About Shepherds College / History

It was 1957 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin when parents of a son with intellectual disabilities, Lornie and Arlene Cayton, approached their Sunday school class and asked a probing question. "Could our class actually do something to help children with intellectual disabilities?" Answering that question would lead to the establishment of a ministry that would go on to have a profound impact on the lives of people with intellectual disabilities.

In 1964, Shepherds Home and School opened its doors, welcoming 36 children. At that time, little was being done in public education to address the needs of this special population. Shepherds Home and School provided an essential service to these children and their families. Shepherds expanded its services over the years to accommodate the needs of adults with intellectual disabilities.

In 2008, Shepherds Ministries returned to its educational roots with the establishment of Shepherds College, a three-year post-secondary educational program for students with intellectual disabilities.