The Arc of Shelby County

What The Arc of Shelby County does

The Arc of Shelby County, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1974 and headquartered at 203 Amphitheater Road in Pelham, Alabama, with an additional site at 101 Airport Commons Drive in Calera. It delivers advocacy, coaching, and direct support services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families across Shelby and Chilton counties. The organization operates as the largest provider of Early Intervention services exclusively in Shelby County and is CARF-accredited for Employment Services.

The service portfolio is organized across the lifespan. The Early Intervention Program serves infants and toddlers birth to age 3 with developmental delays, delivered free of charge through service coordination, developmental specialists, speech/occupational/physical therapy, nutrition, and Spanish interpretation. The Community Services Program provides case management, benefits assistance (S.T.A.R.), IEP advocacy, and caregiver support groups (Compassion Squad for women, Wolf Pack for men). Employment Services includes Pre-Employment Transition Services for students age 16-21, Milestones to Employment, and Career Assessment tracks. The New Visions Day Program, reopened in Calera in June 2021, provides community day habilitation for adults. The Blue Envelope Program is a distinctive safety initiative distributing envelopes with personal information cards and seat belt covers through Arc offices, Shelby County Law Enforcement, and License Offices to support safer first-responder interactions. Annual outcomes include 2,139 unduplicated individuals served, 950 Early Intervention children, 632 Community Services participants, 530 Employment Services participants, and 27 New Visions participants, delivered by a staff of 46.

The business model is a multi-stream nonprofit revenue structure with no pricing for core Early Intervention services. Funding is drawn from four primary sources: government grants (Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention/The Children's Trust Fund, Shelby County Commission), United Way of Central Alabama designated contributions, individual and corporate donations (including title sponsorship from Alabama Water Utilities and signature sponsorship from SprayRoq), and event-driven fundraising through the Swinging Fore Achievement Golf Tournament, Arc Pickleball Tournament, and Cars for A Cause. New Visions Day Program includes private pay opportunities. The organization holds 501(c)(3) status, is affiliated with The Arc of the United States and The Arc of Alabama, and is governed by an uncompensated volunteer Board of Directors.

Name

The Arc of Shelby County

Legal name

The Arc of Shelby County, Inc.

Website

https://thearcofshelby.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Arc of Shelby County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1974 in Pelham, Alabama, that delivers advocacy, coaching, and direct support services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families across Shelby and Chilton counties through Early Intervention, Employment Services, Community Services, and the New Visions Day Program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Support Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Developmental Therapy / Early Childhood Special Instruction (EDACAFAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Special Needs Early Intervention & Preschool Programs (EDAKAAAE), Down Syndrome & Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Childcare (HSAAAIAC)

Keywords

• Developmental disability services
• Early intervention services
• Supported employment programs
• Community disability advocacy
• Caregiver support programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Aluskylä

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Financial gifts from individuals and organizations help sustain and expand programs and services. Donations are accepted through the organization's website and at events.
2. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships for signature events including Title Sponsor, Signature Sponsor, and Corporate Sponsor tiers. Current sponsors include Alabama Water Utilities (Title Sponsor) and SprayRoq (Signature Sponsor).
3. Government Grants: Funding from government sources including Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention/The Children's Trust Fund for Early Intervention, and Shelby County Commission for Community Services.
4. United Way Contributions: The Arc of Shelby County is a United Way partner agency receiving designated contributions through annual United Way campaigns.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Arc of Shelby County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides advocacy, coaching, and direct support services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families. Its program portfolio spans an Early Intervention Program for children birth to age 3, Community Services case management and benefits assistance, Employment Services including Pre-ETS for students, the New Visions Day Program for adults, the Blue Envelope first-responder safety program, and Caregiver Support Groups. Services are delivered free of charge for Early Intervention, with select private-pay options for New Visions.

