Back to School with The Arc’s Education Advocates! As we say goodbye to summer and welcome a new school year, we are getting back into the rhythm of school, activities, and busy schedules. A new school year can bring questions about your child’s education and the support they need to succeed. The Arc of Chester County’s Education Advocacy Program helps families understand the special education process and advocate for the services their children need. 

To better meet our community’s needs, we are proud to expand our team by adding another Education Advocate!

The Arc of Chester County is proud to be a trusted resource for individuals with disabilities and their families, providing information, guidance, and referrals to connect them with needed services and community resources. The Arc’s Advocacy Team is also excited to kick off our Fall Chat n Chew series with a free virtual session focused on special education, providing families with practical information to help navigate the school year. If you have questions about an IEP, 504 Plan, evaluation, transition planning, or other education concerns? This session is for you!

The Arc of Chester County continues to support and contribute to the Right to Education Local Task Force and participates in key conversations about transition services for students preparing for life after high school. These efforts help ensure families have the information and resources they need to plan for the future.

Over the past year, The Arc has continued advocating for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and Autism and their families at the local, state, and federal levels. Through legislative meetings, community events, and grassroots efforts, we have elevated their voices while advocating for funding and policies that strengthen the services and supports families rely on every day.

As we enter this new school year, remember: your voice matters, and your child’s voice matters. The Arc of Chester County is proud to stand alongside families as we advocate for inclusion, opportunity, and meaningful support in school and beyond.

Dalton Brown- Finds Pride and Purpose at Parcel and More

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), The Arc of Chester County is proud to spotlight Dalton Brown and celebrate the impact meaningful employment can have in a person's life. 

Meet Dalton Brown, a participant in The Arc’s Comprehensive Employment Services (CES) Program and an alumnus of The Arc’s Inclusive Preschool Program (formerly First Step). Today, he is a valued employee at Parcel and More in West Chester, where he continues to build new skills, confidence, and independence.

From his first day on the job, Dalton approached his role with enthusiasm and determination. He brought along a notebook to carefully record everything he was learning, eventually filling it with approximately 80 notes to ensure his success.

Over the past several months, Dalton has mastered a variety of responsibilities, including greeting and helping customers, scanning packages, handling electronic mail and faxes, operating the cash register, and scheduling customers for fingerprinting services just to name a few.

Dalton has also become such a familiar face to customers that many of them greet him by name. Most importantly, his success has given him a growing sense of confidence and accomplishment. “I am very happy. I love my job. I feel very proud of myself,” Dalton shared.

Helping Dalton along the way have been Parcel and More Owner and Manager Heather Lee, whom Dalton affectionately calls “Miss Heather,” and his Arc job coach, John Breznicky. Their encouragement has helped Dalton to learn new responsibilities and become increasingly confident navigating situations in the workplace and growing his skill set.

Dalton expressed his appreciation in his own words, “I am truly grateful to Miss Heather for giving me this wonderful job opportunity.”

Parcel and More was recently recognized by The Arc of Chester County with its 2026 Employer of the Year for their commitment to an inclusive workplace environment. Dalton Brown has truly grown because of this opportunity to show his dedication, and the pride he takes in the work he does each day.

During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Dalton’s story reminds us of what can happen when people are given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities, contribute to their community, and succeed in meaningful employment.

Recognizing DSPs: Valuing the Workforce Behind the Support:

September is Direct Support Professional (DSP) Recognition Month, but the dedicated professionals who make a profound difference in the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including Autism (ID/A), deserve to be celebrated every day and all year long.

DSPs are the backbone of the ID/A system. They help people live safe, healthy lives, build relationships, participate in their communities, pursue employment, and achieve their goals and dreams.

Despite continued advocacy efforts to enhance the DSP profession, there continues to be a DSP workforce crisis. The ID/A service system struggles to recruit and retain enough qualified DSPs to meet the growing need for services. When there are not enough DSPs, individuals may experience reduced or delayed services, fewer opportunities for community participation, employment, and independence. Families are often left to fill these gaps, at significant personal, financial, and emotional cost, including reducing work hours or taking on non-parenting and DSP responsibilities that they would not otherwise have if adequate DSP support were available.

At the same time, DSPs remain significantly underpaid compared with jobs requiring far less responsibility and specialized knowledge. DSPs support people with daily living, health management, financial management, community safety, communication, employment, and community participation, just to name a few. Their compensation should reflect the skill, responsibility, and essential nature of this work.

While Pennsylvania has made some investments in state budgets to address the DSP workforce crisis, these investments are not enough to overcome decades of minimal or inadequate funding that have contributed to the crisis we face today. Meaningful change will require sustained investment and action at every level of government.

Fortunately, there has been encouraging movement at the federal level. On August 5, 2026, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee advanced the Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act (S. 3211). The legislation would require the Office of Management and Budget to consider creating a separate Standard Occupational Classification code for DSPs, an important step toward recognizing DSPs as a distinct profession and improving workforce data.

The Arc is proud to recognize and support DSPs, but appreciation must be backed by action. We need sustainable funding, competitive compensation, and meaningful investment in the DSP workforce to ensure that people with disabilities receive the consistent, quality supports they deserve. DSPs are essential workers who provide quality-of-life and life-sustaining care, and their compensation should reflect the value and importance of their work.

Your voice can help. Contact the Governor and your state legislators by clicking the button below and urge them to invest in DSPs in the FY 2027–2028 budget!

In August the Arc of Chester Preschool graduated 8 amazing children. The day was filled with songs, smiles and laughter.  We are so proud of each and every one of you.   As The Arc celebrates this year’s graduates, its Preschool is welcoming new families. Enrollment is open now, with opportunities for children throughout Chester County. 

The Arc’s preschool offers small class sizes, certified teachers, year-round programming, an on-site nurse, and engaging experiences that support children socially, emotionally, intellectually, and physically.

At the heart of the program is a commitment to creating a community where every child can learn, grow, and belong.  For more information and to arrange a tour please click HERE. 

October, November & December

September 13th- 19th - Celebrating DSP Week!

THANK YOU! Direct Support Professionals who selflessly and tirelessly work to provide for individuals with disabilities. We applaud YOU this week and every week!

The Arc of Chester County offers a FREE virtual Education & Systems Advocacy Speaker Series covering a variety of topics which empower people to learn about education and systems advocacy. Click HERE for more information and to register. Download of our flyer HERE. 

Donors have many options when it comes to making gifts. The method of giving depends on both your financial situation and your philanthropic goals. There are many ways to make a difference for the The Arc of Chester County. Click the button below to learn more about it.

The mission of The Arc of Chester County is to advocate, educate and provide services to empower individuals with disabilities and their families to enhance the quality of their lives. The official registration and financial information of The Arc of Chester County may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement. The Arc of Chester County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization-contributions to which are tax deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law.

The Arc of Chester County is affiliated with The Arc of Pennsylvania.

Phone: 610-696-8090 Fax: 610-696-8300

900 Lawrence Drive, West Chester, PA 19380

Hours of Operation
Monday - Friday: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm