Community Living Kirkland Lake

Prior to 1947, there was no system of supports in Canada or the United States for children with intellectual disabilities. At that time, children with an I.Q. less than 50 were not allowed to attend school. The only option provided was institutionalism.Donald Frisby was a teacher at Queen Elizabeth Public School in Kirkland Lake and one of his responsibilities was to administer I.Q. tests and, by law, he was to exclude those who tested at less than 50. He found this very upsetting and became convinced that something had to be done.