The Arc of Omaha’s programs serve children, youth and adults with developmental disabilities as well as their families.  Children are served primarily by providing information and support to their parents so that they are better equipped to assume all of the added responsibility of parenting a child with a developmental disability.  Youth and adults are served directly through programs designed for their specific needs.  Further, the programs of The Arc of Omaha benefit the community through education about people with developmental disabilities and the importance of embracing diversity within our community.

The Arc of Omaha has numerous programs and services designed to accomplish our mission, as summarized below.

Pilot Parents
The Pilot Parents program offers parent-to-parent support to families of children with a developmental disability.  Parents often have questions and concerns that are difficult for their family, friends and professionals to respond to and understand.  Pilot Parents have children who have been previously diagnosed with a developmental disability, or have previously gone through various transitions and stages.  They are parents who have experienced and understand the same feelings and questions that other parents of a child with a disability have.  Pilot Parents are specially trained and matched to provide emotional support and information to parents on a family-to-family basis.  The program was founded on the belief that offering emotional support and factual information to parents is an important step in securing the best possible future for their child.

Just Friends
Just Friends is a peer mentoring and friendship program that gives teens with a developmental disability the opportunity to participate in social and recreational activities with teens that do not have a developmental disability.  This program gives teens the chance to get to know, accept, and appreciate individuals who are different from themselves.  Teens with developmental disabilities benefit by feeling included by their peers, and by learning and experiencing age-appropriate social interaction.  Teens without disabilities learn mentoring skills and have the opportunity to do meaningful volunteer work.  The staff members provide support to participants, offer a monthly social event, and provide educational classes for teens with developmental disabilities.

Project II
Project II is a program for adults with developmental disabilities to learn about self-advocacy, take educational classes and enjoy social activities.  Self-advocacy meetings are held monthly to help individuals develop skills in speaking for themselves and making decisions about their lives.  The group participates in a statewide convention and is affiliated with a national organization, Self Advocates Becoming Empowered.  Classes are offered on life skills topics such as cooking, communication, social skills, friendship, and dating.  Small and large group recreational activities are held year round, including dances, theater and concert outings, art classes and discussion groups.

The PRISM Project
The PRISM (Parent Resource Information and Support Meetings) Project provides families of children and adults with developmental disabilities support and informational programs seven times a year.  Family friendly meetings offer parents access to educational programs, support groups and the opportunity to network with other parents and children with developmental disabilities.  Families face unique challenges when they have children with developmental disabilities.  The PRISM Project is designed to help families get the emotional support and information they need to best care for their child with a developmental disability. This program also offers parents the opportunity to meet with local and national experts on diverse topics relevant to their current needs.

The Quality of Life Trust
The Quality of Life Trust is designed for parents to provide for personalized advocacy and emotional and social support for their children through their estates.

The Ultimate Life Program
The Ultimate Life program is designed to combat the lack of opportunities individuals (ages 18 and older) with developmental disabilities, experience in trying to participate in typical “everyday” activities/events, and to assist parents in ensuring quality of life for their son or daughter when they no longer can attend to their needs due to: geographic distance of family, aging, illness or death.  If an individual with a developmental disability does not have anyone available to accompany them to the activities they enjoy, they are often no longer able to participate in these activities.  The goals of the Ultimate Life Program are to help individuals feel empowered to make decisions in his/her own life; feel less isolated from the community; and to help parent(s) and/or family feel confident that their family member with a disability maintains a high quality of life without their involvement.

Overall, The Arc of Omaha is a source of information on developmental disabilities, with a growing number of requests for information and referrals to other agencies and resources.  We provide disability awareness training to community groups, as well as students in area colleges who are majoring in medicine, special education and related fields.  The Arc of Omaha also provides a voice in the community for issues that effect people with developmental disabilities.