ARISE Child and Family Service Inc.

ARISE, one of the first eight New York State Centers for Independent Living, was founded in 1979 by people committed to the idea - which was revolutionary at the time - that people with disabilities should have equal rights.

The center's first office was modest. In fact, the agency was housed in an old laundry room at St Mary's Hospital in Syracuse. Despite having only three employees, ARISE was at the forefront of the independence movement and spearheaded the first efforts to increase public accessibility in the Syracuse area.

ARISE quickly grew to meet the demand for services, opening additional offices in Onondaga, Oswego and Madison counties to better support people with disabilities living in downtown New York. Here are some of the highlights of ARISE's historical growth:

• 1996… ARISE opens its first subsidiary office in Oswego - an office that has grown from 4 to over 25 full-time employees.
• 1996… ARISE in partnership with Toggenburg Ski Center launches ARISE & Ski. Today, over 80 people participate in each ski season.
• 1998… ARISE received a horse farm located in Madison County as a gift from Dr. James Marshall. ARISE at the Farm offers a wide range of affordable, inclusive recreational opportunities, including an affordable play area, opened to the public, added in 2015.
• 1999… ARISE merged with Onondaga County Children's and Family Services, an agency that has provided social services to the community for over 100 years.
• 2003… ARISE officially opened an office in Madison County with an office in Oneida One-Stop Career Center.
• 2003… ARISE partnered to launch an innovative initiative to provide mental health services in three Syracuse schools to children in need and their families. This service has expanded to dozens of schools in Onondaga and Oswego counties.
• 2004… ARISE was selected to operate the State Systems Defense Network Center (Syracuse) and support site (Oswego).
• 2005… ARISE was selected as the Regional Head Injury Resource Development Center in the eight counties of Central New York.
• 2010… ARISE expanded mental health services in Oswego County.
• 2011… ARISE is designated as the Center for Independent Living in Madison County.
• 2014… ARISE teamed up with Options for Independence in Auburn, NY to provide services in Cayuga and Seneca counties.
• 2015… ARISE is certified as the site of the National Health Corps, giving our licensed professional staff the ability to repay federal student loans.
• 2017… ARISE is accredited by the Quality and Leadership Council, recognizing our personality-centered, holistic approach to working with people to achieve their individual goals.
• 2019 ... ARISE will remodel its building at 635 James Street to add 5,000 square feet of additional program space, including a dedicated workshop for ARISE Adaptive Design.
• 2020 ... ARISE builds an annex and renovates an existing barn at ARISE on a farm, integrating all Madison County services into a unique interdisciplinary hub for independent living.

ARISE currently has over 800 employees who advocate for the interests of people with disabilities and are working to provide more than 50 different programs and services. The Center prides itself on being actively involved in local, regional, state and national efforts to promote the philosophy of independent living.