The late J. Arthur Trudeau was a pioneer in the support of those with intellectual disabilities in Rhode Island and across the nation. With the assistance of former LaSallle Academy classmate Congressman John E. Fogarty, he brought about legislation requiring R.I. cities and towns to provide special education to disabled children until the age of 21. He founded the R.I. Association of Retarded Citizens, which is now the John E. Fogarty Center, and the second chapter of which is now the Arthur Trudeau Memorial Center. Federal legislation that he helped to introduce has resulted in $5 billion for programs to benefit developmentally disabled persons.