[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4039]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     RECOGNIZING THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARC OF CHESTER COUNTY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM GERLACH

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 22, 2012

  Mr. GERLACH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate The ARC of 
Chester County, Pennsylvania on its 60th anniversary of improving the 
quality of life for individuals with developmental and intellectual 
disabilities.
  The history of The ARC of Chester County is a long and storied one, 
extending back to 1952 when local Chester County parents founded the 
organization as an affiliate of The ARC U.S., which was founded in 
Philadelphia and counted this group among its first local chapters. 
When The ARC was founded, there were few programs and services for the 
special needs population it served, and in fact many were 
institutionalized at the state institutions of Pennhurst and 
Embreeville. The founders of The ARC defied the conventional wisdom of 
the time by advocating and working for public education and community 
inclusion for their children.
  The only group in Chester County whose services are completely 
community-based, The ARC of Chester County has celebrated many 
significant firsts in its illustrious 60 year history. It is 
responsible for the first sheltered workshop in Chester County, the 
first community-based classrooms for children with developmental or 
intellectual disabilities, the first and only recreation program of its 
kind in Chester County for folks with such disabilities, the first 
organization in Pennsylvania to advocate for public education for 
children with special disabilities, the first group home in 
Pennsylvania, and the first community-based job coaching and employment 
program.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me today in congratulating 
The ARC of Chester County on the occasion of its 60th anniversary and 
to extend best wishes for the agency's continuing work to meet the 
needs of the community through the 21st century and beyond.

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