Brenz Pizza on Sutherland Avenue will be hosting a meet and greet and pizza party with individuals with intellectual disabilities and JaVonta Payton, The University of Tennessee wide receiver.
The event will take place on November 10th, 2021 at 1:30 pm at 1705 Cumberland Ave, Knoxville, TN 37916.
Leah Bowman, Community Program Coordinator states, “I love going out into the community each day and seeing the smiles it brings not only to our individuals but the people that we interact with as well. Community integration allows our individuals to feel a great sense of self-worth and satisfaction when they can see the difference they are making in the community whether it be through a volunteer event or community exploration.”
With an emphasis on community integration and competitive employment, the Community Day Program provides activities for individuals interested in learning about the many options available to them, including job exploration, volunteering opportunities, and leisure activities during the week.
Educational modules help individuals learn safety skills, resume building, and work expectations; interest inventories help them discover areas of work or play that they wish to pursue; and small group activities provide peer support as well as staff assistance as they explore some of these options. The goal is to expand their world, increase their confidence in navigating their community, and raise their awareness of the opportunities that are out there.
About The Arc Knox County Mission: The Arc Knox County is a nonprofit organization that is committed to providing programs and services for people with intellectual disabilities in Knox County; safeguarding their rights and protecting their welfare, and helping each individual achieve the highest possible level of personal growth and independence.
The Arc Knox County is a private, nonprofit agency, founded in 1953 with the express purpose of serving Knoxville area citizens with intellectual disabilities. It is affiliated with both the National Arc and the Tennessee Arc.
The Arc Knox County is and has always been concerned about the right of all persons with disabilities to participate in programs and receive services as needed to achieve maximum personal, social, educational and vocational development.
It is our belief that if appropriate programs are available, every individual with an intellectual disability can learn and grow, reaching increasing levels of self-fulfillment. This is a lifetime process that begins at birth and extends throughout a person’s life.
Additionally, the Arc Knox County has been instrumental in educating the community with respect to those it serves and has worked to change the stereotypes so often associated with these individuals. Programs available to those families in Knoxville include Community Based, Early Intervention, Leisure Services, Residential Services, Supported Employment and Sunshine Industries.
