Our mission is to empower children and adults with developmental disabilities to achieve their potential based on personal choices, abilities and interests...

Westchester Arc
Herbert Katzenberg Center
121 Westmoreland Avenue
White Plains, NY 10606
(914) 949-9300
info@westchesterarc.org

24-hour
Crisis Intervention:
(914) 949-8200

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Westchester Arc

Milestones

  • 1949
    Westchester Arc founded.
  • 1951
    Westchester AHRC opens its first school with three young pupils.
  • 1954
    The agency hires its first executive director, Elizabeth W. Buck.
  • 1956
    The Children's School for Early Development is established.
  • 1960
    Employment workshop moves to White Plains.  Forty people attend program.
  • 1963
    The Yonkers League, a parents auxiliary, holds its first meeting.
  • 1967
    Agency's first community residence opens in White Plains.
  • 1972
    PACDS (Parents Association for Children with Down Syndrome) support group formed.

    Guardianship program established.
  • 1973
    Building at 121 Westmoreland Avenue, White Plains, is named in honor of Herbert Katzenberg.
  • 1977
    Mount Kisco training center opens.

    Camp Echo opens.
  • 1980
    Workshop-to-community employment program starts.
  • 1981
    Agency opens Westchester’s first pre-school class for children with autism.
  • 1984
    MBIA Golf and Tennis Invitational kicks off.
  • 1986
    Crisis intervention program established.
  • 1987
    First Spring Ball held for program participants.
  • 1993
    Transitional services launched to prepare high school students for the adult world.
  • 1994
    Dr. Beth Mount trains staff in person-centered planning.
  • 1994
    Pre-school children begin to move into inclusionary settings.
  • 1997
    Clinic opens.

    First annual art show held.
  • 1999
    NYS CARES housing initiative launched with first house in Bronxville.
  • 2000
    Children’s School opens first inclusion class for children with autism/PDD at Small Miracles Pre-School Center, Ossining.
  • 2001
    First annual Golfing for Kids is held.
  • 2001
    Agency launches pre-vocational services
  • 2002
    Adult day services pilots “Without Walls,” through which participants go directly from their residences to in-community activities.

    Pre-school staff attends verbal behavior workshop conducted by Dr. Vince Carbone.

    Echo College holds first on-campus program
  • 2003
    Westchester Arc Foundation established.

    Agency purchases land in Hawthorne for new resource center.

    Pre-school collaborates for first time with a public school system, Lakeland School District, to operate an inclusion class.
  • 2004
    Recreation pilots Echo Onstage.
  • 2005
    Agency changes name to highlight evolving mission and changing expectations of self-advocates.
  • 2006
    Westchester Arc and Westchester Arc Foundation launch capital campaign.

    Groundbreaking for Gateway to the Community, a new resource center in Hawthorne, N.Y.
  • 2007
    Westchester Arc opens its first residence offering medically enhanced services.

    Agency aquires new buiding for mailroom, micrographics and e-DocNY business services.