History
History
ACDS was founded in 1966 by a group of parents on Long Island who were seeking services for their young children with Down syndrome. Since then, the organization has grown and evolved into a lifetime services agency that serves families of children, teens and adults with a wide range of disabilities that include Down syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Speech and Language Delays, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) and rare genetic conditions.
1960s
1966 – A group of parents, seeking services for their children with Down syndrome, found The Association for Special Children.
1970s
1972 – First Preschool opens.
1975 – PL 94-142, Education of All Handicapped Children Act, is passed marking the beginning of government funding for special education.
1980s
1985 – 5Plus after school recreation program starts with legislative grant.
1990s
1995 – Inclusionary day care program for children in the community opens.
1996 – Expands to meet the needs of children of all special needs.
1999 – Agency name is changed to Association for Children with Down Syndrome, Inc. School moves to Plainview.
2000s
2000 – First Individual Residential Alternative (IRA group home) opens in Wantagh – all six residents are former ACDS students.
2004 – Michael M. Smith is hired as Executive Director.
2006 – Home-based Early Intervention services utilizing Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) are established to address children with autism.
2007 – Weeklong overnight summer camp commences.
2010s
2010 – Day habilitation services are added to the roster of adult services.
2010 – First supportive residence opens as an apartment extension and is added to our Freeport IRA.
2012 – Agency changes legal name to ACDS and adopts a new tag line ‘serving children and adults with Down syndrome, Autism, and other Developmental Disabilities’ to reflect the continued evolution of services to children and adults with varying developmental disabilities.
2012 – Center-based Early Intervention services utilizing Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) classes are established.
2013 – ACDS’ client population surpasses 1,000 individuals.
2016 – ACDS’ 50th anniversary is celebrated and a second 4410 site is opened in Scarsdale, Westchester, serving 3-5 year olds from the community.
2016 – Brokerage department launches.
2018 – Fiscal Intermediary department becomes active.
2019 – A second day habilitation site opens in Merrick.
2020s
2021 – ACDS completes the purchase of our 4 Fern Place headquarters from the Plainview school district.
2023 – 3rd Preschool opens in Pelham, Westchester.
2023 – ACDS Foundation launches.
2023 – Westchester 5+ Saturday Program commences.