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Finding Aid

Anne Grady Center Records

MSS-306

Size: 6 linear feet

Provenance: Roger Fortener, Anne Grady Center, 11/10/2015

Access: Open

Collection Summary: Collection contains multiple forms of information and coverage of the Anne Grady Center from 1983 to 2015. The largest part of the collection is photographs of clients, employees, and places around the center. Also included are newsletters from the center, video tapes and CDs which contain more photographs. Some photographs are bound in albums or a scrapbook, but the majority of them are in folders.

Subject(s): Disability History

Related Collections:  

Processing Note: The collection is organized alphabetically and chronologically depending on subject matter.

Copyright: The literary rights to this collection are assumed to rest with the person(s) responsible for the production of the particular items within the collection, or with their heirs or assigns.  Researchers bear full legal responsibility for the acquisition to publish from any part of said collection per Title 17, United States Code.  The Ward M. Canaday Center for Special Collections may reserve the right to intervene as intermediary at its own discretion.

Completed by: Savannah Xaver, February 17, 2016

Historical/Biographical Sketch

Before the 1970s, parents and guardians of mentally and physically disabled children and adults were wary of institutions. During the 1950s and 1960s, major reforms of the way persons with disabilities were to be taken care of were underway. Before the 1950s, throughout history developmentally disabled people were neglected, banned from the public, abandoned, or institutionalized with the mentally insane. Once the reform of health, social security, and funding laws went through, new institutions began opening up. Parents had heard horror stories about what their children would go through in an institution, and usually tried to avoid it. Statistics showed that 1/3 of adults in the United States were caregivers to a member of their family, most of these being a mentally or physically disabled person.

In 1976, the demand for a healthy living environment for the developmentally disabled was high. During May of that year, the idea for the Decem Center, later Decem Inc., was created with the intent to meet the demand. This center was focused on changing the perceptions of institutions, as were many other homes like this during this time period. In 1980, construction began. The main facility, located on Eber Rd. in Holland, OH was completed in 1982 and promptly began accepting clients. After a few years, the Decem Center decided to change its name to honor a founder and driving force of the center, Anne Grady. From there, the Anne Grady Center evolved into Anne Grady Services, Anne Grady Corporation, and the Anne Grady Day Program.

The Anne Grady Center has 4 intermediate care facilities. These facilities house clients as well as provide them with multiple means of recreation and educational opportunities. The largest and main facility is located on Eber Rd., containing 83 beds, and just down the street a smaller group home was established. The two other group homes are located in Toledo, OH on Everwood Rd. and Eileen Rd. The smaller group homes house about 20 clients. While living in a group home, the clients are given a sense of community. The Anne Grady Center has added two more homes from 2014 to 2015, one on Dorr St. and one on Hill, both in Toledo. The concept of group homes began in 1991 with supported living services. Within these services, clients receive support, care, and community integration, sometimes even getting a job outside of the home.

Multiple respite services are available at the Anne Grady Center in order to stimulate and educate the clients. Offered are educational opportunities, leisure skill activities, daily living skill development, vocational training, and occupational employment. The respite services are offered to both children and adults with developmental disabilities. Usually, these services are most requested by family caregivers. By providing these services, clients are able to receive constant care outside of the home as well as exercise, regular meals, and even training in basic skills such as art, janitorial services, ceramics, and much more.
The Anne Grady Center also offers outpatient services, primarily therapy. The therapies offered range from occupational, aquatic, speech, and even a multisensory room for meditation and development. In 2001, the Jack Mixon Natatorium was completed. It is a warm, indoor pool surrounded by woods, providing a relaxing and therapeutic environment.

The multitude of services offered by the Anne Grady Center is impressive. Since 1976 they have exceeded expectations of parents of developmentally disabled children and adults, providing a healthy, friendly, and professional environment and living space for all.

Scope and Content Note

This collection contains visual and printed records of the Anne Grady Center. Most of the materials are photographs, documenting the 1980s to the 2000s. Many of the photos are not dated, so they were arranged by the subjects within the picture. Some of the photos were kept in their original album. Other visual records are kept on CDs, slides, and VHS tapes, also documenting multiple years. A scrapbook of the Anne Grady Center is also included.

Materials are arranged by type (photos, CDs, etc.) and alphabetically and/or chronologically therein depending on the subject matter.

 
Series List

Folder List