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Our founding parents in 1949 knew their children could learn and started Mentally Retarded Children’s Aid (MRCA) to provide classroom education for their children. They later changed the name to Seguin RCA in honor of Edouard Seguin, a 19^th century French physician, known for his work in Europe and the United States with children with learning disabilities.

After Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990, and children with disabilities were enrolled in public schools, our founders realized there were no supportive services after their kids left the school system. SRCA exists today to create and share joyful experiences with our participants and continue our mission to provide life-enriching activities for people with disabilities.

For over 70 years, thanks to loving parents, a committed board of directors and passionate volunteers, we have served thousands of individuals with disabilities and their families, through life-enriching social and recreational programs. We provide quality activities – art, music, summer and respite camp, bowling, seasonal parties and lots of fun – for friends to get together and enjoy life. And thanks to our generous donors, we are able to offer “camperships” for families in need.

After age 21, funding through the education system in our country stops supporting these individuals, and caregivers are often heard saying, “There isn’t anything for my kid.”

Please partner with us and help support our life-enriching programming for people with disabilities!

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History

In 1949, a group of parents formed MRCA, a non-profit organization designed to provide functional education for their children. Back then children with developmental disabilities were not allowed in public schools because they did not pass standard IQ tests. The parents were convinced their children could learn and were determined to give them that opportunity.

Through the parents’ hard work and community support, Seguin RCA hired teachers and launched and training classes in a church basement. Our founding parents joined others nationwide who shared the same determination to provide education for their children. They demanded equal education for all children regardless of their abilities. They fought long and hard and, ultimately, were instrumental in bringing about Public Law 94-142 in 1975, which provides equal access to public education for all children, and the creation of state ARC’s (Association for Retarded Citizens). They were then, and are now, the vanguards of services for individuals with developmental disabilities.

The agency grew from the need to educate children with developmental disabilities. Today, we are simply SRCA, and the need is greater than ever to support individuals and their caregivers in securing individualized, life-enhancing services. SRCA is not a residential agency. Our mission is to provide a safe community and activities for adults with disabilities.

Timeline

1949 – Mentally Retarded Children’s Aid (MRCA) forms a non-profit organization to provide functional education for their children.

1951 – MRCA purchases the building at 6223 W. Ogden Avenue in Berwyn. It is named for Edouard Seguin who believed individuals with developmental disabilities could learn.

1958 – A school addition is built to accommodate the growing number of students.

1964 – Seguin Training Center is built in Cicero to provide vocational assessments and training.

1975 – SRCA purchases an 80-acre farm on Osborne Road, now Camp Seguin. We sold 40 acres to improve programs and update facilities at both camp and at our residential program areas in suburban Chicago.

1976 – An addition to the training center is built to prepare persons for jobs in the community and to create a work site for those needing a more supervised environment.

1977 – MRCA changes its name to Seguin Retarded Citizens Association (Seguin RCA) and creates a separate organization named Seguin Services, Inc. (SSI) to satisfy state criteria.

1979 – Seguin RCA establishes four residential homes in which SSI provides programs for the residents until 1995.

1990 – Seguin RCA strengthens its focus on advocacy for individuals with developmental disabilities so that quality of life can be achieved. This focus is made possible through the united efforts of parents, family members, friends and supporters throughout the community.

1995 – Oak Leyden Developmental Services (OLDS) agrees to provide services for the 24 individuals residing in two Seguin RCA homes until 2008.

2005 – SRCA establishes a recreational program sponsoring four annual parties for adults with disabilities. On average, 200 individuals attend each party.

2008 – SRCA offers a scholarship program for high school students and direct care individuals seeking degrees related to serving people with disabilities. Since inception, more than $25,000 in scholarships have been awarded. Garden Center Services agrees to provide services for 24 individuals residing in two Seguin RCA homes until 2017.

2010 – SRCA expands its art program.

2015 – SRCA establishes a music program.

2017 – SRCA’s board recommits to its mission: Enhancing the quality of life for adults with disabilities through social and recreational programs.

2020– SRCA establishes an ongoing daily virtual online camp program2021– SRCA moves it’s seasonal in-person camp program to Shady Oaks Campgrounds in Homer Glen

2023– The SRCA daily virtual online camp program continues and expands

Board Members
Staff

Board Members

We are proud of our board members! While they bring a diverse experiences to our organization, they share a common bond: to serve individuals with disabilities and their families.

