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wh‘ ARC Industries recently expanded by employing a full. time ceramics instructor for its program. The staff have their own kiln on the premises. Enjoying the modelling in clay â€"â€".â€"â€"â€"_â€"â€"â€"â€" Mrs. Ann Waegemakers of Richmond Hill is one “_ fl 7 7 _ _ . of several volunteers who help at ARC sewmg, handicraft and k1tchen programs could be expanded if more volunteer help wen able. While regularly in the ceramics training program, Gary Ogilvie like all the trainees at ARC Industries, spends a few hours each week in the office. Here he works at learning touch typing. LIBERAL, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Wednesday ‘, May 8, 1974 sale (left to right) are Jim Farquhar, Pat Ramsey and Jack Begin. They also do glazing and make finished objects which are for John Gibson is in the cleaning and custodial training program at ARC Industries. One result of his work is that the new building is spotless. were avail- Pictures And Story By Susan Samila For Hannele Laine an a place where friends Trainees in the ARC Industries printi1 Here (left to right) Richard Hodgson, _ -'â€"râ€" _.â€"â€"r Industries printing department have to learn to be responsible and exacting. lichard Hodgson, Sandy Burney and Barney Gill sort out a printing problem On Edward Avenue off Elgin Mills Road andacross the street from Reynolds Ex- trusion Company in Richmond Hill there is a new building with a large - proud nameplate out front: ARC INDUSTRIES. Arc Industries is not new to Richmond Hill. In 1963 it was founded by the York Central Association for the Mentally Retarded (YCAMR) and has since been operating in rented premises as an adult training cen- tre and sheltered workshop. At 5:30 pm on Friday, May 10. there will be the official opening ceremonies for the new ARC building with attendance by The Honorable Robert Stanbury, Minister of National Revenue, and The Honorable Margaret Birch, Minister of Social Devel- opment. The general public is invited to join in to attend the opening and to tour the building on Friday from 4 to 6:30 pm and on Saturday from 2 to 5:30 pm. Three per cent of the population of any community can be classified as mentally retarded â€" that is. unable to learn at the rate considered “normal” and unable to attain to the level of knowledge and skill considered "normal" in today’s world. In rural, non-industrialized societies of the past. the mentally retarded lived within their families. They worked along beside their relatives and were allowed to lead relatively fulfilling lives. However, with industrialization and its emphasis on phys- ical and mental speed. the mentally retard- ed were left without a place in society. DEVELOPMENT PREVENTED Often forgotten was the fact that each mentally retarded person is a unique human personality with need for'- love. devotion. play, work and self-expression. Too often such people were placed in large institutions which frustrated and prevented the development of their potential as human beings and brought them great per- sonal unhappiness. Furthermore they be- came considerable financial burdens to governments and taxpayers. Today, hOWever, there is much happen- ing to keep the mentally retarded from being placed in large depersonalized insti- tutions. In our community the York Cen- tral Association for the Mentally Retarded provides a number of services which to- gether try to meet various needs of the retarded of all ages. The association pro- vides a home care program which as- sists parents and families of retarded children. For 20 children the association runs Hope Haven Nursery five mornings a week. The nursery program requires the assist- ance of one volunteer per child. Thus, 80 volunteers are used from the community (volunteers are always needed!) for the period from Monday to Thursday, On Fridays 120 students from Markham Dis- trict High School Grade 13 have chosen for their Day Six Program to help at the nursery. These students hold fund-raising events to cover their transportation costs and to sponsor annually a sports field day for the retarded of the community. DRAMATIC EXPANSION In the last two years the YCAMR has expanded its services dramatically â€" first through the building of High Point in Markham. This is a residence for mentally retarded adults who live in one of the three ARC Industries Opening New Building On Friday smaller family-like units while daily attend- ing school or going out to work at ARC or in the community. Secondly expan- sion came through the construction of ARC Industries' own building and the extension of its training program there. In order to provide the services it does. Mr. Joe Dwyer, Secretary/Treasurer and Administrator of YCAMR, states that the association utilizes existing legislation to the limits of its potential. YCAMR re- ceives from government sources about 40 percent of its capital expenditure and about 50 percent of its operating cost. The rest of the money required is raised by the association and its members through var- ious fund-raising activities during the year. To visit ARC Industries is a pleasure be- cause of the bright and colorful building and the friendliness of the people who work there, Apparent among most of the 72 worker-trainees and confirmed in con- versations with them is a dedication to the job at hand and a satisfaction in working together. And during coffee and lunch breaks there is a great deal of friendship LEARN 2 JOBS Two of the main training programs at ARC â€" printing and subâ€"contracting â€" are sustained through work commisioned by local business and industry. Much of this work is exacting â€" especially in the printing (offset and letterpress) depart- ment. Some of the work in the slb-con- tracting department such as packaging. assembling, colating and stuffing envelopes would seem to outsiders to be extremely repetitious. However, because the degree of many trainees‘ retardation prevents them from being able to do the partcular job automatically without thinking the job remains more of a challenge thm an outsider might imagine. Furthermore the trainees confirm that they are chmged from job to job in order to help prevent tedium or tiredness. Other training programs are providtd in clerical work, cleaning and custodial vork, and ceramics. Some training is given in handcrafts and kitchen skills. But Miss Dolly Ketola, Director of ARC Indus’ries, hopes an expansion of these programs will be possible when finances permit and more supervisory and volunteer hell is available. Five of the people workin: at ARC are not mentally retarded but sinply in need of a period of training in 3 ion- pressured environment. ____ WAY TO INDEPENDENCE Of the trainees at ARC some will be- come independent and self-supporting )ut will be contributing to their own harpi- ness. their own financial support and to local business and industry by their wcrk. The ceremonies at ABC on May 10 will also herald National Mental Retardaton Week, May 12-18. During this time he Canadian Association for the Mentally le~y tangled, along with its provincial and 10a] associations, hopes the general public will become more aware of the mentally e- tarded's real potential and rightful plee in society. People need to be more awae of what the public can do and contribute, both personally and in funds, towards be];â€" ing the mentally retarded help themselva.