Important Events in The Arc of Frederick County's History

• 1958 - Association for Retarded Children of Frederick County, (now The Arc of Frederick County) formally begins.

• 1959 - Harmony Grove School (now known as Rock Creek School) opened its doors to twenty- four children as the first "special" school maintained by the Frederick Board of Education.

• 1965 - Funded jointly by The Arc and county government, Jeanne Bussard Workshop opens its doors with six people.

• 1966 - The Arc obtains funding from the State Mental Health Department to augment its own funds for opening of Scott Key Developmental Center.

• 1966 - "Koffee Klatch," a parent-to-parent support group starts

• 1970 - The Arc lobbies for and assists in the planning of Rock Creek School.

• 1972 - The Arc obtains funding from the State to plan for residential services.

• 1975 - The Arc opens first residential home for eight men and women at 127 East Patrick St.

• 1976 - The Arc opens second group home at 301 South Market Street.

• 1979 - The Arc spins off its residential programs which are renamed Community Living.

• 1980 - The Arc convinces the Board of Education to operate a summer school program for students at Rock Creek School.

• 1981 - The Arc is awarded the contract to provide service coordination for Central and Western Maryland.

• 1982 - The Arc is awarded a demonstration grant by Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council to provide services to children to prevent their going into institutions.

• 1984 - The Arc develops an evaluation tool to be used by people with developmental disabilities to assess their day program services.

• 1985 - The Arc helps Frederick County Public Schools purchase "Kids on the Block" to help with inclusion.

• 1986 - The Arc is awarded a contract to provide service coordination services to individuals on the state’s Developmental Disabilities Administration Waiting List in Central and Western Maryland.

• 1987 - The Arc starts a support group for adults with developmental disabilities.

• 1991 - The Arc starts a support group for couples with developmental disabilities.

• 1993 - The Arc is awarded a grant to promote preschool inclusion.

• 1996 - The Arc and Community Living move into a joint building, partially funded from capital grant from the State of Maryland.

• 1997 - The Arc, in partnership with the state government, is awarded a national grant for self-determination, a project designed to provide people with more choices and greater control over the services they receive.

• 1998 - The Arc initiates a $1,000,000 Endowment Campaign

• 1999 - Frederick County Government awards The Arc funding to help students and their families plan for their transition from Special Education to adult services

• 2000 - The Developmental Disabilities Administration gives approval for The Arc to provide fiscal intermediary services through an innovative service plan. This empowers families and individuals to hire, fire, and supervise their own staff

• 2000 - The Arc begins hosting "Parents Day Out," a unique partnership with volunteers to provide monthly respite for children we serve and their siblings

• 2000 - The Arc partners with the Delaplaine Visual Arts Center to provide a community based art class for individuals we serve

• 2002 - The Arc of Frederick County is awarded a contract to provide Service Coordination through the Autism Waiver in Frederick County.

• 2003 - "Voices Heard," a 15 minute video of personal stories told by 12 members of the Working Together Frederick County Self-Advocacy Group, is shared with the governor and Frederick County's senators and delegates.

• 2003 - The Arc partners with Scott Key Center to provide Cooking Classes to individuals we serve.

• 2003 - The Arc partners with The Arc of Maryland to form "Wallbusters," a peer mentoring group.

• 2004 - Transitioning Youth Forum members create transition portfolio for students ages 14-21. Portfolios will be available in every Frederick County middle and high school.

• 2004 - The Arc of Frederick County's Family and Individuals Support Service Programs celebrates 25 years of service.

• 2005 - The Arc of Frederick County's Endowment Program initiates comprehensive future and estate planning services for families and individuals.

• 2005 - The Arc of Frederick County coordinates Take Charge: Life Leadership, a premiere, semester long course that is offered on the Hood College campus with a curriculum in leadership tailored to transitioning youth students.

• 2006 - The Arc of Frederick County spins off its Service Coordination division to form a separate nonprofit now known as Service Coordination, Inc.

• 2006 - Only eight years after its inception, The Arc of Frederick County's Endowment Fund reaches its one million dollar goal.

• 2007 - The Arc of Frederick County, in partnership with the Frederick County Public Schools SUCCESS Program, initiates employment services for individuals with developmental disabilities who are transitioning from high school.

• 2008 - The Arc of Frederick County celebrates 50 years of service to the Frederick community.