Providing Support for Family Members of Individuals with Disabilities: The Arc of Greater Brockton's Family Support Center

By Caroline Bunnell

Living with an intellectual or developmental disability can create a variety of obstacles in someone’s life, as well as the people surrounding them.

 

The Brockton Area Arc works to eliminate those difficulties through its work and their programs. 

 

The Brockton Area Arc is a non-profit organization that provides support and resources to people with disabilities and their families. 

 

Ang Colby knows first-hand how important the work of the Brockton Area Arc can be. 

 

Colby became involved with the program through her brother who has autism.

 

One in 44 children have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, according to the Center for Disease Control’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network. 

 

According to the Association of Developmental Disabilities Providers, 20,000 families living in Massachusetts care for a family member with an intellectual or developmental disability in their household. 

 

“When I was around eight years old, they had a group called sib shops which is a support group for individuals with their siblings who have disabilities. They were teaching you how to live with your sibling. They don’t want you to feel alone,” Colby said. 

 

Colby said that she is grateful for the resources it has given her family, and the skills she learned through the family programs. 

 

“I have a lot more patience with him because I know I’m not alone. If you go to the group, I know I can talk about it, and I know it’s a safe spot where I can talk about it,” Colby said. 

 

Aside from the sibling programs, there are other family programs that provide support to families of individuals with disabilities. 

 

There are educational trainings for caregivers and parents, as well as social programs.

 

The center also can provide funding for any costs or resources that can’t be covered by the family. 

 

“Our Friends of the Arc Helping Hand Fund is available to cover cost of an unexpected expense, as well as to support skill development and recreation activities,” according to the Brockton Area Arc website. 

 

Other programs include the Haitian Family support group, the Spanish support group for Parents, Cape Verdean support, Transition support group, and a parent support group. 

 

Information about these programs can be found at https://arcofgreaterbrockton.org/programs-and-services/ or by calling 508-583-8030