Good Morning, Good Friends Arc Community Tunes Into New Program And Tunes Out Television

It’s barely 9 a.m. Monday morning. Joe Wybourney is already shooting his second round of pool, trying to lure passersby into a game.

“Wanna play pool?” he asks. “No? What, you scared I’ll win?” he teases.

Every corner of the ARC Community Center on East Indiana is humming with activity.

Chris Small, 27, is working on his Muppets coloring book. A group of men in a corner toss a basketball. At a table, a another group is chatting and stapling together dance cards for the big valentine’s party.

Margaret McCulloch steps gracefully through the door, as if she’s just entered the Spokane Club for her morning tea. She pulls off her gloves, removes her hat and hangs up her coat.

“Good morning, good morning,” she greets everyone.

McCulloch, 52, and the others are just a few of the nearly 100 regular participants at the ARC Community Center for the developmentally disabled.

The community center is a new program, with an emphasis on education and socialization.

McCulloch, like the others with physical or mental disabilities, visits the center for at least part of the day, several times a week.

The light, bright and lively community center is a far cry from People’s Place, the 20-year-old center it replaced.

“The old program was stagnating. This place is much more stimulating,” said Willa Johns, executive director for The ARC of Spokane.

Participants range in age from 18 to 70. Their disabilities are equally wide ranging. Some never speak, others are rarely quiet. A few are learning to manage their money, a few more can’t count.

Developmental disabilities occur or are diagnosed before age 18, and severely limit the ability to function.

ARC was formed 50 years ago by a group of parents determined to improve the quality of life for their disabled children.

“It’s important that activities are stimulating,” said Johns.

The list of activities includes games, exercise and classes in grooming, nutrition, money management and living skills.

“Sleeping on the couch is not an option,” said Johns.

The television hasn’t been turned on once since the new center opened. At People’s Place, television was usually the focus of the day.

“There is too much to do, much more activity here,” said Connie Birdtail, who manages the center.

The regulars work on arts and crafts projects, build puzzles or simply walk around and look at the posters and drawings that cover the walls.

“People with disabilities are capable of doing a great deal more than we often expect,” said Birdtail.

In the six weeks the center has been open, changes are already obvious among participants.

The average attention span has grown from five minutes the first day of class to nearly an hour now, said Birdtail.

The participants socialize more with each other.

Like the others, Dan Iasotola is developmentally disabled. Malnutrition when he was 5 years old caused permanent neurological damage.

Now he lives in an adult group home and volunteers daily at the community center.

Usually a jeans-and-boots kind of guy, he sometimes dresses in a suit for his volunteer work at the center.

“I just came here, filled in the paperwork and the rest was history,” he says with a smile. “I try to help out as much as I can.

“I try to mesh with everyone and try to make them all feel like they are somebody,” he said.

His role is to help motivate clients to participate.

Kriste Bennion works part time at the center, teaching classes on grooming and nutrition.

“I talk to them about dressing appropriately, about relationships, about healthy foods,” she says.

She challenged one group to go home and learn how to do the laundry. Some had no idea how clothes were cleaned.

“Some of them have been sheltered and protected and haven’t had opportunities to learn,” she says.

“They love coming to classes, it’s more of an adult situation for them. The are learning that it’s okay to ask questions,” she says.

Rome Robnett sometimes teaches a class on manners. The focus one recent day was proper behavior at the center.

“Don’t hit or punch anyone,” he says. The class nods.

“Say hello or good morning when you come into the center,” he says.

“Shake hands when you meet someone,” he adds, waiting a moment while the class practices.

“Good manners are important if you want a good future,” he says.

The morning etiquette class is over.

Margaret McCulloch slips back into her coat, pulls on her gloves and adjusts her hat.

“I’m going to lunch,” McCulloch announces, with a wave of her hand. “I’ll be back in a little while.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 5 Color Photos

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: UNTOLD STORY? PLEASE TELL US We really want to tell your stories. What are the Untold Stories of the people and places, events and trends in your neighborhood? Spokesman-Review photographers are just itching to tell them in photos and a few words. Tell us your ideas by calling Sandra Billings in the photo department at 459-5418; voice mail 459-5415; or e-mail at sandrab@spokesman.com. Or write to Sandra at The Spokesman-Review, 999 W. Riverside, Spokane, WA 99201.