It all began in 1953, when a group of 12 parents of children with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities formed an organization known as the Portland Association for Retarded Children (PARC).
When PARC was founded, little was available for children and adults with developmental disabilities; and the few accessible resources frequently failed to respond to unique needs. Those with disabilities deemed "educable," (or capable of achieving a fourth or fifth grade academic level,) were placed in public schools. Within these schools, children with disabilities were tucked away in isolated classrooms, some of which were in basements.
Soon the parents of PARC found themselves immersed in advocacy: petitioning for more public school classrooms; securing a stable source of funding and a higher level of legitimacy through United Way; providing special services, and community outings to those residing in Fairview Training Center, etcetera. Through such efforts, PARC developed a reputation for tireless campaigning on behalf of people with mental retardation, in order so that they might be recognized as legitimate participants in society.