Gordie Kaplan, President – Gordie comes to the SRCA board with more than 40 years experience in administration, mentoring and training. He already was familiar with our camping program because as Executive Director of American Camping Association, he oversaw the Title XX grants that SRCA used to provide camper scholarships. Gordie has extensive experience with program development and camp accreditation, which will help SRCA expand and improve camp programming. He has a Master’s degree in Camping and Outdoor Education as well as graduate work in Business Administration.

Ralph Salvino III, Past President – Ralph has been involved with SRCA for more than 30 years and had a sister with a developmental disability. He is a veteran of the Vietnam War and served in Korea. Ralph owns and works with thoroughbred racehorses.

Scott Licina First Vice President – Scott has a business, music and graphics background. He is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, studio producer, engineer, composer and graphic artist, and has performed across North America and Europe. A noted soundtrack composer, Scott’s worked on a variety of film, television, novel and comic book productions. Scott is also responsible for creating and running the SRCA’s daily Virtual Online Camp program.

Helen Kossler, Secretary – Helen has worked in the field of special education from many perspectives: teacher, parent of children and adults with special needs, administrator. What Helen has learned from these experiences is that what connects us is greater than what separates us. She is firmly committed to expanding opportunities for employment, recreation and friendship between and among people whether or not they are disabled. Helen has a Master’s degree in education.

Frank Vomacka, Director – Frank has been a real estate broker for 26 years at RE/MAX Partners in Berwyn, Illinois. In addition, Frank is responsible for inspection, management and general contracting services for REO (bank owned) properties. He also manages residential and commercial properties throughout the western suburbs. He graduated from St. Norbert College in Wisconsin with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. Frank lived in Cicero and Berwyn before moving to Riverside. He has developed a network of positive working relationships with a variety of businesses, local governments, and non-profits in the Cicero and Berwyn areas and surrounding communities.

Staff

Mark Holstein, Executive Director – Mark joined SRCA as Executive Director December 2015. He was working as a tool and dye maker’s apprentice in 1980 when he answered ad ad that changed his life. Shady Oaks Camp for People with Disabilities, Homer Glenn, IL, hired Mark as a camp counselor, and he soon realized that in giving of himself he received far more in return. He set out to earn a degree in special education while serving in various positions every summer at Shady Oaks. During the school year he was Director of Logan Square Youth Outreach, a church-based outreach program for lower income youth and their families.

In 1987 Mark and his family moved to Iowa City, Iowa where he served as Group Home Manager for Systems Unlimited, providing care for adolescents and adults with disabilities. In 1989 Mark was also hired as the Director of Shady Oaks Camp, managing homes for Systems during the school year and directing Shady Oaks Camp in the summer. Mark has worked as a summer camp director and administrator since that time, while continuing to manage residential and recreational programming during the school year.

In 1993 Mark began working for Glenwood Academy in Glenwood, IL, a residential school and summer camp for children from economically disadvantaged families, His job combined his camping and residential experiences and he served 15 years as the Director of Residential Services and Camp Administrator.

Since 2008, Mark worked in camping and residential services as Director of Camping for Easter Seals in Central Illinois and as Camp Director for The Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois. During the school year he worked in support of adolescents in the custody of DCFS residing in community-based group homes throughout Illinois.

Mark and his wife Kim, a school social worker and private therapist, live in Montgomery, IL and have five children – two who are married with families, and three at home ranging from grade school to high school! – and are grandparents to their 1-year-old grandson. Mark has enjoyed volunteering as a basketball coach for his son’s park district team, serving on several boards and committees at his church, and singing as a tenor soloist.

A Chicago native, Mark was born and raised in Chicago’s Bridgeport and Logan Square neighborhoods. He is one of eight children and while his older brothers’ allegiance is to the south side team, Mark is a lifelong, diehard Chicago Cubs fan. 2016 was a lifelong dream come true!

Melissa LoGiurato, Administrative Assistant – Melissa joined the SRCA Berwyn office in 2009. She said she enjoys working with families, agencies, volunteers and participants, and that she has learned so much about the community of individuals with developmental disabilities. She also talks about how much this community needs everyone’s help in providing these services.

Melissa especially enjoys getting participants signed up for camp and for the Berwyn-area SRCA activities. “The campers are all so eager,” she said. “They cannot wait to go. There are a lot of smiles and questions about what they will do. Or they’ll talk about their favorite thing from the year before. Or they just tell you they love you and ask if you were going to camp, too!”

Melissa has lived in Westmont for 25 years with her husband Jim and their three sons, Frank, Joe and Danny. Jim is in education, working with children with behavior and learning disabilities at Joseph Academy – an alternative school – for more than 30 years. Frank served in the US Navy and is a student at Northeastern University. Joe is a recent University of Illinois graduate. Danny is a senior at Aurora University and is on the football team.