January 2001, the Madison County ARC and the Arc of Cortland County merged to become Madison Cortland ARC. The Arc of Cortland County was founded in 1966 and the Madison County ARC in 1968. Both agencies were founded by a group of parents who were concerned about their children with developmental disabilities. Those parents fought for services for their children and others who were disabled. Today, the Madison Cortland ARC is a strong parent/family based organization. In fact, two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors are relatives of a person with a developmental disability. They offer their unique experiences to ensure the best quality of service the ARC can provide.