ACDS was founded by a group of parents on Long Island who were seeking services for their young children with Down syndrome. We continue to be one of the foremost experts on Down syndrome and have expanded to meet the needs of children and adults with a diversity of developmental and learning challenges. Throughout almost sixty years, we have grown and evolved into a lifetime services agency that serves families of children and adults with a wide range of disabilities that include Down syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorders, speech and communication delays, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), neuromuscular disorders, sensory processing dysfunction, visual and auditory impairments, and rare genetic conditions.

On Long Island, ACDS works with people from birth through adulthood and offers programs for entire families. ACDS currently serves more than 1,500 people through home based and clinical Early Intervention, preschool special education, respite and recreation programs for children, teens, and adults, Brokerage/Self Direction and Fiscal Intermediary Services, day habilitation, and eight supervised group homes. Mirroring the successful outcomes of its special education preschool on Long Island, ACDS has opened preschools for children with developmental disabilities ages three through five in Scarsdale and Pelham.