Our History at a Glance: 57 Years of Innovation


1951
Founded by Parents.

1965
Began first paid work program for clients.

1968
The Arc was appointed by the legislature to be one of California's first two regional centers.

1973
Began donated goods resale shop partnership with Thrift Town and Norquist Salvage.

1977
Golden Gate Regional Center was established as a separate non-profit agency. GGRC now serves approximately 6,000 families in 3 counties: Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo.

1982
Began Supported Employment Services in partnership with University of San Francisco.


1984
Began supporting people with developmental disabilities so that they could live independently in their own homes.


1985
Addition of Senior Services for older people with developmental disabilities.


1986
Community Living Services expanded to accommodate individuals with severe and multiple disabilities.

1993
Created an Endowment Fund.


1994
Multicultural Employment Services expanded to increase immigrant client job opportunities.


1998
Integrated our supports so clients could access multiple services, such as support for part-time employment and accessing educational resources.


1999
Kicked-off $1,000,000 Capital Campaign to build San Francisco's first affordable housing for people with developmental disabilities and purchased our main office facility at 1500 Howard Street.


2000
Completion of 416 Bay Street, a 9-unit apartment building housing 21 clients, and a new Senior Service facility now serving 111 clients.


2001
Purchase of our main facility at 1500 Howard Street finalized.


2002
Received grant from The California Endowment to establish Supplemental Medical Case Management services to improve client health and fitness.


2003
Received grant from The California Endowment to establish Optimal Wellness and Health in Aging pilot program to improve client health and fitness.


2004
Closed segregated workshop and held 100 Jobs in 100 Days ad campaign to find clients jobs in the community, paying minimum wage or better.


2005
100 Jobs in 100 Days Campaign results in placing 90 clients in new jobs. Opened the new ArtReach program in Pacifica, CA providing people with developmental disabilities with a full range of academic art instruction in an art academy setting.


2006
Successful Optimal Wellness pilot became an on-going service supported by Golden Gate Regional Center.

2007
The Arc opens a new facility in Daly City, San Mateo county, with ArtReach Studios and integrated work and community services on-site.