Our Mission

Our Mission is to empower children and adults with disabilities to achieve their greatest potential through holistic and family-focused services.In 2025, Achievement Centers for Children proudly celebrates its 85th anniversary of serving children and adults with disabilities and their families. Originally launched as the Society for Crippled Children, over the decades, our name has changed and our services expanded to meet the evolving needs of the families we serve.

A Powerful Example of our History of Impact

We were thrilled to welcome 80-year-old Richard Masino back to Camp Cheerful recently, for his first visit since coming to Camp as a young child for therapy following surgery for club feet. Richard was one of our first campers when Camp Cheerful opened in 1947 and shared thoughts after his emotional return, which was a bucket list item for him: “It was a great experience and brought back a lot of memories to me. Life would have been much different for me without those ‘camping’ years. I had no idea that the Camp expanded into so many areas to help the community.”

Richard is one of thousands of children and adults ACC has helped over the years. Here’s a timeline snapshot of how Achievement Centers for Children has expanded its services for families over the decades.

1940s
1940 Society for Crippled Children of Cuyahoga County founded.
1943 First agency headquarters established at E. 55th St. in Cleveland.
1947 Camp Cheerful opens as Ohio’s first barrier-free residential camp for individuals with disabilities.
1950s
1950 Society for Crippled Children of Cuyahoga County founded. Due to expanding services, a second location opens in Lakewood. Agency launches one of the area’s first preschool and home-based service programs for children with disabilities.
1960s
1960 Agency’s new headquarters is built on Buckeye Rd. on the city’s East side.
1970s
1970 Agency expands its services by adding social services, early intervention, preschool, recreation, and physical, occupational, and speech therapy.
1980s
1980 Adult camping begins at Camp Cheerful for adults with disabilities.
1984 The Blue Chip Blue Tee Tournament is launched as a signature fundraising event.
1988 Agency changes its name from the Society for Children of Cuyahoga County to Achievement Centers for Children.
1990s
1990 A Most Excellent Race is added as a signature fundraising event.
1994 Patricia Nobili begins 21-year tenure as the agency’s Executive Director.
2000s
2004 Agency builds new headquarters, the Breen Family Center, in Highland Hills.
2005 Therapeutic Horsemanship program launched at Camp Cheerful.
2007 Agency’s West side services relocate to Westlake with four times more space for programming.
Several new programs launch including an autism program for preschool through second grade students, Therapeutic Horsemanship, and Early Childhood Mental Health program.
2010s
2015 Sally Farwell, longtime head of Programs, begins 6-year tenure as agency’s President & CEO, the Clubhouse is built at Camp Cheerful, and North Coast Therapy Associates becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of Achievement Centers for Children.
New programs are added, including the Intensive Therapy Clinic, Adapted Sports, and River Rock Adult Day Program.
2020s
2021 Current ACC President & CEO Bernadette Kerrigan begins her leadership of the agency.
2022 Camp Cheerful marks its 75th anniversary.
2025 Achievement Centers for Children celebrates its 85th anniversary