ARC Community Support Systems’ vision began over forty years ago on May 16, 1962 in Effingham County, Illinois. Board members of the Effingham County United Fund (which would later be known as the United Way), along with a group of concerned individuals, met to discuss the needs and lack of services for children with disabilities. This original steering committee soon became the first Board of Directors.
In less than a month, thanks in part to a $500 contribution, this group of dedicated individuals became an incorporated organization and established a legal day school. With a new location and a staff of qualified teachers and volunteers, the ‘East Side School’ opened on June 11, 1962. Twelve students were enrolled in the first six-week session, ages 6 to 21. Later that same year, through fund raising, donations of facilities and an amazing amount of community support, a new school was opened for 16 students with disabilities.
In 1965 the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) threatened to nullify the school’s license because the enrollment was becoming too large for the existing school facilities. However, tragedy was averted when the opportunity to purchase a larger building from the Effingham County School District presented itself. For the cost of $1, as well as through donated skills and labor, the new building was moved, placed next to the existing facility and made compliant with DCFS regulations.
From 1965 to 1970 the school for children with disabilities in Effingham County grew by leaps and bounds. As enrollment rose and the original students were becoming too old for the established programs, the need for additional facilities and programs became apparent. New buildings were rented or purchased including the Activity Center and the Opportunity Center (renovated from an old bowling alley). Additional grants were required for the increased services provided and the name of the school was changed to the ‘Nanon Wood Achievement School’ in honor of the dedication and contributions of Nanon Wood, the first school director.
Changes in Illinois law were brewing and children with disabilities under the age of 16 were now being taken into public schools. Many of the older children with disabilities who had received services from the Nanon Wood Achievement School found themselves well prepared for this inclusion process.
In 1970, 40 consumers with disabilities attended programs: 26 in the workshop and 14 in the Activity Center area. Among jobs performed at the workshop were rug binding and weaving, making pallets, furniture stripping and repair work. At that time, many of the jobs were contracted throughout the county, allowing these hard-working people with disabilities a full work day from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Mrs. Wood retired in April 1974. During that year the organization again saw tremendous growth. Many consumers who had been with the organization for many years were leaving. But while old friends were moving on, many new friendships were just beginning. Sixty-two people attended an organizational meeting in November that was presided over by long-time president D.L. "Bud" Wetherell. Before the evening was through, there were 23 new members. In January 1974 total enrollment in all program areas was 37; by December it had grown to 54.
Programs now included: the Nanon Wood Achievement School, Home Intervention, Developmental Work Activities and the Industrial Sheltered Workshop which provided vocational evaluation, work adjustment training, vocational counseling, personal adjustment training, job-seeking skill development, community job placement and sheltered employment.
As a result of this growth pattern, a decision was made in January 1975 to find a new, larger location. In 1976 the agency purchased and moved into the former Steven's Industries building at 618 West Main in Teutopolis. This building remains the Administrative Offices to this day.
Because of the ever increasing enrollment and the addition of new services and programs, the decision was made to find yet another new location only four years later. Over the summer of 1980 the school, now named the “Nanon Wood Center for Children’, moved to it’s new location on Veterans Drive in Effingham. By 1981 the enrollment for the school was at 202 consumers with disabilities.
In the spring on 1984 the agency realized the need for people with disabilities to live more independently, thus prompting the construction of a house on North Merchant Street in Effingham. Very quickly the first six-bed Community Residential Alternative (CRA) residence was dedicated.
In 1985, the Board of Directors continued its vision for the future by adding the Supported Employment program. The end of fiscal year 1985 marked the retirement of “Bud” Wetherell as Board President. Over his 23-year history with the agency, he has been credited with many of the major achievements, including the initial formation and organization of parents and other individuals in 1962.
Another vision was realized in 1987: the Developmental Training Center in Teutopolis. Once the DT Center was opened, individuals in need of basic developmental training were moved there from the workshop building. This addition brought the number of facilities operated by the agency to four.
In 1988, the agency again experienced changes, this time in personnel. Mike Fortner, who had been Executive Director since 1973, left for a position in Springfield. He is credited with guiding the agency through its growth and expansion to become a comprehensive service agency, bringing it far beyond its initial vision while maintaining the goals that brought it together in the first place.
In September 1988, the Board of Directors hired Dick Reimers as Executive Director, who remains in that position to this day. Under the leadership and guidance of Reimers and the board, the agency continued to move ahead in a progressive and responsive manner.
Between January 1989 and June 30, 1992, many changes were made, including the addition of a new major program, Family Matters. Also, the agency built and opened another eight-bed group home, referred to as the KC House, in Effingham to provide a home for eight more adults with disabilities.
Additionally, ARC-CSS assisted in the formation of parent support groups and provided advocacy training for both consumers with disabilities and for their families. There has been an active movement to educate the community-at-large through public awareness campaigns, the provision of speakers for organizations and the introduction of the “Kids on the Block” program which uses puppets and specially designed shows to increase awareness in young children about their peers with disabilities.
In 1991, despite the well earned reputation that the organization’s name had earned in the Effingham County area, the decision was made to officially change their name to ARC Community Support Systems. It was felt that this new name better reflected the diverse population and the wide variety of programs that the organization now offered for all people with disabilities.
1993 saw the agency awarded the Excel Award by the Greater Effingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry. That year also saw the organization’s first annual Golf Tournament at the Effingham Country Club. This event has since become one of the largest such events in the state, raising both awareness of and funds for the programs that ARC-CSS provides everyday.
In 1994, Illinois TASH selected ARC Community Support Systems for two awards: one for its community inclusion work and the other for its public awareness efforts.
Between 1993 and 1998 the agency grew rapidly in terms of services, programs and enrollment. By 1998 ARC Community Support Systems had grown to serve 1,043 infants, children and adults with disabilities.
In 1995 Effingham County leaders Dr. Maurice Lambert and local attorney David Sutterfield created the ARC Community Support Systems Foundation, Inc. This Foundation was created because of increasing concerns with the uncertainty of government funding and wanting to provide a more stable, long-term financial position to assist the constituents of ARC-CSS. In addition to providing this financial base, the Foundation took over the financial aspects, including ownership, of the seven buildings in the ARC-CSS organization. This action freed the employees of ARC-CSS to focus their valuable time and efforts on their consumers.
On September 1, 2000, the Opportunity Center of Southeastern Illinois merged with ARC Community Support Systems. This added 27 full-time employees as well as the Olney Opportunity Center. This new site provides both work for many adults with disabilities in Richland County and the surrounding area, and also provides Early Intervention programs to four Illinois counties.
ARC Community Support Systems has continued their tradition of growth and their dedication to the communities they serve. In 2004, ARC-CSS built and opened Oakview, a new 16-bed group home for adults with disabilities. In 2007, they opened the ARC Community Support Systems Counseling Center for persons of all ages offering individual, family, couple and group counseling sessions. Also, in 2007. ARC Community Support Systems sold the Opportunity Center in Olney and moved the Children's Programs and Community Employment Services to the newly leased Magura building to better provide for the needs of those under their care.
Today, the more than 250 staff and service personnel, under the guidance of a fifteen member Board of Directors, annually help more than 3,500 infants, children and adults with disabilities and their families through advocacy, education, housing, employment and family support programs. They are all dedicated to the same ideals that brought the organization together more than four decades ago…that all people with disabilities deserve the same rights, privileges and opportunities afforded to everyone else.
