North Shore Arc adopts new name, expands service area

DANVERS ? North Shore Arc, once known as The Association for Retarded Children, is again undergoing a name change that reflects the expansion of its service area.The Danvers-based non-profit organization, formed in 1955 by parents of children with developmental disabilities, will be called Northeast Arc.Darlene Waters-D’India of Lynn, a registered nurse with a 9-year-old son diagnosed with autism and mental retardation, is among dozens of parents eager to extol the virtues of the organization, name change or not.Her son, Michael D’India Jr., was diagnosed at 18 months old. “Arc has been like my right arm over the years,” she said this week. “I did early intervention with him and the people at Arc were always ready to help. They did building blocks. They have playgrounds where children like my son can go spend time with their peers. And there are all kinds of groups ? mothers’ groups, fathers’ groups,’ grandparents’ groups.”Waters-D’India, a part-time nurse at MGH Revere, said she has limited financial resources yet not eligible for Mass Health benefits. “That’s where organizations like the Doug Flutie Foundation come in. Arc puts you in touch with them. They can patch you into whatever needs you have. Believe me, this can be a very challenging life. There are so many things that normal people with normal kids just don’t understand. Buying shoes and clothing can be a big challenge because they have sensory issues,” she said.”Even going to the dentist can be a challenge.”Previously, services were provided mainly to people with mental retardation, but the client base currently includes the deaf, those with autism and others with mental or physical disabilities, including Asperger’s disorder.For more information about Northeast Arc, call 978-762-4878 or go online to www.nsarc.org.