Dana Dupuis, Mission and Impact Coordinator for The Arc of the Capital Area spoke to the club on November 19th. She has been there for a little over a month and was previously an advocate for foster children. Dana and her husband used to be foster parents and were able to adopt their first foster child. The Arc of the Capital Area’s focus -- “We envision a future in which people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have the same opportunities as others to pursue full and productive lives.” Their vision is for the Arc of the Capital Area to “be the community’s trusted and comprehensive resource for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We connect individuals and families to education, work, recreation, and lifelong services so they achieve lives of joy and dignity.” They connect individuals and families to programs and services such as art and education, employment services, and case management services. The Arc has an art and education program that runs five days a week for adults 18+, with campus in Austin, Hutto and Leander. They also provide assistance with job placement and support in resume building, interview preparation, and on-the-job career coaching and have partnerships with leading local businesses seeking employees. The Arc’s case managements services help support adults who want to live independently. They also have a Juvenile Justice Services program that works with the local education system to provide support to juveniles ages 10-17 who are diagnosed with an intellectual or developmental disability or who are enrolled in Special Education, and are involved in, or at-risk of becoming involved in, the criminal justice system, and they provide information about guardianships and alternatives to guardianships. For more information go to www.arcaustin.org.