JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers VOLUNTEERING—Arc of Ventura County client Brandon Ackermann waters plants Wednesday at the Simi Valley Care Center under the supervision of Lupe Vitela, an Arc employee. The ultimate goal of Arc is to train developmentally disabled adults like Brandon to be contributing members of society. When Simi resident Marlene Ackermann gave birth to her son Brandon in 1985, she thought she was the mother of her third perfectly healthy baby.

But when he was just 3 days old, Brandon developed a severe case of jaundice. Ackermann rushed her newborn to the hospital, where he stopped breathing. He ended up spending the next three-and-a-half weeks hooked up to machines in the NICU.

In the end the doctors delivered crushing news.

"They said he probably won't ever talk, he probably won't ever smile and he probably won't ever walk," she said.

But the doctors hadn't actually given her a diagnosis.

Ackermann later found out Brandon had cerebral palsy due to brain damage he suffered early in infancy. He also deals with shortterm memory loss and takes medicines to prevent seizures.

SHARED RESPONSIBILITY— Arc of Ventura County employee Amada Perez, a Simi Valley resident, helps Arc client Thomas Walker water plants at the Simi Valley Care Center. Many clients have little or no contact with their families. JANN HENDRY Acorn Newspapers Flash forward two decades, and the 23yearold Brandon has exceeded physicians' expectations. Though his mental ability is measured at about a kindergartner's level, Brandon likes to talk nonstop.

"Now he just has a conversation with you," said his mother, 53. "And I'm amazed because he's still learning. He still comes up and asks you new things and new words and understands things I had no idea he understood."

Though Brandon is confined to a wheelchair as doctors predicted, he continues to defy the odds with each smile.

In the world of developmental disabilities, these seemingly small victories—be it an upturned mouth or a newly spoken word—are huge feats for people like Brandon.

And Arc of Ventura County is there to help developmentally disabled children and adults take those steps forward toward leading the most independent and active life possible.

Founded in 1954, Arc is a nonprofit organization that provides educational, vocational and residential services for more than 800 people throughout the county.

Though he'll never be able to live on his own, Ackermann said, Brandon has grown tremendously in the two years he's spent at Arc since leaving Santa Susana High School. He even volunteers at the Simi Valley Care Center watering plants.

"He talks here all day with people so his language has definitely changed and gotten better," she said.

Simi Valley is home to two Arc programs, one at 3340 E. Los Angeles Ave. and the other at 5143 Cochran St.

Karen Smith, program manager for the Los Angeles Avenue program, said the agency's goal is to support its clients in all aspects of their lives in a way that promotes safety, dignity and respect.

"One of our missions is to not just educate our participants, but the community," she said. "Our people have the same hopes and dreams as anyone else, maybe just in a different way."

The Arc facility on Los Angeles Avenue serves more than 60 participants a day, half of whom are mobility-challenged, Smith said. She added that at least 85 percent of clients live in a group home instead of with family members. Many clients have little or no contact with their family.

"Many of them, they can't speak for themselves," said Lois Walick, who has a son in the Arc program. "They need someone out there fighting for them."

Each day, clients have a variety of activities to choose from, including job training, paid employment opportunities, community college classes, self-advocacy, computer use, music, gardening, exercise and arts and crafts.

Participants also take day trips to local attractions—such as libraries, museums and the beach—and volunteer around town.

There's also an after-school program for youth ages 12 to 22.

Mary Bentley, an arts and crafts instructor at the Los Angeles Avenue site, said she enjoys watching clients grow.

"They take one step and build on it," she said. "The more that they do, the more they conquer. If you feel good about yourself, you're always able to do a little more."

While Arc's focus is supporting those with a developmental disability, parents like Ackermann have also found help through the recently formed Arc Support Group for family and friends.

The purpose of the group is to raise funds and solicit donations for "extras," such as shopping spree days, a Thanksgiving feast and a December holiday party.

To help pay for these special programs, the group is holding a rummage sale at the Arc Cochran Street facility on Sat., July 25. The sale begins at 7 a.m. and all proceeds will be used to support activities at both Simi facilities.

Fundraising has become even more critical during the economic recession, Smith said, especially since the nonprofit is operating on a budget that hasn't seen a raise in 20 years and grants are more difficult to secure.

Maria Aram, who has a daughter in the Arc program, said she hopes the community will help Arc help people like Brandon.

"The lack of funding is heartbreaking," she said. "The whole purpose of this is to get funds to support the program so that the participants have a better quality of care here."

For more information on Arc, visit www.arcvc.org or call (805) 527-1358. To donate, volunteer or find support, contact Aram of the Arc Support Group at arc_friends@att.net.