Committed to Our Mission for 75 Years
![about-page-mission-history](https://lifenavigators.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/about-page-mission-history.jpg)
Our Mission
The mission of Life Navigators is to improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities and their families.
![Our Vision](https://lifenavigators.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Our-Vision.jpg)
Our Vision
Life Navigators envisions an inclusive community that supports safe, happy, and healthy lives for individuals with disabilities.
![about-page-mission-history-3](https://lifenavigators.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/about-page-mission-history-3.jpg)
Our History
Life Navigators was founded by parents committed to developing programs and educational opportunities for their children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
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.