About PAR

Let's travel back in time for a moment, to the needs of families and professionals in the years 1967-68. A group of Ohio teachers, working with children with learning problems called "trainable mentally retarded", decided that they needed the professional camaraderie and support of other professionals.   At that time, the programs for children and adults with moderate and severe retardation were under the direction of the county welfare departments. The teachers had little affiliation of an educational nature with others in the welfare departments, and in all counties, except the largest, the teachers were very few in number. Very few universities existed that offered training opportunities for them.

Established and incorporated in 1968 by it's original trustees, Bernard Benisek, Sylvia Sachs, Carol Wells, and William Self, PAR became an association for individuals working in the field of mental retardation and developmental disabilities in Ohio. The original office was located in Weymouth, Ohio in Medina County, and was opened on December 10, 1968. The purpose of PAR at that time was "to improve the services for the mentally retarded and their facilities". In 1969, when Ohio law created the county boards of mental retardation, the teachers were increasing in number, and later they were joined by the superintendents of the county programs. Gradually, other professions were added in home based services, adult services, and middle management administrators.

During the mid seventies, PAR was at it's height of membership and organized annual state conventions, and combined with other groups to increase it's membership. In the late seventies, the membership leveled off, and attendance at the state conventions started to drop off. A few leaders became concerned, and it was decided that they needed to make a full commitment to become a full service professional association. It was decided that they would recruit the strongest leadership possible to guide the organization, and by the summer of 1981, an executive director was hired.

Under new leadership, it was decided that an important service to members was a highly professional state convention. Leadership was found to elevate the quality of the conventions. Starting in 1980, the convention brought in nationally known speakers in the profession. Membership increased, and status was achieved not only in the state, but nationally as well.

Now, in the new millennium, some of the needs have changed further, and the services expanded, but PAR is still a very active and viable player in the field of disability training. PAR continues to bring in nationally recognized speakers, and utilizes the talents of the professionals in the various fields of disabilities to help enhance the training individuals receive. The state conferences have grown, memberships have increased immensely over the past several years, and PAR has re-instituted it's regional trainings. Some members from the early days of PAR are still active and serving on the Board of Trustees, while PAR continues to recruit, train, and maintain new members and advocates in the disabilities field.

The board has individuals from counties all across the state of Ohio, including superintendents, providers, residential staff members, job employment specialists, case managers, and others. Representatives from PAR serve on numerous other boards, too, including the Ohio Superintendents of County Boards of MRDD, the Ohio Association of Adult Services, as well as serving on several State committees.