The ARC of texas is the state's premiere nonprofit serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families

The 100 or more rsvp volunteers deployed annually by the ARC of texas will serve individuals with disabilities in williamson county, texas, with a primary emphasis on substantially increasing the inclusion of individuals with disabilities residing in the countys rural communities including taylor, granger, bartlett, thrall, jarrell, florence, coupland and liberty hill. Of this number, at least 90 rsvp volunteers will be placed in outcome assignments in each 12-month period. Some of their activities will include: (1) providing companionship [regular, meaningful social supports] for individuals with disabilities; (2) providing financial literacy services to individuals with disabilities; (3) preventing elder abuse of older adults with disabilities; and (4) delivering school-and community-based mentoring to k-12 students with disabilities. The primary focus area of this project is inclusion of people with disabilities, with a strong emphasis on helping williamson county (wilco) residents with disabilities residing in rural communities attain and maintain improved engagement and involvement in their neighborhoods and communities social, economic and political environments, specifically by achieving improved states of economic well-being and financial security, access to housing and employment, as well as dependable companionship, improved transportation and meaningful community connections. At the end of the three-year grant, the anticipated outcomes are: a) at least 200 individuals with disabilities report increased social ties/perceived social support; b) at least 50 williamson county residents with disabilities are transitioned into safe, healthy, affordable housing; c) at least 100 or more economically disadvantaged (unemployed or underemployed) williamson county adults with disabilities are placed in jobs that improve their financial status (income) and/or promote their long-term, economic stability; d) at least 75 individuals/caregivers of individuals with disabilities report increased social ties/perceived social support; and, e) at least 40 k-12 students with disabilities receive school- or community-based mentoring services that improve their academic performance over the course of participation in the project. A cncs federal investment of $100,000 annually will be supplemented by a minimum $10,000 in non-federal resources from the ARC of texas in year one; $20,000 in non-federal resources in year two; and $30,000 in non-federal resources in year three.