next article will detail why the ARC Industries Program closed in the mid 90s, and give additional information about the changing face of services for the disabled in this area.