About Us

ARCH is a 5-acre recreation center in the heart of Phoenix, offering a full range of programs and activities for individuals of all ages with developmental and physical disabilities.

ARCH has made a unique and lasting contribution to the lives of thousands of people since its inception 1975 when it was first named ARCH which stands for 'Arizona Recreation Center for the Handicapped'.

We provide a fun, safe environment for youth and adults seeking recreation and sports related activities. During a typical week at ARCH more than 350 clients (5000 annually) come to our campus to participate in a wide range of programs including Day Treatment for Adults, Adult Drop-In, ARCHKids Program, Special Olympic Training, Adventure Club, Performing Arts, Health and Fitness activities and Life-Skills Education.

Participants come from residential neighborhoods, group homes, schools and partner programs from all over the Valley, 85% of whom are from low-income families (whose household income is less than 150% of the federal poverty level). Many just receive SSDI and many receive other benefits such as AHCCCS, Medicare, Medicaid and ALTCS. 60% of our adult participants and 99% of our kids are funded by the state to attend day care services at ARCH, including transportation services, as needed. Some also receive state funding for additional respite hours so they can stay on site in our care for longer if necessary, until their parents or caregivers finish work. We also provide a private pay system for children who are not state funded. 40% of our adult participants are not funded by the state to attend a day care program so they attend our Drop-In program for only $2 per day.

The average ARCH adult spends 7 hours on campus each day. Without ARCH 50% of participants would not have an alternative for day supervision. 60% of children and teens enrolled in our ARCHKids Program receive extended care supervision through ARCH, while parents work.
We are committed to providing services and programs which enable individuals with special needs to obtain the highest levels of independence, physical well-being and self-esteem. As one of the oldest organizations of its kind in Arizona, we are in a unique position to teach a wide range of essential skills to individuals with intellectual and cognitive disabilities. Our vision is to fulfill our mission by meeting the changing needs of individuals with disabilities, providing family support services and offering extensive community awareness and public education programs.

ARCH currently has a staff of 18 full-time employees,18 part-time employees, and a volunteer base of 275 dedicated individuals. We are a Department of Developmental Disabilities/State Qualified Provider, certified by the state to provide Community Based ‘Human Services’ to all ages. Our HCBS OLCR certification allows us to provide ‘Day Care programs’, ‘Transportation’ and ‘Respite Care Services’. HCBS certification ensures that all individuals providing direct care have met certain qualifications for assisting those they care for.

Listen to one of our staff, TJ Geist Anderson talk about ARCH on Family Radio.

Read more about us in our ARCH Horizons Newsletters.

ARCH supports the individual needs of each participant who walks through our doors and celebrates their unique abilities.

We provide 2800 hours a week of supervised education