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 a course receive a Certificate of Completion.
ARC’s first two, five-week life skills courses – Budgeting and Holistic Health – were successfully completed in June 2025. Our second two, five-week life skills courses – Reading for Joy and How to Cook Easy and Eat Well for Myself – were successfully completed in October 2025.
Our last life skills course for 2025 was 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 ran from Nov. 18 – Dec 30. Lisa Lynch was the instructor.
Spring 2026 courses:
The ARC Life Skills courses Budgeting Part 2, Feeling Through Art , Reading for Joy, and Eating Well for Myself wrapped up in April and May. Congratulations to our recent graduates! What a great time we had during these life skill courses.
Budgeting Part 2: Left front: Tiffany B., Patty C., Ellie A. – Back row left to right: Jennifer McNeil, Instructor; April G., Terrell O. and Lester C.
Feeling Through Art: Front, left to right: Annaliese B., April G., and Patty C. – Back row left to right: Tia Poalino, Instructor and Lester C.
Reading for Joy: Front, left to right: Stephanie L., Patty C. – Back row left to right: Tiffany B., Ellie A., Lester C., April G., and Diane Drake – Instructor.
Eating Well for Myself: Front, left to right: Tiffany B., Patty C., Karoline G. – Back row left to right: Diane Drake – Instructor; April G., Lester C., and Terrell O.
A Safety and Prevention course will run on Wednesdays, May 13 – June 10 from 3:00 – 4:00 pm. This course includes class sessions with the Rutland City Fire & Police Departments as well as time with professional nurses from our Public Health office. They will address questions about what to do in an emergency.
And Holistic Health will also run on Wednesdays, May 13 – June 10 from 4:00 – 5:00 pm – with Lisa Lynch teaching you about how your body reacts to physical & emotional stress and what you can do to help your mind and body feel more relaxed and healthier.
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.
