NYSARC, Inc. is a family-based not-for-profit, New York State corporation founded in 1949. Its mission is to assist and support children and adults with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities and their families in areas such as education, employment, family support, recreation, advocacy, housing and guardianship. NYSARC, Inc. is committed to enhancing not only the desired quality of life for persons with disabilities and their families, but in promoting autonomy, maximizing the development of individual skills, and fostering their integration into the community.

NYSARC, Inc. (formerly known as the New York State Association for Retarded Children, Inc.) is a not-for-profit organization, which was incorporated in 1949. In 1970, the Guardianship Program was established by NYSARC, Inc. as a service to its members and to individuals who had mental retardation and resided in New York State. This was later expanded in the early 1980's to include developmental disabilities. The NYSARC, Inc. Corporate Guardianship Program, through the Association's Chapters, offers families the assurance that future decisions significant to the quality of life of their relatives who have mental retardation are made in their best interest, particularly in the areas of securing good health care, appropriate housing and appropriate day and recreational services. This ensures a focus on health, as well as personal and social development.

The NYSARC, Inc. Corporate Guardianship Program is a service available to families who have no one else to act as guardian for their children with mental retardation or other developmental disabilities. In order to assure the maximum availability of guardianship services for members and persons in the Chapter's programs, priority for accepting guardianship applications shall be given to members of a Chapter, relatives of members and to persons enrolled in the Chapter's programs.