For more than 60 years, The Arc has been on the front lines in making change happen for people diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The Arc is the nation’s leading advocate for all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families and the premier provider of the supports and services people want and need.

The Arc Rapides services roughly 130 consumers and we are still growing!

The committed men and women on our board of directors are representatives from each affiliated chapter. They have experienced both the challenges and the triumphs associated with intellectual and developmental disabilities firsthand. Their personal stake in The Arc’s mission provides our volunteers, members, and professional staff with wisdom, inspiration, and guidance.

The Arc Rapides is formerly known as John Eskew Training Center. John Eskew was a school for exceptional children with disabilities at a time when those individuals were not allowed to be admitted into “regular” school. Many of those students worked at Handi Works Productions and later transitioned into the RARC services.

In 1955, our nonprofit began as The Rapides Association for Retarded Children (RARC) to help children diagnosed with mental retardation, a term that’s now fallen out of favor. The name was changed to The Rapides Association for Retarded Citizens in the late 70s; and further amended to The Arc Rapides, Inc in 2013 to better reflect its affiliation with Arc chapters across the country and within Louisiana.

Our mission is to provide individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities with a place of work and enrichment.

The Arc Rapides advocates with and for all people with intellectual and related developmental disabilities and their families so that they shall live to their fullest potential.

It is the vision of The Arc Rapides to provide well-designed and well-managed vocational and community-based training to the population it serves.

Our vision is also to continue to assist our intellectually and developmentally disabled adults and allow them to achieve as much independence as possible in their home, work, and community.

The Arc Rapides will strive to empower the self-worth and self-respect of the individuals we serve.

All citizens should be supported to live, work, and play in our communities. It is our responsibility to search for and promote the gifts and talents of those we support. The Arc Rapides Staff will advocate for freedom of choice and equality. The Arc Rapides will build bridges for community inclusions. The Arc Rapides services will promote the health, safety, and dignity of those we support.