Semifinalists Announced in “The Arc Tank 2.0&" Competition

BOSTON, Oct. 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the country’s leading organizations advocating for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities and autism -- Northeast Arc of Massachusetts – has announced the seven teams selected from approximately 100 submitted for The Arc Tank 2.0, an innovation contest to positively disrupt how disability services are provided with up to $200,000 in prizes. This is the second year of the competition.

Semifinalists are vying for $200,000 provided by the Changing Lives Fund established through a $1 million donation from Steven P. Rosenthal, founder of West Shore, LLC.

Northeast Arc is a human services organization annually serving 10,000 children and adults from 190 Massachusetts cities and towns who have a broad range of disabilities.

The following ideas have made the 2018 Arc Tank 2.0 semifinals:

• A Massachusetts non-profit coalition proposes to leverage Electronic Health Information for those with ID to advocate for better healthcare
• A California non-profit proposes helping to close the social communication gap using Virtual Reality training and technology
• An Indianapolis firm seeks to create better training and work conditions to Improve the Work life of Caregivers in recognition that very high turnover among care providers damages long-term stability for those with ID
• Those with ID have enormous difficulty accessing transportation for social, recreational, medical and work needs and family members often worry about putting them in the cars of drivers unprepared to deal with special situations. An Illinois group proposes to connect those with ID with vehicles Driven by Trained Support Professionals.

Semifinalists:

• ASSERT -Autism Spectrum Support Emergency Response Teams -The May Institute, Randolph, Mass.
• Can Social Impact Bonds Drive Employment Outcomes for Individuals with Disabilities -WORK Inc. of Dorchester, Mass.
• Leveraging Data: Optimizing Community-Based Health Advocacy for People with ID - HMEA of Franklin, Mass.
• Quillo – Red Road Ventures LLC of Indianapolis, Indiana
• SCOOT (Stronger Communities through Open and Organized Transportation) New Star of Chicago Heights, Illinois
• Professional Development for First Responders - The Arc of South Norfolk’s Autism Law Enforcement Education Coalition (ALEC) of Westwood, Mass.
• Virtual Reality Functional Communication Activities & Training Seminars - Interactive Media Institute of San Diego, California

Winners will be determined by a panel of judges on 11/27 at the John F Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. RSVP for the event at https://ne-arc.org/the-arc-tank/about-the-arc-tank/.

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SOURCE Northeast Arc