The Arc San Francisco

The Arc San Francisco The Arc San Francisco was founded in 1951. We are a lifelong learning center for adults with developmental disabilities.

Since then, we’ve become a primary resource for people with disabilities in San Francisco and San Mateo counties, serving over 550 clients every day. 1500 Howard Street San Francisco, CA 94103

09/14/2026

It’s DSP Appreciation Week at The Arc San Francisco.

Direct Support Professionals are at the heart of so much that happens at The Arc SF.

Every day, DSPs build relationships, solve problems, support choice, create access, and help people participate in their chosen communities.

Their work varies by person and day. It can mean helping someone learn a new skill, advocate for themselves, get to work, connect with their community, or have the support they need to make their own choices.

They are the people who make so much of The Arc SF’s work possible every day.

This week, we’re celebrating our DSPs and sharing more about the people behind this work.

To our DSPs: thank you for showing up, building trust, and working alongside the people we partner with every day.



Video Description: Two people converse in a workplace near a coffee machine; a “Happy DSP Appreciation Week” banner overlays the bottom, featuring The Arc San Francisco logo and a thank-you message.

Meet Vicki. She’s building work experience, earning her own paycheck, and deciding what comes next.Vicki is a paid inter...
09/11/2026

Meet Vicki. She’s building work experience, earning her own paycheck, and deciding what comes next.

Vicki is a paid intern at Star Café at The Arc San Francisco. Her internship gives her the chance to learn on the job, take on responsibility, and earn money of her own.
That paycheck represents something important: choice.

Vicki gets to decide what to save, what to spend, and what matters most to her. Right now, she is saving her earnings to help her family.

Paid internships can be an important first step. They give people a chance to build skills, gain experience, and discover what kind of work they want to pursue next.

We want more people to have that first opportunity.
Your support helps The Arc SF build employer partnerships, provide job coaching and workplace preparation, and be ready when the next paid opportunity opens.
Help open the next door to paid work:

https://host.givethearcsf.org/emp26



Image Description: Smiling person with long dark hair and purple-framed glasses, wearing a light blue shirt, photographed against a plain white background.

09/09/2026

Join us for the 24th Annual WorkLife Awards!

This year's theme is THE NEXT 75: celebrating 75 years of employment impact while looking ahead to what is possible.

We're honoring employees with developmental disabilities reaching career milestones, along with the employers, job coaches, and community partners building more inclusive workplaces.

Last year, our Workforce Development team provided 20,773 hours of employment preparation and coaching and supported 114 adults employed or in internships.

Thursday, October 15 | 5:30 to 8:00 PM
1500 Howard Street, San Francisco
RSVP by October 8

RSVP Today!
https://host.givethearcsf.org/event/the-2026-worklife-awards/e804491



Video Description: Person in a white and brown short-sleeve shirt smiling while holding a translucent sheet of printed text in front of a plain white background.

This Labor Day, we’re celebrating our growing community.This summer, The Arc SF welcomed 18 new participants, 12 new sta...
09/07/2026

This Labor Day, we’re celebrating our growing community.

This summer, The Arc SF welcomed 18 new participants, 12 new staff members, and 3 new employer partners.

We’re grateful for everyone who makes The Arc SF what it is, and we’re looking forward to what’s ahead.

Happy Labor Day from The Arc SF!



Image Description: Group of people in stadium seats, wearing caps and jerseys, smiling and cheering while posing for a selfie near the rail, with a green banner on the right and a chain-link fence in the background.

More days, more time together. Friends Like Me is The Arc SF’s after-work social program, where adults with developmenta...
09/04/2026

More days, more time together.

Friends Like Me is The Arc SF’s after-work social program, where adults with developmental disabilities can spend time with friends, join activities, learn new skills, share meals, and connect with one another.

One thing we’ve heard consistently from participants is that they want more opportunities to be together. So this August, Friends Like Me expanded to five days a week, Monday through Friday.

That means more chances to connect, try something new, and be part of the community throughout the week.

We’re excited to see Friends Like Me continue to grow, and even more excited to see what participants do with the extra time together.


Image Description: Group of people posing indoors in a wooden hall, including several seated at a table with drinks, while others stand behind them; warm lighting and framed wall art are visible.

