[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 26, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E323-E324]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF BERGEN-PASSAIC ARC

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARGE ROUKEMA

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 26, 1997

  Mrs. ROUKEMA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Association for 
Retarded Citizens of Bergen-Passaic Counties Inc., on its 50th 
anniversary. The event will be marked with a

[[Page E324]]

gala celebration April 13 in Woodcliff Lake, NJ.
  I have always believed one of the noblest undertakings is to care for 
those less fortunate than ourselves. In northern New Jersey, we have an 
outstanding group that has been involved in such an effort for half a 
century.
  This year, the Bergen-Passaic chapter of ARC celebrates 50 years of 
service to people who suffer from mental retardation. For half a 
century, ARC has brought help and hope to retarded children and adults 
and their families. It has given retarded children the early help they 
needed. It has given retarded adults the vocational and self-help 
skills they need to function as independent citizens in society.
  Before 50 years ago, there was no national advocacy group to advance 
the rights and needs of the retarded. State institutions existed to 
provide care for the mentally retarded, but there were no community 
programs except the few conducted by religious and charitable groups. 
These were few in number and depended upon good will rather than legal 
rights.
  In State institutions, the physical needs of the residents were 
generally provided at a reasonable level. But there was little in the 
way of meaningful daily programs that would improve the psychological 
well-being of the residents. In short, State institutions were designed 
primarily to offer custodial care.
  Parents with retarded children at home were in a difficult situation. 
They had the burden of providing daily care of their children but were 
offered little or no support from the community. By law, these children 
could be excluded from the right to a free public education. Recreation 
programs, vocational training, and support counseling as we know them 
did not exist. There was little public awareness or public sympathy for 
the retarded. In most instances, they were invisible in the community, 
existing only behind the doors of their family homes.
  On October 12, 1946, however, a letter to the editor appeared in the 
Bergen Record--the newspaper in Hackensack, NJ--suggesting formation of 
a group for the parents of retarded children. The writer, Laura Sparks 
Blossfeld, suggested that the group might be the first chapter of a 
national organization.
  On June 10, 1947, 41 parents from across the region gathered at the 
Paterson YMCA and voted to form an organization.
  From the beginning, the goal of the organization was to assist all 
parents of retarded children, regardless of the degree of retardation 
or where the child was located--at home or in an institution. In 
addition to helping the parents, the work of the group was, of course, 
intended to benefit the children.
  In rapid succession, chapters were formed in Essex, Union, Monmouth, 
Hudson, Mercer, Camden, Gloucester, and Burlington Counties. 
Eventually, National Association for Retarded Children was formed in 
October 1950. Some 400 chapters were chartered across the United States 
within 6 years.
  In the past 50 years, there have been vast improvements in the lives 
and fortunes of the mentally retarded. Where they once were scorned and 
rejected, they are now afforded human rights and fundamental freedoms. 
Where once they were hidden away in State schools or parents' homes, 
they have now been granted the right to live in the community. Where 
once they were looked upon with fear and aversion by a society ignorant 
of the facts, they have gained acceptance.
  But none of this happened overnight or without effort. The work of 
thousands of volunteers and professionals contributed to the 
advancement of the mentally retarded. These efforts, at considerable 
sacrifice of time, personal convenience, and financial security, have 
resulted in the expansion of services we see today. And the fact that 
new volunteers and new professionals join in the effort each year gives 
confidence that this progress will continue.
  Mr. Speaker, I invite you and the rest of my colleagues to join me in 
saluting the ARC for its outstanding service and loving care of the 
mentally retarded. These people of vision and humanitarian drive have 
not only given hope and life to generations of retarded children and 
their families but they have enriched and enlightened our State and our 
Nation as well. God bless the memory of Laura Sparks Blossfeld and all 
who followed her inspired advocacy.

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