The impact of L’Arche goes far beyond our numbers. Each day, people with and without intellectual disabilities develop extraordinary friendships through ordinary activities: preparing meals, brushing teeth, shopping for groceries, and praying together. These friendships become catalysts for change. Read more about the many ways L’Arche impacts the lives of our members and the broader community.
We are people with and without disabilities sharing life in communities, belonging to an international federation. Mutual relationships and trust in God are at the heart of our life together. We celebrate the unique value of each person and recognize our need for one another.
People with intellectual or developmental disabilities that live in a L’Arche home or participate in a day program.
People without intellectual or developmental disabilities who live with and support Core Members.
Mutually transformative relationships form the heart of L’Arche. All of us, whether or not we live with an intellectual disability, desire a sense of belonging. In L’Arche, people of all walks of life build relationships rooted in trust and vulnerability. By sharing daily life together, community members can learn true friendship and teach one another to love unconditionally.
L’Arche makes it possible for our perceptions regarding disability and vulnerability to be transformed. Since our founding, L’Arche has illuminated the gifts of people with intellectual disabilities and affirmed their inherent dignity and worth. L’Arche believes everyone has something valuable to contribute, even the most vulnerable. Our weaknesses and vulnerabilities are not to be hidden from others, but welcomed and shared.