The ARC Voyagers Board of Trustees, leadership and staff are committed to community accessibility for all persons with disabilities. This commitment encompasses architectural, employment, attitudinal and all other barriers that prevent full community participation for program individuals or others with disabilities.
Board of Trustees and Staffing Patterns
ARC Voyagers will actively recruit and maintain persons with disabilities and/or family members, guardians or advocates of persons with disabilities on its Board. ARC Voyagers will actively recruit qualified persons with disabilities for open staff positions.
Community Accessibility
ARC Voyagers recognizes the importance of full community participation for all citizens. To this end, the Board will represent and advocate, for those served with respect to access to all public services, accommodations and places. The Board will act as an advocate in matters of ADA requirements and compliance. The Board will also provide linkages between employers and other funding agencies, which assist with architectural modification to accommodate employment for persons with disabilities.
ARC Voyagers will work toward breaking down attitudinal barriers for people with disabilities through an agency newsletter, positive promotional activities, participation in community organizations and agency sponsored events that solicit a cross-section of community member participation.
Architectural Accessibility of ARC Voyagers
ARC Voyagers has the desire of having any ARC Voyagers facility to be free of architectural barriers. If an individual, staff member, or any other person determines that architectural barriers exist, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) shall appoint a committee made up of individuals with disabilities, staff members and other interested parties. This committee shall determine the extent of the barriers and recommend action to the CEO for removal of the same. The CEO will determine what action will be taken, based on available resources. If resources are unavailable to remove an identified barrier and the barrier is such that it negatively affects the ability of an individual to participate in ARC Voyagers’ services, the issue will be referred to the Board of Trustees for resolution and/or the individual will be referred to other appropriate services that afford needed accessibility.
Review of Accessibility Plan
On an annual basis, leadership of the agency shall conduct a formal assessment of attitudinal, architectural, transportation and communication barriers within all agency programs and facilities. Within timelines then specified, the CEO or designee will ensure all facilities operated by ARC Voyagers are free from architectural barriers that would prevent any eligible individual from accessing services. Further, the CEO or designee will ensure the organization’s compliance with ADA and other applicable laws, which promote equal opportunities for individuals with disabilities. ARC Voyagers will adopt personnel policies supporting its commitment to equal employment, social and economic opportunities for people with disabilities and will oversee entrance policies and procedures that ensure all services and supports are accessible to otherwise qualified individuals with disabilities.