CLARC is located in the southeast corner of Montgomery County. Our address is 1730 Elton Road, #5, Silver Spring, MD 20903. Click here for a site map.

By BUS: Take the Ride-On #10, 20, or 22 and/or the Metrobus #K6 and C8 bus to Elton Road & New Hampshire Avenue. Walk 1/5 of a mile east (past the Coca Cola Bottling plant) to the "Capital Beltway Building." The Ride-on 22 schedule begins at 4:30 p.m.

Click here to reach Ride-On's website: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/dpwt/transit/search/search_busstop.asp. In addition, Metro may be reached at: http://www.wmata.com/tripplanner/index.cfm.

By CAR: Take Exit 28A (White Oak--North) off the Beltway (I-495 East). Turn right at first stoplight onto Elton Road. If you want to plan your own route, click here.

The Computer Center is located on the first floor of a handicapped accessible office building. It features a Computer Lab with 20 state-of-the-art computers and software. The Center also has a beautiful Living Room area for group seminars and conversation. In addition, we have a spacious Break Room where people can relax, talk, have a snack or work on a project. It is equipped with a large conference table, fax machine and photocopier. The room is also equipped with beverage and snack vending machines and a microwave and refrigerator.

CLARC's services are provided at nominal cost. Individual rates apply for yearly dues. Newcomers are requested to schedule an appointment for an initial orientation.

CLARC was established because the Montgomery County government recognized the critical need of individuals with a psychiatric disability for up-to-date computer access and training. It is widely recognized that today's greatest employment opportunities lie in the computer field. Most workers are expected to use computers in their everyday jobs.

Businesses depend on computer-literate employees to generate memos, reports, spreadsheets and databases. The greatest demand is for employees with solid data entry, word-processing, graphics, spreadsheet, database, and internet skills.

CLARC's clients have access to our computers, as well as structured classes in keyboarding and the latest software packages (Windows Vista, Microsoft Office 2007-Word, Excel PowerPoint, Access, Outlook, and Publisher, and Adobe PhotoShop).

CLARC clients, like everyone else, are also interested in using the internet and electronic mail (e-mail) to reach out to others in work and personal ways. Our internet classes are growing in popularity and taught on a regular basis.

For course descriptions and class schedules, click here.

At CLARC, computer training is geared to the individual, so that students are comfortable and advance at their own pace. Positive workplace behaviors are integrated into CLARC's computer training and employment services.

• Job coaching (skills assessment, goal-setting, interview preparation)
• Job searching (internet, classifieds, phone calls)
• Placement assistance (employer outreach)
• Resume preparation (editing, format, style, cover letters, etc.)
• Resume workshops

Learning the fundamentals of creating a professional resume and cover letter is the focus of our free, two-part Resume Workshops, which are offered on the first and second Fridays of each month from 1:00-3:00 pm. Please sign up in advance at the Center or by clicking on terrylmccullough@comcast.net and leaving your name, phone number and workshop dates which you are interested in attending.

In addition to vocational activities, the Center also sponsors on-site social events throughout the year. For more information, click on Upcoming Events. About six social events are held each year, including a Holiday Party and an Annual Picnic. CLARC students and members are welcome to join the Social Committee to plan and carry out future events. Contact the staff at CLARC at (301) 431-1628 if you are interested in getting involved.

Individual rates apply for all classes. Payment must be made in full one week before the first day of class. Most classes meet for 8 sessions. Classes are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

New classes are always forming. To suggest a class that is not currently offered, stop by and sign up on our new Class Interest board. You may also use our tutorials, books, and videos at the Center for independent study. On-line tutorials are also available. Course Descriptions, Class Schedule and Class Registration are listed below.

Familiarization with the personal computer; introduction to hardware and operating systems; basic word-processing skills using Word 2007. Students will create documents, learn to select, copy and move text, run a spell check, and change font styles and sizes.

Improve basic word processing. Students will learn to find and replace text, change margins, indent paragraphs, change line spacing, set tabs, insert bullets and numbers, insert clip art, create tables and perform mail merge.

Advanced word-processing and document production skills for the computer user. Students will create headers and footers, insert page numbers, insert page breaks, create sections and columns, add graphics, improve mail merge, use templates, and macros.

Introduction to spreadsheet design and use. Students will enter data and formulas, format the sheet, sort data, create charts, save and print spreadsheets.

Refine use of spreadsheets. Students will enter what-if formulas and functions and query spreadsheets.

This creative workshop, usually offered before major holidays, is designed for the person who wants to put his or her own design on their own greeting card. Student will render design on Word (or Photoshop) and have it printed in color on professional greeting card stock.

Introduction to database using form and design views. students will enter and navigate records, developing tables, edit and preview records, print, hide and widen columns, move fields, sort records, find and filter records and create queries.

PageMaker is a powerful page-layout program that allows you to take elements produced in word processing and graphic programs and manipulate them into newsletters, flyers, greeting cards (see Greeting Card Workshop) posters and even graphics! PREREQUISITE: Intermediate Word.

Learn to type alphabetic keys by touch, correct hand-positioning, and saving documents on a disk.

Emphasis on touch typing through repetition and use of spell check for keyboarding errors; saving and opening commands to pull up keyboarding lessons; gaining accuracy and speed on the keyboard by touch; type for one-minute with no more that 3 errors.

Refine keyboarding skill, build accuracy and speed; set margins; type in all caps; horizontally and vertically center text; block center text, type for two-minutes with no more that 3 errors.

Continued practice using the keyboard by touch to build accuracy and speed; learning proofreading symbols to make corrections in a document; opening and changing names of files; using copy & paste and cut & paste techniques. Build speed and accuracy on two-minute timed writings.

Type business letters and memos using all previously learned functions. Complete three-minute timings with no more than 4 errors.

Format reports, including headers and footers, page numbering. Construct report outlines. Build speed and accuracy on three-minute timings.