Mission and History

1949

• Concerned families founded the organization to develop community-based services to support children and adults with disabilities to live, work and contribute to our community.

1950’s

• Initiated the first day school for school-aged children with severe developmental disabilities.

1960’s

• Started Milwaukee’s first Information and Referral Program focused on Disability Services.
• Initiated the Parent–to–Parent Support Program for families with a young child with a disability.

1970’s

• Started Wisconsin’s first Citizen Advocacy Program matching individuals with disabilities with community volunteers for peer and social support.
• Became the first Corporate Guardianship provider licensed by the State of Wisconsin to provide this service to individuals in Milwaukee County.

1980’s

• Hosted the first Challenger Golf Outing to raise funds from individuals and corporations to support programs and services.
• Designated as regional site of the National On–The–Job Training Project to develop community–based employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.
• Developed Intergenerational Family Support Program to provide service, support and planning to aging caregivers caring for a loved one with a disability.
• Initiated Milwaukee’s first Special Needs Trust Program, which allowed families to plan for the financial future of their loved one with a disability using a Trust I Community Trust.

2010’s

• Expanded Life Navigators’ Special Needs Trust Program by offering a second trust option, the Trust II Pooled Trust.
• Completed Expanding our Impact Campaign and built a major building addition to our home.  The campaign was completed to support program expansion now and for the future.
• Expanded Life Navigators’ Special Needs Trust Program by offering a third trust option for individuals over the age of 65, Trust III Pooled Trust.