The agency originated in response to requests from parents who were in search of programming for their children with developmental disabilities in Sumter County. St. Jude’s Catholic School responded to those requests by sponsoring the Sumter Developmental Learning Center (SDLC).

Programs were administered by an advisory board associated with the parish. The Board worked to gain support from the local community and to raise local funds.

Act 1127 of the Code of Laws of South Carolina, Section 44-21-810, established the authority for the development of county mental retardation boards.

The passage of Public Law 94-142 required that all states provide a “free, appropriate public education” to all school-age children, beginning at age six. Due to this law, children with developmental disabilities from age five to age 21 began attending public school. The passage of Public Law 99-457 extended the rights given under Public Law 94-142 to children ages three through five who have developmental disabilities.

A county board was established in Sumter. Of the people nominated to serve on this Board, only three were able to do so. The county board system was established to assume responsibility for all money coming into the county for individuals with developmental disabilities. This board system still remains in place throughout the state.

County Commission purchased the old Guignard School from Sumter School District 17 for $90,000 and on February 1, leased the building to SDLC for $1 per year. SDLC signed a lease and assumed responsibility for the care and maintenance of the building, which was occupied in April 1979. Funds for repairing the roof and heating system were requested from and granted by the Department of Mental Retardation.

Also in 1979, SDLC was the sponsor for an application made to HUD to request funds to build two intermediate care facilities, under the project name, Creative Environments. That application was approved and the residences were constructed in 1983. The facilities were named Atkinson East Community Residence (which houses nine males) and Atkinson West Community Residence (which houses nine females), in honor of Father William Atkinson.

Mr. John Van Patten, SDLC Chairperson, and Mrs. Sue King, County Board Chairperson, were instrumental in merging the two boards into one, named the Sumter County Mental Retardation Board (SCMRB).

The Thomas Drive Community Residence was built with funds provided by the South Carolina Department of Mental Retardation, which then contracted with SCMRB to operate the Intermediate Care Facility that became to eight individuals with developmental disabilities.

SCMRB was reorganized by hiring an executive director and support staff, developing a Board Constitution and set of By-laws, and establishing personnel policies to reflect the new mission of the agency. The board of directors became an advisory board at this time.

In February of that year, the two programs were merged and the private, non-profit corporation formed in 1976 was renamed the Sumter County Mental Retardation Board, Inc.

As part of state government restructuring, the mission of the South Carolina Department of Mental Retardation was expanded to include individuals with autism and head and spinal cord injuries. At that time, the name of the state agency was changed to the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs (SCDDSN).

The SCMRB was renamed and would become the Sumter County Disabilities and Special Needs Board (SCDSNB).

Two new Community Training Home II facilities (Pheasant and Hartwell) were added to the agency’s residential program. These homes were established to specifically offer services to 6 young men with Autism.

Hartwell and Pheasant were expanded to serve a total of 8 men with autism.

The agency constructed a new CTH II home located on Pepperidge Drive. This allowed the agency to replace an older, three-bed facility and expand to a four-bed facility.

The agency constructed a new CTH II home located on Woodcrest Street. This facility offered new services to 4 men that were either residing in a more restrictive setting or were on a critical needs waiting list. The new admissions generated from this residential development were from the Sumter County area or nearby surrounding counties.

The agency re-licensed a property located on Chatwick Court which allowed the expansion of the SLP II program by 2 additional beds.