Arc of San Francisco

The Arc of San Francisco chapter was founded in 1951 by a group of parents concerned about the lack of services for their sons and daughters with developmental disabilities. The Arc (formerly The Association for Retarded Citizens) vision is a world where people of all abilities participate fully in all aspects of life. The Arc’s mission is to secure and sustain the full range of rights, opportunities, and choices for a satisfying and productive life with dignity for all people with developmental disabilities, mental retardation, and other related disabilities and their families.

The Arc San Francisco is a non-profit service and advocacy organization for adults with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families living in San Francisco and San Mateo counties.

The Arc San Francisco currently serves a varied group of over 550 clients who, despite their diverse backgrounds, ages and disabilities, are all similar in their desire to live a life of greater self-determination, dignity and quality.

The goal of the Arc San Francisco is to provide the supports that enable people with developmental disabilities to maximize their potential, live meaningful lives and become integral members of the community. To that end, The Arc San Francisco provides a range of services relevant to all areas of adult life, from independent living supports and skills building to employment training and creative expression.

As a true community partner, the Arc San Francisco believes in educational outreach, the power of business partnerships, and the importance of being a reliable resource for families, supporters, public policy makers and all those who share our vision of creating a more informed, diverse and inclusive society.