Our History

Empowering individuals and families since 1965

1965 - 1966: A VISION TAKES ROOT. In 1965, a small group of determined community members - many of them parents of children with disabilities - came together with one shared belief: children in Marshall and Starke Counties deserved access to education, inclusion, and opportunities that simply did not exist. At that time, no local programs supported children with physical or developmental disabilities, and many families were left with nowhere to turn. When MSDC opened in January 1966, it became the region’s first and only program supporting these children. The earliest classrooms offered structure, care, and learning environments that nurtured speech, motor skills, social development, and readiness for school. MSDC’s beginning was humble, but its purpose was powerful: to give children an opportunity to learn, grow, and be seen.
1966: FIRST CLASSES BEGIN IN JANUARY. In January 1966, MSDC opened its first classrooms inside a renovated motel on Old 31 West. Under the leadership of its first director, Shirley Amond, the program welcomed 22 children during its very first semester. These initial classes focused on helping children develop communication, social skills, and early academic foundations - skills many had never been given an opportunity to build. What began as a small, hopeful effort quickly turned into a lifeline for families. By the end of the first year, MSDC had already set goals to expand its offerings, including the creation of a summer program and exploring the possibility of a sheltered workshop to support employment for older students.
1967: EVERYONE DESERVES A JOB AND A SALARY. By 1967, MSDC recognized that educational support alone was not enough - individuals with disabilities also wanted meaningful work and the dignity of earning a paycheck. A committee was formed to explore the development of a Sheltered Workshop, a program designed to provide job training, routine, and wages for adults who had long been excluded from the workforce. At the same time, MSDC faced serious financial challenges and made a community-wide appeal to ensure its programs could continue operating. In response, local supporters established the Century Club, creating one of MSDC’s earliest donor networks. This new foundation of community support helped stabilize the organization and fueled future growth.
1969: MSDC ADDS TRANSPORTATION. In 1969, MSDC made transportation a critical part of its mission by adding two 11-passenger vans to support children and adults who otherwise had no way to access services. Reliable transportation opened doors: participants could now attend classes, therapy, activities, and community outings safely and consistently. That same year, MSDC earned a U.S. Department of Labor Sheltered Workshop certificate, allowing individuals to earn wages for contracted labor. This milestone marked an important shift toward employment inclusion and greater independence for adults within the program.
1970: MSDC EXPANDS ITS SPACE. By 1970, MSDC’s enrollment had grown so quickly that the organization needed additional space to meet the rising demand. A new mobile classroom was added outside of Argos, allowing the organization to reach more individuals and diversify services. Shortly after, MSDC opened a dedicated Adult Services building in Plymouth, creating separate spaces for child and adult programming. These expansions marked the beginning of a more structured, age-responsive service model - ensuring each person received support tailored to their abilities, goals, and stage of life.
1976: MSDC OPENS THE PIDCO DRIVE LOCATION. In 1976, MSDC moved into its new, purpose-built facility on PIDCO Drive in Plymouth - now the organization’s main campus. This major expansion provided larger classrooms, therapy areas, administrative space, and room for growing services. For the first time, MSDC had a home designed specifically for meeting the needs of children and adults with disabilities. The new facility also positioned MSDC for decades of future growth, enabling the organization to expand into early childhood education, employment training, therapy services, residential supports, and community-based programs.
1984: MSDC BECOMES A HEAD START PROVIDER. In 1984, MSDC expanded its mission by applying to serve as the official Head Start provider for Marshall and Starke Counties. The application was approved, allowing MSDC to offer high-quality early childhood education, family engagement, and school-readiness services to children from low-income families. This milestone strengthened MSDC’s commitment to early intervention and provided children with a safe, supportive learning environment during the most crucial years of development.
1992: KALEIDOSCOPE CHILDREN'S CENTER OPENS. In 1992, community support helped launch the Kaleidoscope Children’s Center, the new home for MSDC’s Head Start, Early Head Start, and Early Childhood Vocational Education programs. Through strong partnerships with the North Central Area Vocational Cooperative and Ivy Tech College, MSDC introduced a dual-credit Early Childhood Education pathway, giving high school students hands-on teaching experience. The Kaleidoscope Center quickly became a vibrant hub for early learning and family support - preparing children for school and inspiring future educators.
1994: MANITOU CENTER OPENS. In June 1994, MSDC expanded into Fulton County through a merger with the Fulton County ARC, known as the Manitou Center. This partnership broadened access to vocational services, community activities, and adult programming for individuals in the region. The Manitou Center became an essential extension of MSDC’s mission, enhancing opportunities for independence, community participation, and personal growth.
1995: MSDC PURCHASES REAL PRODUCTS. In 1995, MSDC acquired Real Products, a small manufacturing operation located within the MSDC workshop that produces wooden reels for the wire industry. This acquisition created meaningful, paid employment opportunities for individuals enrolled in MSDC programs while also contributing to the local economy. Real Products continues to serve as a unique bridge between industry and disability services - providing real work, real wages, and real experience.
1998: EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM BEGINS. In 1998, MSDC expanded its early childhood offerings with the launch of the Early Head Start program. Designed to support pregnant women, infants, toddlers, and families, this program offered home visits, developmental screenings, parent support, and early learning opportunities. The addition of Early Head Start strengthened MSDC’s long-term commitment to supporting individuals at every stage of life - from early development through adulthood.

Us Today: Empowering Every Ability - Then and Now

Group of people embracing in a joyful group hug inside a room decorated with music-themed artwork, records, and posters.

A teacher and four young children standing on a colorful educational rug in a classroom, holding hands in a circle.

Group of fifteen people gathered around a table in a cafe or restaurant, some standing behind and some sitting in front, smiling and making hand gestures for the photo.

Today, MSDC stands as a multi-county organization offering a full continuum of services that support individuals from infancy through adulthood. What began in a renovated motel has grown into a thriving network of programs—Early Head Start and Head Start, preschool classrooms, adult day services, residential supports, employment training, community inclusion programs, and partnerships that strengthen families.

Across our Plymouth, Knox, Bremen, and Rochester locations, MSDC continues to build pathways for independence, learning, creativity, and connection. Every program, every classroom, and every workshop honors the mission that started in 1965: to ensure every person, regardless of ability, has the opportunity to learn, work, thrive, and belong in their community.

More than five decades later, MSDC remains committed to the same core truth that shaped our beginning:
Every ability deserves empowerment. Every stage of life deserves support. Every person deserves a place to grow.