Since 1954, LARC, Inc. has dedicated itself to meeting with quality and foresight the needs of people with developmental disabilites living in Lee County and their families. Our mission now, as it was fifty years ago, is to promote and provide opportunities in the community for these Lee County residents to achieve an independent, dignified and responsible lifestyle  as their individual capabilities allow. LARC accomplishes this mission through the provision of a continuum of award winning community based services, using timely, individualized, goal-oriented methods. LARC, Inc. offers vocational training, community residential services, and a vast diversity of other state-of-the-art community inclusion services on a full time, year round basis for local people with developmental disabilities. LARC currently provides programs and services for approximately 300 local men and women annually. Many of these individuals participate in several of LARC's diversified community programs. There are five major program areas of LARC, Inc.

1. Adult Day Activity and Vocational Transition Programs
Both of these programs have been designed to meet the intricate training needs of Lee County citizens with severe or profound mental retardation or other related developmental and physical disabilities. In addition to mental retardation, some of more than 30 individuals served by these programs last year have cerebral palsy and/or epilepsy, are non-ambulatory (using a wheelchair for mobility), and have visual, hearing, or speech impairments or other disabilities.

Self-care skills and pre-vocational instruction are taught using occupational therapy techniques. Our ADAP/T and VTP programs offer many socially oriented community inclusive activities which are key elements of LARC's organization.

2. Vocational Training and Workshop Programs
LARC's workshop programs train people with developmental disabilities for employment throughout the community allowing them to realize their maximum potential and independence. Our Community Workshop is divided into two main program areas which include: a Woodshop where LARC consumers manufacture wooden survey stakes, pallets and other items, which are then sold locally and thoughout the state. LARC's woodshop is the largest manufacturer of wooden stakes and pallets anywhere in Southwest Florida!

We also have a Product Assembly Area where training tasks such as assembling, collating, packaging and preparing mailings are performed by LARC consumers. This workshop program trains and prepares people with disabilities and performs work for hundreds of businesses throughout Southwest Florida and the region. The sale of products and services from LARC's Community Sheltered Workshop Program allows clients to earn a piece rate income for work performed and historically generates approximately 15 to 20 percent of LARC's own general operating funds annually. LARC's workshop income helps fund other programs, services and supports provided by our agency. Last year nearly 150 men and women received training in LARC's Workshop areas.

The ultimate goal of our workshop is to train these individuals to further advance into a Supported Employment Program. LARC's highly accredited Supported Employment Program (AKA Diversified Employment Resources) assists participants in landing entry level employment at local businesses throughout the community. LARC's Program Consultants carefully match worker interests and abilities to the employer's job requirements and provide individualized training assistance with ongoing follow-up services at the job site for as long as necessary. During the last year LARC's Supported Employment Program assisted more than 90 participants.

Bonita Springs
LARC, Inc. opened a satellite training facility in the city of Bonita Springs in January of 2002. Our Bonita Springs operation includes an Adult Day Training program (ADT). This program provides pre-vocational training and life skills training for people in the Bonita Springs and Northern Collier County area. We also operate daily Mobile Work Crew Enclaves in Bonita Springs as well as a very popular Adult Recreational Program. There are currently nearly 40 persons with developmental disabilites enrolled in LARC's rapidly growing Bonita Springs program.

3. Community Residential Programs
LARC currently owns and operates four community residences for adults with developmmental and physical disabilities. These four group homes serve a total of 24 individuals. Professional LARC caregivers provide 24-hour supervision, training, and guidance, LARC's fourth home became operational in 1997 as the first handicapped accessible group home in Lee County for people with physically challenging developmental disabilities. LARC is currently working toward constructing a much-needed fifth group home in Lee County. This fifth group home is a 6 BR / 3 BA new construction house in Bonita Springs. Our community residences serve as transitional training homes providing life skills training to enable residents to move into a more independent living situation. LARC's Supported Living Program participants lease (or purchase) their own condominiums, apartments, or houses throughout Lee County. Many participants share household expenses with another program participant of their choosing. LARC staff provides training, support, and "on-call" supervision to the degree necessary to ensure successful independent living. Generally each person in our Supported Living Program lives and works quite independently. Many of LARC's Supported Living Program participants have purchased their own homes.

4. Community Inclusion Program
This transitional program's purpose is to "support" any activities that may lead to community independence. The variety of situations a LARC consumer can be involved in are only limited to the imagination of the individual, his or her support cordinate, and LARC's community support services specialists. The major criteria this service requires is that it takes place within an integrated setting in the community. Many times a consumer chooses to attend entertainment events intended to help a person develop good social skills. Some examples of how LARC consumers can use this service include: to learn how to use the library, become a volunteer, attend adult basic education classes, or learn restaurant etiquette.

The LARC Community Support Services Specialist is responsible for developing along with the consumer an Individual Program Plan (IPP) that reflects the outcomes laid out in his or her support plan. These should be goal-oriented activites, with the intent of helping the individual learn to access services and events available within the commnity. Several times a year LARC's staff also organize day long excursions to many of the theme parks and attractions throughout Florida. Our goal is that every person is able to achieve the most independent life-style possible.

5. Community Education Advocacy & Prevention
There are approximately eleven thousand people with mental retardation and approximately fifteen thousand more individuals diagnosed as having other related developmental disabilities living right here in Lee County. Statistics indicate that one of every ten Lee County residents has a family member with mental retardation. LARC provides ongoing advocacy support on behalf of all these Lee County citizens and their families.

LARC has been working diligently for five decades to educate the Lee County community about mental retardation and other developmental disabilities. We work continuously to fight prejudice and misconceptions regarding developmental disabilities and educate the public to recognize a persons abilities, rather than disabilities. Our efforts focus on helping all local people with developmental disabilities live happier, fuller, and more productive lives in the community as independently as each is able...with full community inclusion.