The resource center will provide information, referral and support in English and Spanish to promote positive outcomes for young people with developmental disabilities in the areas of education, employment, transportation, and healthy lifestyles.  Through involvement in the project, young people will increase their chances of graduating from high school with a standard diploma, obtaining and maintaining employment, participating in community activities of their choice, and developing healthy lifestyles.  The center will be “a center without walls”, coordinated out of The Arc of New Mexico’s southern office in Anthony but with activities taking place in local communities throughout the project area.  The Arc of New Mexico will work with individual communities to structure services and facilities that best meet the needs of and wishes of each locale.

The “center without walls” concept will be an efficient way to serve a large, sparsely populated rural area using limited resources.  The project will demonstrate the effectiveness of an approach that works closely with the community in a “ground up, not top down” model, allowing communities to guide the project and decide approaches and activities tailored to each locale.

Persons with developmental disabilities will be employed as core project staff as well as in mentoring and training roles.  In addition, they will form the majority of the advisory committee guiding the center’s activities, demonstrating an inclusive model in which individuals with disabilities are key participants and not merely passive recipients of services. 

For more information contact:
Randy Costales, Project Director
The Arc of New Mexico
3655 Carlisle NE
Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87110
1-505-883-4630 or 1-800-358-6493 (in-state)

Priscilla Salinas, Project Coordinator
The Arc of New Mexico
P.O. Box 157 (mailing address)
La Mesa, NM 88044
1-505-883-4630