By Matthew Gleason
Tulsa Area United Way
On the latest episode of the Live United podcast, Janey Kotthoff and I sat down with Lisa Kelly and Erin Shepherd from the Arc of Oklahoma to talk about their Arc@School program. This program received a 2023 Social Innovations Grant from Tulsa Area United Way, and it is already making a big difference for families and educators across our community.
Lisa, the Arc’s CEO, shared her personal journey. Her daughter was once a client of the organization, and that experience shaped her path into nonprofit leadership. She knows firsthand how important it is for parents to have an advocate when navigating the special education system. Erin, who oversees the Arc@School, brought her perspective as a former special education teacher. She reminded us that almost all challenges between schools and families come down to one thing: communication.
That is what Arc@School is designed to strengthen. Families can receive direct support when they need it most, whether that means understanding evaluations, preparing for a meeting, or having someone by their side at the IEP table. An IEP, or Individualized Education Program, is the plan that outlines a student’s learning goals, services, and supports in school. The program also offers training for parents, teachers, and community professionals to build skills that empower them to advocate on their own.
One of my favorite parts of our conversation was hearing Erin describe a mom who started out overwhelmed by the process of advocating for her kindergartener with disabilities. With guidance from Arc@School, she gained the confidence to speak up and now takes her seat as a full member of her child’s education team.
The program is also evolving to meet more needs. Soon, thanks to new funding, Arc@School will launch a Spanish-language version led by bilingual coordinator Omar Sanchez.
Listen to this episode of Live United and hear how innovation, advocacy, and community come together to create brighter paths for students and families.
Learn more about the Arc of Oklahoma and Arc@School at www.thearcok.org