​​Zia Therapy Center now!

Original building​​

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In response to community needs, our name and services have changed over the years, but we still provide a wide array of services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. From those first services, to child care, to public transportation, we are driven by our mission of providing inclusive and diverse community services to enhance the quality of life in our community. 

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Zia Therapy Center, Inc.

​Zia Therapy Center, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, incorporated under the laws of the State of New Mexico. Its affairs are managed by a Board of Directors and the operations are administered by the Chief Executive Officer.

History

​Zia was started as the grass roots effort of nine local families who had children with special needs. These children came into the world long before the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 would ensure children with special needs could gain access to free and appropriate public education. In 1960, the usual advice was to put children with such needs in institutions where the "professionals" could handle them. These founding families, however, recognized the potential in their children and rejected the advice of the day. In 1960, with a tiny amount of state funding and a lot of volunteer effort, these families began providing services in what would grow into modern-day Zia Therapy Center.