As a tribute to Abbey Industries, we've put together some interesting pieces about the work center's early beginnings. Please enjoy this first piece about Maxine Abbey...
Maxine Abbey was a school teacher – and most importantly – one of Ontario County’s first advocates for individuals with developmental disabilities. Shortly after moving to Geneva in 1943, Maxine gave birth to a daughter named Cynthia, who was diagnosed with Down Syndrome. At the time, it was not uncommon for parents of children with developmental disabilities to place them in state institutions or abandon them at the hospital. But Maxine Abbey didn’t consider these as even options and pursued a vision of better things for her beloved daughter.
In 1951, Maxine wrote Joseph T. Weingold, then-current president of the New York State Association for Help of Retarded Children, now known as NYSARC, Inc. Weingold passed along the names of several parents in the area, who were interested in started a local chapter. Maxine teamed up with Florence Stewart – then-director of the Lochland School – to host the first information meeting for parents and friends of the children with developmental disabilities on December 7, 1953. A month later on January 12, 1954, the Ontario County Chapter of the New York State Association for the Help of Retarded Children was officially founded. Together, Maxine and this first group of parents defied society’s “norm” for children with developmental disabilities. They believed their children had a right to be treated with respect and dignity, as well as the opportunity to develop friendships and be included in community activities.
In 1951, Maxine wrote Joseph T. Weingold, then-current president of the New York State Association for Help of Retarded Children, now known as NYSARC, Inc. Weingold passed along the names of several parents in the area, who were interested in started a local chapter. Maxine teamed up with Florence Stewart – then-director of the Lochland School – to host the first information meeting for parents and friends of the children with developmental disabilities on December 7, 1953. A month later on January 12, 1954, the Ontario County Chapter of the New York State Association for the Help of Retarded Children was officially founded. Together, Maxine and this first group of parents defied society’s “norm” for children with developmental disabilities. They believed their children had a right to be treated with respect and dignity, as well as the opportunity to develop friendships and be included in community activities.
Maxine Abbey didn’t stop there. After a four-year battle with the Geneva Public Schools to offer classes for children with developmental disabilities, in 1958, school system hired her as a teacher for its “Class for Trainables,” offering a formal education to children ages 12 through 21 for the first time. In 1963, the Geneva Times featured Maxine’s class referred to her as “an energetic teacher whose pioneering and determined efforts in the field have focused considerable attention on Geneva.”Maxine’s her commitment to assisting individuals with developmental disabilities is still at the heart of Ontario ARC. Today, we follow the agency’s Values – integrity, respect, teamwork, quality, commitment, person-centered, and quality of life – to fulfill the vision Maxine Abbey saw decades ago.
top picture, left -- Maxine Abbey, date unknown.
bottom picture, right -- Linda Cole and Tom DeMattis at the Class for the Trainables, taught by Maxine Abbey
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