Happy 35th Anniversary, Americans with Disabilities Act

The Family of Tommie, Tom and Mary McNulty would be proud of the efforts to see their vision of a world of inclusion for those with disabilities, intellectual and developmental. They would also know there is more to do, especially now.

Tom and Mary McNulty stood at the forefront of a movement of inclusivity and recognition of the need to provide for those born with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Their son, Tommie, was born with Down Syndrome in 1942. They were told by many a pediatrician to institutionalize him, he would never amount to anything. Little did they know. Mary and Tom were determined that their son would enjoy life to his ability, and they set out to ensure there were schools, teachers, programs, and living facilities to assist him along the way. Tommie's journey was a gift to his parents, as written by his father in a book titled Raising an Exceptional Child.

"In those days there were no schools. We had to start some. Now there are plenty of schools. Was there transportation? There wasn't then. All of these things we dug into. All of these things we helped to create. And in all of these things, we take great pride. We got a sense of great accomplishment and a feeling of great thankfulness for our ability to do it. It built us. It built us into bigger people. It helped our child, but it helped us more. And all of this is yours for the asking.

Thomas Francis McNulty, IV 1942-2002

Don't get discouraged. Be Happy. Be glad. Be expectant. And be persevering. If you do this, your child will turn out to be the blessing that we know, and you will find out, he already is. But the greater blessing, even than that, is what's going to happen to you. You're going to grow into a bigger, better, and a much more revered person than you ever were. It's your opportunity to grow. Don't miss it!

Thank you to all who have endeavored over the last 78 years to grow the McNulty vision to what is today, The Foundation for Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. We have much to do together in the future.