Our History

We are proud to be celebrating 34 years! Below are our notable milestones throughout our history.

•  1985: Central New York Association for the Learning Disabled is formed by a concerned group of parents, focused on their children’s educational needs
•  1987: The organization becomes a full-fledged non-profit, with Suzanne Loveland as first official Executive Director
•  1990: Children’s summer program begins, later to be named Summer Adventures in Learning (SAIL)
•  1992: Agency begins to work with OPWDD-funded clients
•  1992: Grant from Development Disabilities Council allows for inception of Adult Programs
•  1994: Agency officially becomes Learning Disabilities Association of Central New York
•  1995: Suzanne Loveland retires, and Aggie Glavin & Paulette Purdy become Co-Executive Directors
•  2000: LDACNY doubles in size, with an addition to existing building
•  2002: Summer program outgrows its home at the LDACNY offices and relocates to Park Hill Elementary in the ESM School District
•  2007: LDACNY joins Syracuse Automobile Dealer’s Association’s Charity Preview Event Fundraiser
•  2008: Community Habilitation services begin for the first time
•  2008: Employment Services begin
•  2011: Paulette Purdy is named as sole Executive Director
•  2011: Learning Without Borders, summer program for teens, begins
•  2015: LDACNY outgrows its home again, and moves in August
•  2017: LDACNY becomes LAUNCH
•  2018: LAUNCH adds a second office at 1010 James St., Syracuse, NY 13203