Executive Director's Message
ARISE is about change. We listen to the goals and dreams of individuals with disabilities. We then provide the supports that help an individual accomplish those goals in his or her life. We work to change attitudinal barriers that people with disabilities face, and we advocate to affect changes that improve broader societal systems.
ARISE as an agency is also about change. We have grown from only three staff members in our infancy to over 300 staff and hundreds of volunteers. Our programs and services have grown beyond the core independent living services to include a variety of supports, all consumer directed, that help people with disabilities live independently and fully integrate in their communities.
And now our web site has also changed to become a model of accessibility – providing user-friendly access for visitors of all abilities using all types of assistive technology. We hope you enjoy the time you spend exploring our web site and encourage you to visit our Advocacy Center, which offers simple ways you can get involved in making a difference.
We also offer you the opportunity to tell us how we can develop in new ways in the future. Please feel free to contact us to let us know your thoughts.
However much ARISE changes, we remain dedicated to the guiding philosophy that is at the heart of all that we do: people with disabilities have the right to self-determination – to living full and independent lives of their own choosing.
Since 1979, we have made great strides in advancing the rights of people of all abilities. We still have much to do. We look ahead to challenges near at hand and in the distance. Please continue to join us as we work to create a fair and just community in which people of all abilities can fully participate.
Tom McKeown
Executive Director