Join Us

Partners in Opportunity

As part of Arc of Onondaga's 71-year commitment to providing services to people with developmental disabilities, we invite you to support a new initiative that will provide expanded opportunities for people we support.

We Support Opportunity For All

The Wilbur Center for Opportunity will transform 5,000 square feet that was once used as a sheltered workshop into program space to be used by our Community Supports, Community Pre-Vocational, and Employment Options programs. the goal of this renovation is to provide new spaces in which people will receive supports and training which will build upon their interests and maximize their experiences. it also signifies our continued commitment to fostering community inclusion and augmenting opportunities for the people Arc supports.

Renovation Plans

ART STUDIO

Many of the people we support enjoy expressing themselves creatively. the Art Studio will provide dedicated space to enhance creative expression. It has been designed to be both a learning work space, and a place to exhibit art. It will easily transition to exhibition space to spotlight the artwork of people supported and provide space for community art experiences.

 

CERTIFIED DAY HABILITATION

The majority of the people who will receive services in the new Certified Day Habilitation space will be coming from our Midler Avenue program site. Midler enjoys a fun and creative atmosphere, however there is no large common space for people to gather. The renovated space will provide plenty of room in which to participate in daily activities.

 

GATHERING LOUNGE

This will be a comfortable place for people in our Without Walls program. Less structured than Certified Day Habilitation, the majority of experiences will happen in the community. The Gathering Lounge will provide a comfortable place to wait before they head out for the day’s activities. This space will also be used by committees that are comprised of people our agency supports.

 

TECHNOLOGY STUDIO

Many of the people we support include “improving computer skills” on their list of goals. The Technology Studio will provide dedicated space where people will receive instruction and work independently. This space will enhance access to technology for people in our Community Supports and Employment Options programs, and provide space for training.

 

TRAINING KITCHEN

People who receive supports in our Community Habilitation, Day Habilitation, and Employment Options programs will benefit from the Training Kitchen, as it will provide both residential and commercial kitchen experience. The goal of this space is to provide training that will enhance independent living skills and pre-vocational training. It will enable us to welcome community partners to provide hands-on training – cooking classes, kitchen safety, restaurant-specific training, and facilitate partnerships with area businesses and organizations that hopefully will lead to employment opportunities.

Become a Partner
in opportunity

Please consider supporting this major renovation and the future of how we provide services and supports. With your donation of $50 or more, your name will be included in the Partners in Opportunity donor wall.

For additional information please email [email protected] or call 315-401-0917.

Virtual Tour Become a Partner

Advocacy Update: Act Now to Protect Medicaid!

Last month, the House of Representatives approved a budget bill that proposes significant cuts: nearly $800 billion from Medicaid and $300 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This move goes against public sentiment, as recent polls confirm that most Americans strongly support Medicaid and view it as crucial for their communities.

If this bill becomes law, the consequences are dire. States could lose funding for essential care and services that people with disabilities depend on. More families, including millions of children, will face hunger.

The good news is the Senate hasn’t voted yet, and the President still needs to sign the bill. This means there’s still time to stop it, but we need your help to maintain the pressure. No one should have to struggle for basic healthcare or to keep food on the table. Please visit https://action.thearc.org to contact your Senators and help us raise our voices to protect Medicaid and SNAP!

Take Action Now