A collection of Arc of Essex County’s vans were transformed into a festive fleet for a Trunk or Treat celebration at the West Caldwell Hub on Halloween. Each van was creatively decorated with spooky and silly seasonal flair, such as Jungle Adventure or Frankenstein. Dressed up in playful and frightful costumes—from Scooby Doo to Freddie Kreuger and everything in between—participants visited each trunk to collect treats including candy, cookies, yogurt, and pudding cups. Vans were allocated for special dietary needs so that everyone could participate if they wanted to join in the fun. The Arc of Essex County’s Day Program participants [...]

On October 3, five self-advocates and two staff members from The Arc of Essex County attended the 41st Annual New Jersey Statewide Self-Advocacy Network (NJSSAN) Fall Conference at the Pines Manor in Edison. The sold-out event, hosted by the New Jersey Self-Advocacy Project (NJSAP), brought together more than 200 attendees for a day of inspiration, empowerment, and celebration. This year’s theme, “Play Your Part,” highlighted the importance of every individual’s role in advocacy. The conference featured a dynamic keynote presentation by Patrice Jetter, a New Jersey native, Special Olympics champion, and star of the Emmy-nominated Hulu documentary Patrice: The Movie. In [...]

October was a busy month for participants in The Arc of Essex County’s Adult Recreation Program, with programs that included: Bowling at Bowlero Belleville on October 4 and 25. Fun-filled Saturday Group Respite days on October 4 and 18. A visit to the Kiwanis Street Fair on October 5, where the group enjoyed rides, entertainment, live music, arts and crafts, and delicious food together. A pumpkin picking and hayride trip to Alstede Farm in Chester on October 19, where the farm animals and farm store were a hit. A busy Hotel Respite weekend on October 24 to 26, including Halloween fun. The Halloween Spooktacular Dance on [...]

The spooky season was in full force at The Arc of Essex County’s residential programs, who enjoyed Halloween celebrations as well as other autumn activities: The Verona Apartment and Belleville Group Home programs met up for a dinner out at a restaurant together. The Beechtree Group Home enjoyed an “Paint and Sip” activity outside on their back deck during a beautiful autumn day. Verona Apartments residents went to the Verona Township Canteen Night, and took trips to the local park, the mall, and the ice cream shop. The Girls’ Night In gathering at Studio Arc drew women from across The Arc’s group homes together [...]

Throughout October, children enjoyed a wealth of engaging activities that blended fun, learning, and socializing, filling the month with excitement and opportunity for families, including: Studio Arc’s much-loved Communi-Play sessions on October 11 and 25 for children ages 2.5 to 5, which delivered communication lessons through hands-on activities, guided play, and song. Sign up for future sessions at bit.ly/communi-play Social skills classes, held weekly on Tuesday afternoons at the Opportunity Zone in Maplewood, which help children build confidence and interpersonal skills. After a September that focused on bravery, October sessions were all about taking turns. Saturdays saw the Children’s Saturday Respite program in [...]

This holiday season, your support can provide quality time and meaningful connection to so many in The Arc of Essex County community. Your gift toward The Arc’s respite programs will help create unforgettable moments for children, teens, and adults—whether it’s laughter during Saturday Respite, creativity at After-Work sessions, new adventures during a Hotel Respite Weekend, or the magic of a Parents’ Night Out. These experiences aren’t just fun—they’re essential. They offer caregivers the gift of rest, reflection, and renewal while providing safe and engaging opportunities for all ages. Your generosity makes these moments possible. Please donate to our 2025 Annual Appeal today and help [...]

Henry started with The Arc of Essex County at SYA Day Program in 2013 and joined the After-Work Program in 2018. He is a huge fan of visiting Studio Arc, where he says he loves painting and learning new things. He also enjoys going on group bowling trips and trying all kinds of foods, so he especially looks forward to international lunch outings in the community. When he’s not in Arc programs, Henry says he spends time listening to jazz music, and likes singing along to Nat King Cole and Ray Charles. To learn more about our Day Programs, reach out to [...]

Dametralius Moon, affectionately known as “Dee,” proudly comes from a family of nurturers. Growing up, she and her cousin Toshonda spent a lot of time with their grandmother, who provided “an extremely nurturing environment” for her family as well as the foster children she took in. As the cousins reached adulthood, Toshonda spoke about her work at The Arc of Essex County as being so rewarding and life-changing, so Dee looked into switching from her retail job. She landed as a technician at the ARCompany program in East Orange in 1999. “I had so much fun there,” Dee says. She would [...]

The Arc of Essex County is delighted to announce several recent contributions that are making a meaningful impact for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in our community. We are grateful to the Novartis US Foundation for their generous grant of $8,000. This funding is designated to support telemedicine service fees for Arc group homes, ensuring that residents continue to receive high-quality medical care and support through accessible technology. This grant helps bridge the gap for individuals who may face barriers to in-person healthcare, promoting their well-being and independence. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to the following councils of [...]

For individuals seeking a community living placement, The Arc of Essex County has the following November 2025 openings: Beechtree Group Home (1 Male Vacancy) Single-family style home in a quiet West Caldwell neighborhood 24/7 supervision Fully renovated in 2024 Spacious deck for outdoor time Care given based on individual needs Linden Apartment Program (1 Male Vacancy and 1 Female Vacancy) 1 bedroom available in a 3-bedroom Supervised Apartment in Bloomfield 24/7 supervision Large two-family home Located near public transportation and within walking distance of beautiful parks, shopping, and restaurants Current roommates enjoy spending time pursuing their own interests such as reading, watching TV, being active, going on community outings, and through [...]