When Henry moved into the Terrace Avenue group residence last year, it didn’t take long for him to feel at home and to see his housemates as his extended family.

“You get to do activities together, go to the park together, I like it,” Henry says. He particularly loves to help with the laundry, watch TV together in the mornings, and eat “delicious chicken and rice” dinners as a group, he says.

Henry moved in to Terrace during the summer of 2022, at which time he also started attending Day Programs at The Arc of Essex County’s West Caldwell Hub. There, he enjoys trips to the library, community lunches, and the youth culture club.

Before he became a residential and day programs participant, Henry had been attending Camp Hope for many years, which allowed Arc staff to get to know him and helped make the placement of his group home location easier. “The transition just went so smoothly and he settled in so naturally,” says Senior Director of Residential Services Rebecca Lorusso.

Henry’s room is decorated with many of his favorite items, including artwork from his day programs, animal-themed wall calendars, and books that he enjoys reading when he’s alone in his room. He also loves to keep classic tunes playing from his speakers. “I like being here. It’s my room with things that are mine,” he says.

Although Henry can rattle off a very long list of The Arc friends he does fun activities with, he also is happy to talk about spending time with his grandma and his auntie in East Orange during the holidays. Being at The Arc has given him the best of both worlds—a lifestyle of independence and achievement as well as a continued strong connection to his family.

For additional information about The Arc of Essex County’s residential services, contact The Arc’s Senior Director of Residential Services Rebecca Lorusso via email at rlorusso@arcessex.org or by calling (973) 535-1181 ext. 1270.