The 50s

In the beginning, parents were often frustrated and angered to find that their children at school age were to be excluded from their neighborhood classrooms because of a low I.Q. Other families from across Ontario were perplexed to learn that their sons and daughters could not move to the overcrowded institutions provided by the Province of Ontario.

While families were strategizing in Kirkland Lake (1947), and shortly thereafter in Toronto to begin to address these concerns, dreamers and visionaries in Wallaceburg were also coming together to awaken their community to a similar set of issues. By the mid 1950's, Mary Dawdy had shared her dream. The mother of a son with mental retardation, she had dreamed for years of a way to help all retarded children. She had become aware of the growing movement and strength among many Ontario families that culminated in February, 1953 with the establishment of a five member provincial organization, called the Ontario Association for Retarded Children (OARC). By April, 1954 the provincial group became incorporated. 

In early 1954, Mary Dawdy and Miss Ila Carroll organized a parent meeting with the express purpose of establishing a school program to address the needs of children with both mental and physical handicaps in Wallaceburg. Dawdy and Carroll knew that to be successful they would have to reach out to their community. The local Rotary Club became involved and their building at 507 Elizabeth Street, still affectionately referred to as "The Happy Craft House" became, on October 12, 1954, the first home of the Mary Jane School for Retarded Children. The school was named for its founder and first president, Mary Dawdy, and its first pupil, Jane Chortos, who was also visually impaired. Miss Carroll, who herself was physically challenged, became the children's first teacher.

Dawdy's dream was unstoppable. Although the original group came together to address educational goals, members became concerned about the welfare of children living in institutions and the training and employment needs of their son's and daughter's upon graduation. By January 14, 1956, the Wallaceburg and Sydenham District Association for Retarded Children became Incorporated by Letters Patent, in the Province of Ontario. Joining some 43 other affiliated associations with over 3000 members, the mandate of the group grew to include a vision for people of "self sufficiency and self support, training and education at home, in institutions and with public and private agencies."