Founded in 1956 and previously known as the Ottawa and District Association for the Mentally Retarded (ODAMR), the Ottawa-Carleton Association for Persons with Developmental Disabilities (OCAPDD) is the largest and longest-serving association of its kind in Ottawa. The organization had it origins in the determination of a small group of parents who believed that their children deserved access to education. Today, OCAPDD provides support to hundreds of persons with developmental disabilities, in every aspect of life whether seeking work opportunities, securing living arrangements or dealing with day-to-day tasks. Since fully a third of OCAPDD's clients are also affected by physical disabilities and other medical considerations, the scope of the organization's support is in direct response to level of need.