The Arc of South Florida

The Arc of South Florida is a non-profit organization with a two-folded purpose:To ensure the rights of all persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities through effective advocacy,To provide specialized programs and services to help clients lead meaningful and fulfilling lives.The Children and Youth Department believes that all children are capable of learning, children learn best in a stimulating environment, and that the family is the most important part of a child's life. See our list of children's programs below.

Project Thrive Project Thrive is an accredited early intervention program for infants and young children with intellectual and developmental delays or disabilities. Children in this program range in age from birth to five years and attend centers located in Kendall or Florida City. Nurtured in a warm, loving atmosphere, children are offered a combination of educational techniques and specialized therapies that enable them to acquire skills that they would not necessarily develop on their own. Transportation is provided when necessary.

Most Project Thrive students enter the Miami Dade County Public Schools upon graduation from the program, but maintain relationships with The Arc “family” for access to other support services.

ACE Academy – “A Sandor Wiener School of Opportunity” ACE Academy is a private non-profit school for students with disabilities in grades Pre-K to 12th with campuses in North Miami, Kendall and Florida City. ACE’s integrated comprehensive program for the whole child addresses the social, educational and therapeutic needs of each child. Unique community social learning experiences, an academic curriculum recommended and approved by Florida Department of Education, and a therapy program infused throughout classroom activities using hands on activities combine to create the innovative learning experience that is ACE.

The effective student staff ratio is provided by staff including degreed and experienced ESE teachers, Paraprofessionals, Certified nursing services, Speech/Language Pathologist, Occupational Therapist, Physical Therapist and ABA Consultant.

ACE Academy accepts McKay Scholarships for students with disabilities and current IEP’s, Step up for Students Inclusion Scholarship, and the Sandor Wiener Tuition Assistance Fund for eligible families. Follow the link: www.aceacademyschool.com to access the Academy’s website and www.floridaschoolchoice.org for McKay Scholarship Information.

After school and Summer Services

The Arc’s year-round After School and Summer Program (YAS), partially funded by The Children’s Trust, provides services for After school, Winter/Spring break, and Summer camp children, primarily with disabilities, in addition to typically developing role models, aged 5-22 years in North Miami, West Kendall, and Florida City. Wherever possible, families with siblings without disabilities will be included as role models, through Children’s Trust funded slots, private pay or alternate funding, so siblings can be served in one inclusive location.

With a fun and safe program focus for children, Out-of-School programming also comprises inclusive activities for literacy, fitness activities, social skills, family involvement, nutritional activities, multisensory environment room enhancement, creative arts, summer swimming and field trips following research based approved curricula.

Program in part funded by:

Positive Parenting Program

Because The Arc believes that the family is the most important part of a child’s life, the Children and Youth Department provides the Group Triple P Positive Parenting Program, partially funded by The Children’s Trust which helps family members strengthen their relationships. The goals of Triple P are to increase parental competence and confidence in raising children, to prevent social, emotional and behavioral problems in childhood, and to reduce the use of punitive methods of discipline, The Arc runs several cycles of Group Triple P throughout the year in Kendall and Florida City. The groups provide opportunities for family members to learn together, share experiences, support each other, and build their parenting skills.

Program in part funded by:

Early Childhood Summer Camp

The Arc’s early childhood program, partially funded by The Children’s Trust provides summer camp services for children with disabilities up to 5 years of age, not yet in kindergarten, in Kendall and Florida City locations. Developmentally appropriate themed activities provide fun opportunities for developing all skill areas while addressing individual needs through literacy, fitness activities, social skills, family involvement, summer water safety, multisensory environment room enhancement, creative arts, and field trips.

Program in part funded by:

Outreach Services The aim of outreach services is to provide physical, occupational and speech therapies within the community at a reasonable cost. The following is a list of services included in The Arc’s of South Florida’s Outreach Services:

Physical Therapy

• Gross Motor Skills: For strength, flexibility, position, balance and coordination
• Functional Outcomes: Setting individual attainable goals
• Gait Training & Analysis: To learn and correct upright body movements during walking
• Wheel Chair Assessment & Adjustment

Occupational Therapy

• Perceptual Fine Motor Skills: To enhance upper extremity movement and coordination and to facilitate activities for school and self-care
• Sensory Integration Activities: To help correct and mature the sensory system
• Cognitive Training: To improve learning skills and other related activities
• Visual Perceptual: To improve awareness and visual clues within the environment
• Activities in Daily Living: Self care training and related activities
• Functional Outcomes: Setting individual attainable goals

Speech Therapy

• Oral -Motor: Working with the muscles of the mouth and face
• Stimulation Through Feeding: Teaching how to suck, swallow and chew through activities and manual stimulation
• Improvement of Receptive & Expressive Language Skills: Learning how to receive information, enhancement of communication skills

Multi-Sensory Environment Experiences

Specially trained teachers lead students with severe disabilities and sensory impairments in sensory stimulation with lighting, tactile experiences, cause/effect items and sound effects. Students access and manipulate specialized assistive technology specifically designed to impact self awareness and aid learning, through integration of cognitive, physical, sensory and social capacities.

These outreach services are available at our centers located at 756 W. Palm Drive, Florida City and 11025 SW 84th Street, Cottage 6, Kendall and are provided by experienced, licensed, professional therapists and staff. Medicaid, Medipass, or self-pay is accepted.