Marin Association for Retarded Citizens

The MARC Agency was founded in 1954 by parents who were struggling with the education and care of their disabled children. Originally named Marin Aid to Retarded Children, the organization focused on services for children. Over time, its mission expanded to include services for adults. MARC provided the early leadership for special education, Special Olympics, the first sheltered work-shop in Marin, as well as other programs serving individuals with development disabilities. In the early '70s, MARC met the needs of those discharged from state institutions by opening the first of nine residential homes and a 12-unit apartment complex. These homes serve a wide range of people from individuals with severe disabilities requiring total care to those learning skills to eventually live on their own. MARC continues to help many who graduate to independent living through a minimal supervision follow-up program. What is a developmental disability? It is a chronic condition occuring before the age of 22 in which a person has unusual difficulty or limited ability in learning social, daily living, and employment skills. It includes people with mental retardation, cerebral palsy, autism, and epilepsy.