A legacy of advocacy, care, and community
Young graduates
1948
Six South Side families found Retarded Children's Aid (RCA), launching the city's first group to advocate for educational and vocational opportunities for children with developmental disabilities
1950
The group grows to 500 families and launches Chicago's first specail education program at Tuley Park on the south side
1952
A second group of parents forms the Association of Retarded Children, Southwest Chicago
Young graduates
1953
RCA opens the Southwest School
1955
To address the needs of teens with developmental disabilities, parents open the Southeast School and Vocational Center at the Woodlawn YMCA
Young graduates
1961
The vocational center moved to Temple Israel in Hyde Park. A third group, the Project on Mental Retardation, forms to organize the disparate agencies advocating for those with developmental disabilities