Around 1.5 million people in North Carolina are thought to have an intellectual and/or developmental disability. Because of the false perception that people with learning disabilities are unable to make positive contributions to our world, many experience multiple forms of inequality and discrimination throughout their lives. L’Arche North Carolina challenges this by creating Communities where people with and without learning disabilities share their lives, from which we work together for a more human society. There are, however, significant challenges in our state.

In North Carolina, 70% of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have a need for housing. On average, a person with I/DD makes about 18% of the Area Median Income in the U.S., about $9,000/year. This makes it almost impossible to find accessible housing for rent. L’Arche North Carolina aims to provide affordable, accessible homes for people with intellectual disabilities, with a focus on community, dignity, and mutuality.

In a recent survey, 29% of adults with an intellectual or developmental disability shared that they did not have friends other than care support providers or family members. At L’Arche North Carolina, each person with intellectual and developmental disabilities has opportunities to be an integrated and engaged part of our community, and the neighborhood.

80% of adults with disabilities are unemployed. Together with persons with I/DD, L’Arche North Carolina works to identify vocational goals and puts in place the necessary supports for individuals to find meaningful and fulfilling work.

2022 was a big year for us, with a bigger impact, and we are hoping to grow even more in 2023. Mouse over the numbers below, to find out some important numbers for our year. Can you guess what each number means?

Read recent stories about how we’re making a difference in the lives of people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Gifts to L’Arche North Carolina make an impact today, tomorrow, and forever, enabling us to build a community of hope, meaning, and growth. Give today.

As part of the L’Arche USA federation, L’Arche North Carolina joins their impact, and hopes to make a similar impact in North Carolina as other communities have made across the country. Thanks to a grant from the John Templeton Foundation, members of L’Arche USA completed a groundbreaking evaluation to help L’Arche better define and understand the ways L’Arche’s community model helps transform the lives of its members — the “core members” with intellectual disabilities as well as the “assistants” who live alongside them.

“What makes this project so powerful is that it will help L’Arche members to better understand what makes their communities so transformative — and what they can do to nourish and expand the virtues they see as central to their life together,” says Sarah Clement, the John Templeton Foundation’s Director for Character Virtue Development.

From 2019 to 2021, six L’Arche communities from across the United States participated in this evaluation experience facilitated by the team at Dialogues In Action. As as result, a 120-page report was produced, a two-day virtual symposium was held, and an unique, animated series was created. We invite you to explore these exciting and important findings below!