About Niagara Support Services:

Niagara Support Services (NSS), is a non-profit organization that empowers and provides support to individuals with special needs to participate fully in community life.

Founded in 1953 by an association of parents who had a vision for their children and others like them who seemed to have no place in our society because of their developmental limitations, the "Niagara District Parents Council for Retarded Children" was born. First classes began at the local YMCA with nine pupils and a volunteer staff.

The organization underwent several name changes throughout its history … in the 60's and 70's we were known as the Greater Niagara Association for the Mentally Retarded, in the 80's Community Living Niagara Falls, and since March 9, 1998, Niagara Support Services.

Throughout the agency's years of service to our community, there have been many changes in programs, services, staffing and funding; however, our main objective has always remained the happiness and well-being of all the people we support.

A volunteer Board of Directors strives to fulfill the purpose of the organization. They are the overseeing body that governs all decision-making matters in accordance with the corporate mandate, its mission, vision and objectives, its operations, and its bylaws.

Approximately 80 percent of NSS's funding comes from the Ministry of Community and Social Services under the Developmental Services Act, or Child and Family Services Act. The remainder is raised through grants, donations, and fundraising projects.

In 1997, NSS began an alliance with Niagara Training & Employment Agency (NTEC), with NTEC's Executive Director assuming a dual leadership role between the two agencies. The following year the two agencies began sharing Board members (currently four members also serve on the NTEC Board of Trustees). The Alliance Vision Statement is "to promote the collective interests of people with developmental disabilities and their families, by helping to improve and extend responsive and cost effective supports and activities through a seamless service delivery model."

Today, Niagara Support Services provides a host of programs and services … including residential, family support, preschool, day services, as well as extracurricular activities such as the Night Out program. Approximately 350 individuals and their families benefit from these programs.

In order for Niagara Support Services to continue to offer a unique variety of services to people with special needs, there is a strong necessity to engage caring community citizens into the organization as members.

While this agency continues to grow and support more people, the membership needs to grow with it. Please join us in working towards offering the highest quality services possible in the future by becoming a member and partner of our ever-growing agency.

If you are interested in receiving a copy of the agency's history since 1953, please contact nssinfo@ntec-nss.com.

[Home] [Profile] [Services] [Membership] [Partners] [Employment] [Contact]