On Friday, September 25, all The Arc SF campuses will be closed for services so our staff can participate in an organiza...
09/02/2026

On Friday, September 25, all The Arc SF campuses will be closed for services so our staff can participate in an organization-wide training and professional development day.

Support teams will reach out with information about essential services, transportation, and planning for the closure. If you have questions, please contact your Service Manager.



Image Description: A green graphic with The Arc San Francisco logo, reading "Save the Date. All campuses closed. Friday, September 25."

Summer may be winding down, but there’s a lot happening at The Arc SF. ☀️This summer, we joined self-advocates, families...
08/31/2026

Summer may be winding down, but there’s a lot happening at The Arc SF. ☀️

This summer, we joined self-advocates, families, providers, and community partners in speaking up to protect disability services during the state budget process, and those collective efforts made a difference.

Our latest Circles of Support also includes an exciting Friends Like Me update, an opportunity to help shape next year’s advocacy priorities, and important September dates for our community.

https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Circles-of-Support--Summer-Updates-from-The-Arc-San-Francisco.html?soid=1101645407542&aid=reSnBwPMsOY



Image description: A Circles of Support graphic from The Arc San Francisco says summer is winding down and invites people to catch up on advocacy updates, Friends Like Me, and important September dates. Below the text, two people sit across from each other at a small table and talk in front of a purple wall decorated with colorful artwork.

08/28/2026

Brandon has a job at the Yerba Buena Skate and Bowling Center. This is how he got there.

Last year, Brandon told us that his internship at Star Café felt like "a dream come true" and was something he really wanted for his future.

So, where is Brandon now?

After completing his Star Café internship in fall 2025, Brandon began working with The Arc San Francisco's Job Development team to find a job. In March, he was hired as an Ice Rink Attendant at the Yerba Buena Skate and Bowling Center.

Brandon quickly found his footing. He has been asked to work extra shifts and special events, and his supervisors and coworkers describe him as friendly, helpful, and hardworking.

His story is a great example of what an internship can lead to: hands-on experience, new responsibilities, and a clearer path toward what comes next.

For Brandon, what came next was a job.

The Star Café internship continues today, and in September we'll be sharing more about our internship programs and the people and partners behind them.

Special thanks to Scott Shafer of KQED for narrating Brandon's original story.



Video Description: A video introducing the Star Café, an internship program of The Arc San Francisco, narrated by KQED journalist Scott Shafer.

Our 2025–2026 Annual Report looks back at a year of growth across The Arc San Francisco, from new employment opportuniti...
08/26/2026

Our 2025–2026 Annual Report looks back at a year of growth across The Arc San Francisco, from new employment opportunities and expanded programs, to the launch of The Paul K. Longmore Center and the completion of our We Are the Future Campaign.

But the report is about more than milestones. It is also about the participants, families, staff, and partners who shaped this year and what this work looks like every day. If you haven’t explored it yet, take a look at the stories and progress behind the numbers, and what we’re building toward next.

Read the 2025–2026 Annual Report:
https://analyze.upmetrics-public.com/dashboard/public/ca4d6cf0-ac24-41b0-80e2-90d155e1e3af



Image Description: A group of people posing indoors in front of posters and a chalkboard sign; one person in a red hoodie smiles, one person in a blue jacket stands center, others hold books or papers.

The August Paul K. Longmore Center newsletter is here, and there’s a lot to dig into!This month:A film worth watching: C...
08/24/2026

The August Paul K. Longmore Center newsletter is here, and there’s a lot to dig into!

This month:
A film worth watching: Color Book, a story about family, grief, community, anddisability representation.

A first look at what’s next after Crip Camp: Denise Sherer Jacobson shares an excerpt from her upcoming book, My Camp Jened Summer, reflecting on Camp Jened, belonging, and finding her voice.

Advocacy in action: August is an important time to connect with elected representatives and speak up about issues affecting the disability community.

A call to disabled creatives and event organizers: We want to hear about the projects, events, and creative work happening in our community!

Read the August newsletter and sign up to stay connected. Follow along with the stories, ideas, and advocacy coming from the Paul K. Longmore Center.

https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Welcome-to-the-Longmore-Center-Newsletter.html?soid=1101645407542&aid=mZPYxFLlJRo



Image Description: A person holds a cardboard sign outdoors that reads “DISABILITY RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS” in large black letters.

Address

1500 Howard Street
San Francisco, CA
94103

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

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