DUBUQUE COUNTY ASSOCIATION FOR RETARDED CITIZENS, INC.

DUBUQUE COUNTY ASSOCIATION FOR RETARDED CITIZENS, INC. Founded on August 18, 1953, DCARC first met in the DUBUQUE COUNTY COURTHOUSE with forty-two parents in attendance. (1) Temporary officers elected included Ken Cullen, president; Mrs. Sitzman, corresponding secretary; Mrs. Frank Urell, recording secretary; and an advisory committee including Mrs. Dorothy Puls, Frank Hickey, and Robert Walton. The slogan of the association was "You can't do it alone, I can't do it alone, we can do it together." (2)

One of the earliest act of the organization was to send gifts for Dubuque County children living in the state schools at Woodward and Glenwood. (3) Local units were asked to approve the constitution of the state organization. This was done locally on December 10, 1953 with record made of thirty-nine paid parent-members and seven honorary.

The organization actively pursued developing a playground for physically handicapped and mentally retarded children. This would be held during the summer at CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL which also provided a meeting place for the Dubuque County Association. In May, 1954 President Cullen announced that with the cooperation of the DUBUQUE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT the Central School location would be available from 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. for eight weeks beginning on June 21st. The district had also been cooperative in providing the first classes for trainable and educable children beginning in September, 1954 at AUDUBON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. Financial assistance came from the Dubuque County Association for Crippled Children and Adults. (4)

Transportation of children to special education classes proved a problem for some parents. In the fall of 1955 off-duty policemen were hired and paid a small salary plus mileage to transport children to their classes and then back home. This practice continued for a number of years as there were no school buses. (5)

The first "Milk Man's Fund Drive" receipts were reported in December 1955. This marked the first solicitation of funds for operating expenses and new programs. The drive generated $2,423.49. The second drive's success of raising $2,368.19 was reported in November 1956. In 1957 the Association joined the United Fund (later renamed United Way). (6)

The plan for organizing day care nurseries was reported in 1957. The idea of obtaining the use of some building for the Association or joining with the Crippled Children and Polio group was discussed. Difficulties arose and care was finally provided by volunteer mothers from the Association going into the individual homes. (7)

Alerting the public to the problem faced by handicapped children was a concern of President Frank Hickey. Around 1958 copies of "Children Limited" were purchased in quantity from the national association and placed in hospitals, schools, and doctor's offices. Books about mental handicaps were purchased and given to the public library. Thoughts were shared of finding a house with facilities to care for bed-ridden children and the summer playground was expanded. (8)

The 1960s saw the development of the first Boy Scout Troop for mentally handicapped boys. An appropriation from the United Fund was large enough for the Association to obtain its own office, meeting rooms, and a part-time secretary. The old HUMKE'S SANITARY BAKERY building at 1533 Central was chosen because it provided space for all this and establishing a sheltered workshop by remodeling the back room and two other rooms in the center. An open house was held on March 12, 1961 and a summer camp, the third such camp established in Iowa, was founded at the Y-Camp. Applicants from outside Dubuque County were first accepted in 1964. (9)

The name "Opportunity Center" was officially adopted as the Association's place of business in 1963. The sheltered workshop began operating with a job gauging small steel discs for DUBUQUE SCREW PRODUCTS INC. (10)

After long discussions in 1965 a decision was reached to build or buy an existing building to house those who could be returned to Dubuque County. This first attempt to bring children back from Woodward eventually led to the founding of AREA RESIDENTIAL CARE, INC.. Expansion was also needed out of the present building on Central. On February 3, 1966 a lease was signed on Garfield Hall, 801 Garfield. In April 1966 the announcement was made of a land grant, forty acres more or less, from the William F. Albrecht estate to the Association, American Legion and Crippled Children to be developed as a campsite. In 1967 both the American Legion and Crippled Children chose not to participate. (11)

Representatives of Dubuque, Delaware and Jackson counties along with the cooperation of CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF DUBUQUE reported on the formation of Area Residential Care in 1968. Opened on August 1, 1968 in ST. MARY'S ORPHAN HOME, the organization's first group would include persons from 10-16 years of age. The second group would be severely handicapped from ages 16-18. Wayne Nielsen was chosen as the first director. The problems associated with establishing a day care center were finally addressed in 1968 when the board was informed that Area Residential Care would be including a day care center in their programs. The Association donated two hundred dollars and all the equipment from its discontinued day care program. (12)

The final separation of the workshop from DCRAC was made in December 1969. On September 24, 1970 the board voted to approve that DCARC move its office to the ARC building at 2909 Kaufmann. Construction of the first building at Albrecht Acres occurred in 1972. In 1973 Elaine Barwick spoke to the Association about HILLS & DALES CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER and requested the support of DCARC which was given. This Center opened on November 1, 1973. (13)

The association began summer camp programs including Albrecht Acres in 1975. TASK, a short version of "Talk About Special Kids," was founded as a support group for families with children with learning disabilities. (14) In 1976 DCARC was an active participant in Care Review, a reviewer of programs at facilities serving the handicapped in Dubuque County. Albrecht Acres was separated from DARC in 1979, the year it voted to support the VERY SPECIAL ARTS FESTIVAL.

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Source:

1. Schmeichel, W. L. (Roy). A Thirty Year History of the Dubuque County Association for Retarded Citizens, Inc. Non-published document.

2. Ibid.

3. Ibid.

4. Ibid.

5. Ibid.

6. Ibid.

7. Ibid.

8. Ibid.

9. Ibid.

10. Ibid.

11. Ibid.

12. Ibid.

13. Ibid,

14. Lamphier-Hoffert, Denise. "Agency Aids Mentally Retarded, Families," Telegraph Herald, September 4, 1991, p. 3A.