How we came to be and how we grew!
In 1960 parents and interested citizens came together to form The Iroquois Falls Association for Retarded Children which was incorporated on November 14, 1962 as the Iroquois Falls, Black-River Matheson and District Association for Retarded Children.
In 1962 a group of parents and interested community members initiated the building of Happy Day school so that children with an intellectual ability could be educated in their community and not have to be placed by their parents in a residential facility away from their community. School board did not accept children with intellectual disabilities. Although the school was owned by the Association on property donated for the purpose, it was not returned to the Association after its closure.
On May 12, 1969 ARC Industries becan operation to provide vocational training and services for adults in the community with an intellectual disability. A permanent building to house ARC Industries was built in 1977 and offered the opportunity for day employment to a number of persons with intellectual disability. Its closure in 1993 because of the Ministry of Community and Social Services was encouraging integrated work in the Community rather than shelter work, created a loss for those individuals who were not able to find a vocational placement in a small community.
In 1974, the name of the agency was changed once again to Iroquois Falls Calvert and District Association for the Mentally Retarded and in 1989 to Radio Street group home was opened to accommodate six persons with an intellectual handicap. This group home was a stepping stone to community living for four people who moved on to live in their own apartments. It also contained the offices for the association until the purchase of the Old Royal Bank in 1991 which now houses the administration offices. It closed in 2005.
In 1990 funding was received for a Supported Independent Living Program (SIL), this was followed in 1992 by funding for the Supported Employment Program which provided assistance in placing the people supported by the Association in employment in the community.
1992 was a busy year for Board and staff, with the opening of Spruce Street Group Home, a high care home to support six persons with intellectual disabilities requiring more intensive care, and the Developmental Program to provide the intervention necessary.
1994 saw the beginning of the Respite program to provide funding to caregivers supporting disabled adults in their home.
In 1997,a second high care group home was opened on Anson Drive in September to provide support for people being returned from provincial facilities with roots in the community.
A children’s respite program which included the community of Cochrane was funded in 2000. As well as providing funds, the program provided information and support for finding generic services in the community for families. This program was received with gratitude from the families who struggle to provide for children with exceptionalities.
In 2004, the Family Home Program began. One person has been supported in the home since that time and had demonstrated significant improvements in behaviors and all aspects of well-being since the program began. In 2004, the Association received funding for the Enhance Supported Living Program which serves two person who live independently but require a significant level of support.
2006 saw the introduction of the Transitional – Aged Youth Foundations Program which supports intellectually disabled youth during their last year in secondary school, in planning for employment and other aspects of living in the community.
Funding wars provided by the DeafBlind Ontario services in 2008 to provide a worker to train a resident in the Anson Group home.
At the present time, fifty people with intellectual disabilities are supported through services provided by the Association.
