My son is always happy to go to BARC and is joyful!
75 Years of Empowering Possibilities
In 2026, BARC Developmental Services proudly celebrates its 75th anniversary, a milestone that reflects decades of dedication to children and adults with intellectual disabilities and autism. I’d like to look back and share a little about our history.
Our story began in January 1951, when a small group of parents and friends of children with what was then referred to as *“mental retardation” (MR) met to form the Bucks County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Association for Retarded and Handicapped Children, Inc. At that time, no resources existed to educate or prepare children for their future, nor were there supportive services for families. These pioneers met monthly in homes and community spaces, united by a mission to train and educate children so they could reach their fullest potential and to advocate for families in their pursuit of fulfilling lives.
Their vision quickly took shape. In 1953, the chapter opened its first day care training center in Doylestown, followed by a second in Bristol. Soon came summer camps, preschool classes, and vocational workshops. By the 1970s, residential programs offered alternatives to institutional care, and over the decades, services expanded to include larger workshop facilities, more residential homes, and Early Intervention programs in natural settings. Through policy changes and evolving needs, the agency adapted, changing names but never its core mission: to serve and advocate for children and adults with intellectual disabilities and autism.
Today, BARC Developmental Services stands as a leading human services agency in Bucks County, touching thousands of lives. The hope those first families had in 1951, to empower loved ones to lead fulfilling lives, remains at the heart of everything we do. As we celebrate 75 years, we honor the children and adults we support, their families, our dedicated staff, volunteers, donors, and community partners. Together, we have built a legacy of compassion, inclusion, and opportunity – and we look forward to continuing this mission for generations to come.