History

Regional disability services began in 1955 with the formation of the Jefferson County Association for Retarded Children (ARC). This group assisted with the funding for a specialized school for children with developmental disabilities in 1957, and later a sheltered workshop in 1971. In 1976, ARC members and the sheltered workshop board collaborated with a local family to raise the funds for land and a residential facility serving individuals with severe disabilities requiring intensive card. This facility that opened in 1977 was named Pony Bird. 

Prior to Pony Bird’s founding in 1977, no organization existed to provide independence and opportunity for non-ambulatory persons in the Jefferson County area. The next year, Jefferson County established the Developmental Disabilities Resource Board, which led to the creation of Exceptional Ones, Inc. This organization provided a host of programs and opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Eventually, Exceptional Ones, Inc. became NextStep for Life. For more than 40 years, Pony Bird and NextStep for Life provided quality-driven services for individuals with intellectual, physical, developmental, and other disabilities. The collaborations between the two agencies was strong. In 2022, Pony Bird and Next Step for Life merged to create the new Pony Bird of today.