Product overview

The Arc of Shelby County is a non-profit social services organization that provides a coordinated portfolio of programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. The organization operates as a single unified service provider rather than a platform-based architecture. Its core programs include the Early Intervention Program (birth to age 3), Community Services with S.T.A.R. benefits assistance, the Employment Services Program with Milestones to Employment and Career Assessment tracks, Pre-Employment Transition Services for students, the New Visions Day Program for adults, The Blue Envelope safety program, and Caregiver Support Groups. All programs are designed to support individuals and families across the lifespan through advocacy, coaching, and support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Early Intervention Program A family-focused coordinated system of resources, supports, and services for infants and toddlers birth to age 3 with developmental delays. Includes service coordination, developmental specialists, speech, occupational, and physical therapy, nutrition, and Spanish interpretation services, all provided free of charge to families.
• Community Services Program Provides case management, advocacy services, resources and referrals, benefits assistance, IEP advocacy for school-aged children, and follow-along support for families. Includes S.T.A.R. (Short-Term Assistance and Referral) Services.
• Employment Services Program Assists individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in achieving career goals through job matching, assessments, job search assistance, on-site employer collaboration, job training, individualized support plans, and ongoing advocacy. Includes Milestones to Employment and Career Assessment tracks.
• New Visions Day Program Community day habilitation program serving adult individuals with intellectual disabilities in Shelby and Chilton county areas. Provides skills training, community-based recreation, volunteer opportunities, and individualized coaching for personal, social, communication, and daily living skills.
• Blue Envelope Program A safety initiative providing individuals with developmental disabilities a bright envelope containing emergency contact information, diagnosis details, preferred communication methods, and coping strategies, accompanied by a seat belt cover for visibility during vehicle interactions with first responders.
• Caregiver Support Groups Support groups for caregivers, including The Compassion Squad for female caregivers and The Wolf Pack for male caregivers, providing connection, encouragement, and peer support.
• Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) Services for students age 16-21 including Smart Work Ethics training, workplace readiness classes, social skills training, driver's permit training, college tours, and job exploration and workplace tours. Delivered in partnership with Shelby County Schools.
• Milestones to Employment A supported employment program with four milestones: situational assessment/discovery, job search/job placement, job coaching, and long-term follow-up for individuals with significant disabilities.
• Career Assessment A program for individuals needing intense front-end support for workforce preparation including resume building, mock interviews, application assistance, self-advocacy training, and job search support with job coaching available as needed.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,139 total unduplicated individuals served annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Arc of the United StatescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational affiliation providing access to resources, advocacy support, best practices, and a network of chapters serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Arc is the world's largest community-based organization for people with I/DD.
• The Arc of AlabamacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level affiliation providing advocacy, resources, and support for Alabama residents with developmental disabilities and their families.
• United Way of Central AlabamacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for community resources and support. The Arc of Shelby County is a United Way partner agency. United Way provides access to the region's comprehensive database of health and human services and community support campaigns.
• Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCARF accreditation for Employment Services demonstrates the organization's commitment to quality and standards in rehabilitation services.
• Shelby County CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding support for the Community Services Program through grant from the Shelby County Commission.
• Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services (ADRS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVocational Rehabilitation Service partnership for supported employment programs including Milestones to Employment and Career Assessment. ADRS determines eligibility and appropriate employment programs for participants.
• Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention/The Children's Trust FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrant funding supporting Early Intervention Services for infants and toddlers with developmental delays.
• Shelby County SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) for students age 16-21 and Project SEARCH program, providing workplace readiness and job exploration opportunities.
• Alabama Water UtilitiesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle Sponsor for The Arc of Shelby County events including Cars for A Cause.
• SprayRoqminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSignature Sponsor for The Arc of Shelby County events.
• Magic City OctaneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent partner for Cars for A Cause car show event.
• Project SEARCHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational program partnership through Shelby County Schools providing employment education and training for students with disabilities.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Easterseals: National nonprofit operating early intervention, employment, and adult day programs for people with disabilities; closely comparable lifespan service portfolio and CARF-accredited rehabilitation services.
• The Arc of the United States: National parent organization of the Arc chapter network; comparable service population (I/DD individuals and families), advocacy-driven nonprofit model, and chapter-affiliation structure.
• United Cerebral Palsy (UCP): National disability services nonprofit providing early intervention, employment supports, advocacy, and case management for individuals with cerebral palsy and other disabilities; mirrors Arc's lifespan service model.
• AbilityFirst: California-based nonprofit providing lifespan services (early intervention through adult day programs, employment, recreation) for individuals with developmental disabilities; closely comparable service mix and CARF-aligned model.
• The Arc of Alabama: State-level affiliate of the same national Arc network; provides advocacy, resources, and chapter support across Alabama for individuals with I/DD — directly comparable mission, governance model, and population served.

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill Industries International: National nonprofit operating mission-driven employment and vocational rehabilitation programs for people with disabilities and other barriers; directly comparable Employment Services / supported employment model.

Regional players

• Glenwood Inc. Alabama-based nonprofit serving children and adults with I/DD through residential, day, behavioral, and clinical services; comparable mission and population though broader residential footprint.
• Special Olympics Alabama: State-level nonprofit providing sports training, competition, and community programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities; overlapping population but distinct recreational rather than clinical/service focus.

Others

• Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services (ADRS): State government agency that is simultaneously a key funder/referral partner and a comparable provider of vocational rehabilitation and Pre-ETS services for individuals with disabilities in Alabama.

Emerging players

• Project SEARCH: International school-to-work transition program for students with significant disabilities; Arc of Shelby County is a local implementation partner — same target population and employment-outcome focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/The-Arc-of-Shelby-County/238398945263
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-arc-of-shelby-county-al
• Instagraminstagram.com/thearcofshelby
• Xx.com/TheArcOfShelby

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles24 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Arc of Shelby County