Mary and Leonard F. Wing Jr. 

Life Skills and Resource Center

Named in honor of Mary and Leonard F. Wing Jr. who founded ARC in 1958.

The Wing Room at ARC focuses on areas to assist and enrich all while integrating social and communication skills for its members.  These include Area Agency Services, Advocacy Education, Social & Life Skill Classes, Arts & Crafts, and Club Meetings.

ARC felt the need to add this program to provide additional services for those with developmental and intellectual disabilities in and around Rutland County. Through grants, donations, and the hard work of many volunteers, the goal has come to fruition.

Thanks to receiving a 2025 three-year Bowse Health Trust grant, ARC has begun a new series of 5-week life skills courses for our members taught by professional instructors on topics such as budgeting, literacy, cooking, nutrition, general wellness, or any other topic members choose. Members who complete the course will receive a Certificate of Completion.

ARC’s first two, five-week life skills courses – Budgeting and Holistic Health – were successfully completed in June. Our second two, five-week life skills courses – Reading for Joy and How to Cook Easy and Eat Well for Myself – were successfully completed mid October.

Our next life skills course is Movement – Why and How You Need It. This is an educational and physically active course teaching why our bodies need movement and demonstrates effective ways to do so. These classes begin on Nov. 18 – Dec 23; (there will be no class on Dec. 9th). Max of 6 students. Lisa Lynch will be the instructor.  We are so grateful to the Bowse Health Trust grant for making these life skills courses possible.

The Wing center has been remodeled and retrofitted with equipment, utensils, and cooking stations! Volunteer artist, Liz Mead, of Chittenden, has painted our Tree of Life, which highlights our community partners and resources working together to accomplish mutual goal.