About ACA

The Association for Community Advocacy (ACA) was one of the first grass-roots organizations in Michigan to advocate for persons with developmental disabilities and their families. It all began in 1949 when a group of parents organized what was then called the Washtenaw Association for Retarded Children (WARC). Their purpose was to seek educational opportunities for their children. But their fight for rights and opportunities for people with disabilities did not end there.

Today, ACA is a recognized leader in the field of disability rights and advocacy throughout the State of Michigan and the nation. ACA’s efforts have resulted in groundbreaking innovations in education, community living, employment, consumer choice and person centered planning. These developments have led to an awakening in many communities regarding the human, civil and constitutional rights of persons with disabilities, and a corresponding improvement to quality-of-life for many persons with disabilities and their families.