History

In 1947, in response to a letter in the Bergen Record from Laura Sparks Blossfeld, parent of a child with mental retardation, a group of parents met to discuss what they might do to help their children with disabilities. That small group of parents joined together to form what was eventually called The Association for Retarded Children (later Citizens) and is now known simply as The Arc.

These original parents helped others in New Jersey and throughout the country to organize parent’s groups. By 1950 the New Jersey Arc and the National Arc had been established. Today there are 20 associations in New Jersey and more than 850 across the United States with over 140,000 members. The Bergen Passaic Chapter of The Arc remains the first and foremost organization for people with disabilities and their families.

The Arc has long been a powerful force in advancing the rights of people with disabilities and their families. Through the efforts of Arc members, special education in public schools, supplemental security income and many other services which benefit all persons with developmental disabilities and their families have been obtained.

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