Ida Rappaport
In the early 1950’s, children with a diagnosis of intellectual/ developmental disabilities were prevented from enrolling in public school until they were 7 years old and then were commonly expelled by the age of 16.
Ida Rappaport, a tenacious mother of a young man with intellectual/developmental disabilities, did not accept this judgment, and employed her skills as a labor organizer for the International Ladies Garment Workers Union, and went door to door to organize parents to challenge this practice.
One door was opened by Harry Kamish who soon joined in her mission on behalf of his own son.
Ida Rappaport and Harry Kamish were soon leading a movement that changed the law to guarantee educational rights for all public school students, including those with intellectual/developmental disabilities. It also led to the creation of social and recreational programs, and vocational and residential opportunities for persons.
1951
The Legency Begins
On November 29, 1951, Ida and Harry founded the entity that would grow to become Lifespire. Seven decades later, Lifespire continues to fulfill the legacy of care envisioned by Ida and Harry by helping the 1,400 people we support each week to reach their life goals of community involvement, and independent living.
1977
Rappaport Residence, Queens NY
Supporting individuals in residential settings is at the heart of Lifespire's mission. We wasted no time to responding to the intense demand for group homes during the period of deinstitutionaization in the mid-1970s. On April 18, 1977, at our first location at Elmhurst section of Queens.
