The Arc Gateway works to ensure children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities enjoy productive lives and have the support that they need to reach their goals. Through programs that promote choice and independence, a wide array of community based services are offered across the life span from infancy to the retirement years.

Children’s services include early intervention developmental therapy and pediatric physical, occupational and speech therapy where parents learn strategies to use in their children’s daily routines.

For our adult population, in addition to community residential homes, Arc Gateway offers work activities, job training, independent living supports, life skills development courses, a transition educational program, and a ‘retirement’ program.

Children are referred for early intervention services through the Early Steps program at the Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart. Parents can self-refer by calling 850-416-7656. The goal of Early Steps is to connect families and caregivers with services to enhance their child’s development so that children will be ready to succeed when they enter school. These services are provided at no cost to the family. Families are assigned a Service Coordinator to help them navigate the process of evaluation to actually obtaining services like those provided by Pearl Nelson Center.

A child can be referred directly to Pearl Nelson Center for speech, physical or occupational therapy services through a prescription from their primary care physician. An evaluation and recommendations for treatment will be provided to the family and physician. Pearl Nelson Center’s pediatric therapy services include a specialty feeding program for problem feeders and vision rehabilitation for school age children to help with vision problems not correctable with glasses. Vision rehab addresses vision problems affecting academic performance as well as the visual complaints following concussion. We accept most insurance plans and Medicaid as well as a private payment plan.

Most adults served by The Arc Gateway are referred through the Agency for Person with Disabilities (APD). APD works in partnership with local communities and private providers to assist people who have developmental disabilities and their families. APD also provides assistance in identifying the needs of people with developmental disabilities for supports and services. Please visit apd.myflorida.com for more information or to apply for services.

The Arc Gateway also accepts private pay for services. Please contact The Arc Gateway for more information.

Adults seeking competitive employment should register with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Florida Department of Education. More information can be obtained at rehabworks.org

We provide transportation to and from our programs. To arrange for transportation, first contact your support coordinator. You can call Transportation Services at The Arc Gateway at 850-346-6466. Transportation to other locations is available on a very limited basis.

For mass transit information or support using the bus system, call Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) at 595-3228.

To receive services from The Arc Gateway, you must have a referral from a state agency that sponsors and funds the service. If your family member is not eligible for services through a state agency, private pay and/or private insurance arrangements may be available. If your loved one has a disability and needs assistance in seeking or maintaining employment, contact Vocational Rehabilitation at 850-494-7200 in Pensacola. If he or she has a developmental disability (i.e. autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, an intellectual disability, Prader Willi syndrome, spina bifida) and need services to assist in daily living, employment, day training, respite, residential or other services, contact the Agency for Persons with Disabilities at 800-452-3895 and ask to apply for services. Locally, you may contact APD at 850-595-8351.

If your child is a student in Escambia County, transition services may be available through the school district. Contact Kim Norris at 850-469-5542 about services funded through the Escambia County School District.

There is a waiting list for services and it could take many years to receive support. For more information, you may want to speak to one of our directors about private pay for services.

The Arc Gateway does not have summer programs for school-aged children. However, we do serve our clients year round.

We want to make sure every participant we serve is happy in whatever environment he or she chooses. Clients certainly have the choice as to which program they want to join. They can also be in more than one program. A client may choose an option such as spending two days a week at Pollak Industries, a day at the LIFE program, as well as time spent in a computer skills class. If the participant wishes to make any changes, contact The Arc Gateway staff to begin the transition process.