COARC was established in 1965 by a group of concerned parents who believed that every child deserved a healthy, happy, productive life. Their children had disabilities. At that point in time, there wasn't an organization or agency offering services or programs for children with disabilities. This group established themselves as the Association for Retarded Children and received an official charter from NYSARC, Inc., the state association, on May 5, 1965.

Beginning with a few employees serving four individuals with disabilities, the group worked together to ensure that their children would have the opportunity to grow and reach their maximum potential in life and the community.

Highlights of COARC's success include:

• Camp Mahican, a summer day camp established in 1966, is currently a four-week program serving children with disabilities from ages five to sixteen.
• The Community Workshop, now known as The Training Center, opened in Hudson in 1971, moved to Mellenville in 1976, and currently employs over 150 individuals in molding, packaging, assembly, sewing, and decoration departments.
• Community Residences were established to fulfill a variety of individual needs. The first home opened in Hudson in 1976 and the eleventh opened in Stuyvesant in 2006. Additionally, since 1985, the apartment program offers residential choices for more independent individuals.
• The creation of a number of day activity programs. Promenade Hill Center opened in 1981 and was expanded in 1997; Evergreen Hall opened in 1987 and relocated to a larger space in 2003; and Dove Hall, Cardinal Hall and Falcon Hall also offer day programs.
• The Early Intervention Program (children's services) was established in 1983 and evolved into The Starting Place in 1994, providing home-based and center-based care for children. The program also offers universal pre-kindergarten classes and day care.
• Injection molding machines arrived at COARC to ensure a steady supply of assembly work for employees. The Training Center achieved the ISO 9001-2000 certification in early 2006, to make COARC one of only a few not-for-profit agencies in the nation to be accredited with the International Standards Organization (ISO) in manufacturing.

These are just a few of the goals COARC has achieved in the almost forty years the Agency has been in Columbia County. The Agency strives to be a strong advocate for the rights of the disabled, an activist for changes to legislation and public policy, and a developer of programs and services for individuals who are underserved.

As the second largest not-for-profit in Columbia County, COARC has grown to one of county's largest employers. Over 400 full- and part-time employees work to provide a vast array of programs and services to benefit more than 600 individuals with developmental disabilities.

COARC is the Columbia County Chapter of NYSARC, Inc. NYSARC, Inc. is the largest family-based provider of services to individuals with disabilities in the United States. Fifty-seven chapters like COARC employ more than 22,000 individuals and, work with more than 43,000 men, women, and children with developmental disabilities. Every chapter focuses on and meets the needs of people with disabilities on a daily basis.