The Arc of the South Shore Participates in International Competition to Improve the Lives of Children with Disabilities

The Arc of the South Shore, a Hingham-based nonprofit that empowers families and individuals of all ages with disabilities to reach their fullest potential, is proud to announce that it was a finalist in the 2022 Arc Tank competition on April 5, 2022. The Arc Tank funds innovative and creative ideas that change the way disability services are provided.

The Arc Tank received 333 applications from five countries and 32 states. The Arc of the South Shore was selected as one of four finalists, placing the organization in the top 1% of all applications. It applied for funding to develop an online curriculum to expand its SENSational Story Time Yoga program to libraries and community settings across the Commonwealth and beyond.

“The Arc of South Shore’s program was selected as a finalist in the Arc Tank, a social innovation contest designed to positively disrupt how disability services are offered. The program was selected due to its focus on inclusive programming for young children through a network of libraries, a natural partner in providing community-based resources and activities,” says Tim Brown, director of innovation and strategy, Northeast Arc.

SENSational Story Time Yoga combines story time with sensory kits and yoga to offer a hands-on educational experience for children with disabilities and their families. The Arc’s proposed plug and play model will replicate the magic of this innovative program, and the agency’s goal is to launch at libraries, schools, children’s museums, and day programs and improve the lives of thousands of children. The program is offered in partnership with Christine Walker of the Little Bee Yoga Company in Norwell.

“This program is a truly magical, fully immersive experience created to meet the unique learning needs of children with disabilities. It provides so many important educational opportunities and has immense physical, emotional, and social benefits. Children are fully immersed in a program that encompasses language, stories, peers, sensory kits, and yoga, and this results in 360 degree learning,” says Janine Birmingham, autism program director at The Arc of the South Shore.

“The Arc provides the resources and supports that allow people with unique abilities to lead full, active, and integrated lives,” says Daryl Ann Cook-Ivan, executive director of The Arc of the South Shore. “It was a privilege to be among an elite group of finalists, and we will continue to seek avenues to expand this program and create a more inclusive society for children with disabilities.”