About Us
Ridge Area Arc in Avon Park, Florida is a private, not for profit 501(c)3 organization, which was founded in 1957 by Franklyn and Mary Ellen Ward. At the time their son, Rob, was born there were very few places to work with disabled children. Many families sent their child away to a distant institution. The Wards did not want to send their son away and sought a way to provide the needed educational resources and training. They also realized other families in the area needed these services. Thus, the Ridge Area Arc Day School began in 1957, and served 17 children ages seven and older from Highlands, Hardee and DeSoto counties.
In 50 years since the day school opened, Arc now provides 12 services to approximately 150 individuals with developmental and other disabilities from Highlands, Hardee and southern Polk counties.
Ridge Area Arc is a member of The Arc of the United States and The Arc of Florida. Arc is supported through private contributions, Ridge Area Arc Foundation, as well as the following community partnerships:
Ridge Area Arc produces a quarterly newsletter, called the Kaleidoscope, which highlights what is happening within the agency and their consumers. We are pleased to share the Kaleidoscope with you in pdf format. 
Kaleidoscope Spring and Summer 2008
As a non-profit agency, Ridge Area Arc feels very strongly about continuing a 50-year tradition of being fully accountable to the community. Every year the agency produces an annual report. Please feel free to browse the last annual report in pdf format.Annual Report 2007
Kaleidoscope and the Annual Report are in a (pdf) format and requires the "Adobe Reader". If you do not have it on your computer you can download it for free.