Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Pfaltzgraff.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My Story starts with my son. Ethan was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at seven months old. He uses a wheelchair, has a seizure disorder. He is non-verbal but has receptive language. He is very complex in his medical needs and disabilities. When he was a year old, I was looking for help and called The Arc of Wake County. By the time I was done with the conversation and had some great resources to check out, I had offered to volunteer as a graphic designer! The Arc is the oldest disability organization in North Carolina. It offers a variety of supports and services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.
At the time, I owned my own graphic design business so I had time to devote to such a good cause. That volunteer work led to serving on the board of directors and serving as president for two terms. I got involved with other organizations that support children with disabilities and their families as well.
I was asked to step in as interim executive director in 2012, which turned into a permanent position. In 2014, we merged with two other Arc chapters to form The Arc of the Triangle. Within this new larger organization, I started out as marketing director and was hired as executive director in 2016.
Over the years, Ethan is now 17, I have found the more you get involved, the more people you know, the better it is for your child and their services. To be honest, it started out so I could better help Ethan, but I grew to see that my involvement could help other families too. I have the privilege to lead an agency that supports hundreds of families across the Triangle and I owe it all to my son and his journey.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I am so fortunate to have built a career around my experiences as a mother. My skills in graphic design and marketing helped, as well as the experience of owning my own small business certainly have played a big part. But my successes come from digging deep within as a mother of a child with disabilities.
The challenge comes from not being able to leave work at work! When I get home from a long day of supporting the disability community, I have my own little community of one. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The Arc of the Triangle?
More than 65 years ago a movement swept the nation. Parents of children with disabilities got together and said “Enough. Our children should be in school, at church, playing with peers, and growing up to live full, complete lives in our community.” So The Arc was formed. The first chapter in North Carolina was started in Raleigh and in 1954 was called the ARC of Raleigh. In the 1980s, its name was changed from the acronym ARC to The Arc of Wake County. Chapters were formed in Durham and Orange county in the next two decades. Each agency provided different programs and hosted different events. But all had one main theme in common, supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) through advocacy and by promoting choice.
In 2014 the local chapters in Wake, Durham and Orange counties merged to form The Arc of the Triangle. Since that merger, The Arc of the Triangle has grown to be a leading provider of quality services and programs to both children and adults with IDD. We pride ourselves in employing knowledgeable and caring staff who drive our push for inclusion, quality services and programs, and support to parents and caregivers. The Arc of the Triangle is a registered 501(c)3 with the State of North Carolina.
The Arc offers Medicaid and other State funded services to children and adults with disabilities. Our Supported Employment department includes services through Vocational Rehabilitation, a division of DHHS, and a high school internship Project SEE (Supported Employment Experiences).
Recently we added Mental Health services for individuals with IDD and their families and a certified Music Therapy program. In recognizing the lasting effects that Covid-19 will have on our families, The Arc realized we need to ensure our services were for everyone and that we could really make a difference in the quality of life for our participants.
We also offer community programs that are not funded by the State: Arc Triangle University, Petals with a Purpose, Cooking and Nutrition Class, the Triangle Self-Advocacy Network, The Every Voice Choir, and Supported Retirement. Our community events include Respect the Space, Party & Pics with Santa and Wings for Autism- two annual events for kids with disabilities and their families. We host support seminars and workshops for parents to ensure they get important information on future planning and other areas that our families face that most families do not have to think about. Volunteers and paid staff help to make this programming possible. The services are paid for through community grants and donations. Particularly our annual fundraiser Casino Royale sustains these amazing programs and events.
The Arc hosts a Holiday Gift Drive every year to ensure all of our families can celebrate. Businesses, churches and individuals donate gifts and money to this worthy cause. In 2020 we provided gifts to over 120 individuals and ten families.
In essence, there is something for everyone! For more information on our services, volunteer opportunities, and more visit www.arctriangle.org.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
As the executive director of a non-profit agency, I can’t take too many risks that in anyway could jeopardize our services. Instead of calling it “risk taking” I think of change and growth as part of the ebb and flow. It is important to constantly be aware of what the community needs and to ask- are we doing everything we can to be part of the solution? Are we serving the most people we can? If the answer is “no” then it is time to re-think how we do things. If we are providing a service that is no longer needed- do we get rid of it? The answer should be “yes”.
Using resources carefully helps to minimize unnecessary risk.
Adding therapeutic services is a good example. Yes- it is a risk, hiring a Licensed Mental Health Counselor- entering a business we have no experience in. But it is worth the risk- because we can see already the families we are helping.
So maybe evolution is a better word than risk – at least for a non-profit like The Arc!
Contact Info:
- Email: info@arctriangle.org
- Website: www.arctriangle.org
- Instagram: @arctriangle
- Facebook: @arctriangle
- Twitter: @ArcofTriangle
- Youtube: Arc Triangle
Image Credits
Steve Rubins Photography
