Our History

A Brief History of the DDRC

In the autumn of 1951, two Calgary mothers were informed that their sons would not be accepted into public schools because they had developmental disabilities, and that the only option for education available to them was an institution in Red Deer known as the Provincial Training School.

Those two mothers were Christine Meikle and Emily Follensbee, who went on to found the organization known today as the Developmental Disabilities Resource Centre of Calgary on May 21, 1952. From starting a classroom for six students in Meikle’s kitchen, to lobbying the public schoolboard to provide inclusive education, the history of the DDRC is that of a true grassroots movement.

Here are some key moments in the history of the DDRC:

1952

Forerunner of the DDRC, the Southern Alberta Council for Retarded Children, is founded by Christine Meikle and Emily Follensbee.

1953

Classes begin in Christine Meikle’s “kitchen school” for six students with developmental disabilities.

1958

Christine Meikle School officially opens as the first school in Alberta for children with developmental disabilities. Emily Follensbee School opens six years later. The Calgary Board of Education takes over operations of both schools in 1969.

1966

Advance Industries, a vocational training workshop, opens in Bowness.

1978

The Independent Living Skills program, with a focus on helping individuals develop the skills required to live independently in the community, is created.

1983

The In Home Support program starts, offering respite services to families with children who have developmental disabilities.

1985

The DDRC’s main office is constructed and opened
on Richardson Way SW.

1986

Community Job Options Program launches with the goal of finding competitive community employment opportunities.

1993

Agency is renamed Developmental Disabilities Resource Centre of Calgary (DDRC).

1996

Participation in Academics and Career Exploration (PACE) program is established in partnership with Alberta Vocational College; Awards of Distinction held for the first time.

2000

Inclusive Schools Initiative partnership with Calgary Board of Education launched. This saw the DDRC working with the Calgary Board of Education to increase inclusion in the classrooms of 48 schools.

2003

everyone belongs™ campaign launched May 28, 2003; “Everyone Belongs Week” declared on October 6.

2012

Learning and Leadership Centre, our fully inclusive learning environment, opens.

2015

DDRC becomes a partner in the Calgary Employment First Network (CEFN), dedicated to building connections between inclusive employers and people with a wide variety of disabilities.

2016

A partnership between the DDRC and Bow Valley College is formed to provide computer literacy courses to the PACE program, developing employment-related computer skills.

2017

The DDRC celebrates 65 years of service to the city of Calgary.