About Woodhaven

From the CEO

The initiative to establish Woodhaven (originally called Woodhaven Christian Home for Exceptional Children) came from the National Benevolent Association, the health and human services arm of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Charles Palmer, who was the administrator at NBA ECHO children’s home in St. Louis, had noticed a need for a residential facility for children with disabilities. Dr. Palmer and others at NBA worked with parents to create a plan to provide innovative training and educational opportunities for children with developmental disabilities. Woodhaven was built on land donated to NBA by Dr. and Mrs. Frank J. Nifong. Columbia was an ideal location for the facility because Woodhaven was able to establish a partnership with the University of Missouri.

In 1961, Charles Palmer began as the first Woodhaven Administrator. That same year, members of Woodhaven's board and administration broke ground on the Woodhaven campus.

In May of 1964 the first students arrived on the Woodhaven campus. One of the first children to arrive, Van, continues to receive services from Woodhaven today.

From the beginning, Woodhaven received letters from parents of young adults with developmental disabilities asking for a program to serve that population. In March of 1966, two cottages were built, one for eight young men and one for eight young women. These cottages were dedicated to Frank and Viola Ackerman, two friends of Woodhaven. After the successful addition of these adults, Woodhaven built more adult cottages in 1969 and 1972. By 1975, Woodhaven served over 225 adults and children with developmental disabilities.

With the inclusion of adults in Woodhaven's mission, a need arose for employment for these individuals. In 1969, Woodhaven founded a sheltered workshop. It also operated an egg farm and later a driving range, both of which offered employment opportunities to the individuals served by Woodhaven.

In 1972, the Woodhaven Hand Bell Choir was formed after a church in West Palm Beach, Florida, donated a set of English hand bells to Woodhaven. The Hand Bell Choir traveled all around the United States and recorded several tapes of their music. They performed in all 50 states including at the World Convention of Christian Churches in Honolulu , Hawaii , in 1980, and at a religious service at President Ronald Reagan's inauguration in 1981. Although the Woodhaven Hand Bell Choir no longer exists, several of its former members continue to play in a local bell choir sponsored by Columbia Parks and Recreation. This adaptive bell choir performs with a senior citizen's bell choir and has allowed our members to make several new friends out in the community.

As those served by Woodhaven got older, the public school system began accepting children with developmental disabilities. Therefore there was no longer a need for a residential facility to serve children. As the children currently served grew up, Woodhaven became exclusively for adults with developmental disabilities.

In 1992, with encouragement from the state of Missouri, individuals served by Woodhaven began moving into homes and apartments in the community. Most of Woodhaven’s campus was sold, although Woodhaven continues to own 18 acres of beautiful wooded land on the campus site, where eight of the individuals currently served by Woodhaven still live in apartments. All the individuals served by Woodhaven are now able to fully participate in community events, churches and organizations as they choose. Looking toward the future, Woodhaven continues to strive for greater levels of independence and choice for people with developmental disabilities.