In the spring of 1935, The Federation of the Handicapped and Disabled was founded by three wounded World War 1 veterans who struggled to make ends meet during the Great Depression. Shut out of the workforce by a society that did not believe that people with disabilities could be productive citizens, they formed the Federation based on the principles of work, dignity and economic independence.
Over the next 70 years The Federation initiated groundbreaking programs to help homebound people out of their homes for social, recreation and prevocational experiences – anticipating by decades a movement to the full integration of people with disabilities into society and the workplace. The Federation was profiled in the New York Times — “No person seeking aid has ever been turned away by the Federation of the Handicapped. Every person…regardless of race, color, creed or disability, is entitled to all the services that the Federation provides.” The Federation gradually expanded its work, winning contracts to provide services to government and corporate customers in various fields including printing, manufacturing, Total Facilities Management, Home Health and workforce development and job placement.
It also played an important role in advancing the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which for the first time established civil-rights for people with disabilities and laid the groundwork for subsequent legislation including the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990.
In 1991 the agency changed its name to Fedcap Rehabilitation Services Inc.
A New Vision
In 2009, under the leadership of our Board of Directors and new President CEO Christine McMahon, a new vision emerged. Recognizing both the need for more comprehensive solutions to societal issues and the new financial realities imposed by the financial crisis on the social service infrastructure, they developed a larger vision for Fedcap and launched a strategic plan to broaden and deepen its impact through a combination of organic growth and acquisition. In 2018 The Fedcap Group was established as the parent company for the growing number of companies—see timeline below—under its umbrella. As of 2022, twenty three companies have combined with The Fedcap Group. As a result of these combinations, we have:
- Increased expertise and service offerings in the areas of workforce development, occupational health, education and economic development.
- Expanded the populations we serve which now includes children and adults with disabilities, individuals on public assistance, youth transitioning from foster care, the justice involved, those struggling with behavioral health and substance use disorders and veterans.
- Moved into new geographies including providing services across the United States, Canada and in the UK.
- Re-engineered management, governance and technology systems to ensure effective service delivery.
Today The Fedcap Group is able to leverage the collective expertise and resources of our growing family of agencies to deliver solutions to some of society’s most pressing needs, and to provide thought leadership in how to address these issues on national and global basis.
By combining our long history of proven impact with a laser focus on innovation and systems change, we are prepared for the challenges of the 21st Century and more committed than ever to creating opportunities for people with barriers to economic wellbeing.