History
New Perceptions was founded by a group of concerned parents in 1952 who wanted services for their special needs children that were scarce in the community. The organization began as Riverside School in the basement of the First Presbyterian Church in Covington. A similar school, Good Counsel, opened soon after in two locations: Corpus Christi Church in Newport and St. Aloysius School in Covington. Both schools grew to be successful and wanted to better serve their clients, so in 1966, the two schools merged as Riverside-Good Counsel. Two decades later, the organization’s name was changed to better reflect its growth, expanded services, and mission: New Perceptions. Thanks to parents who wanted the best for their children, individuals in Northern Kentucky with special needs were given opportunities for education, growth, and employment that continue to this day.
Historical highlights include:
1952 – Riverside School opens at First Presbyterian Church in Covington
1955 – Good Counsel School opens in Corpus Christi Church in Newport and St. Aloysius School in Covington
1961 – Good Counsel Schools combine and move to Mother of God School in Covington
1966 – Riverside and Good Counsel merge to form Riverside-Good Counsel
1969 – Kenton Adult Work Activity Center opens at Riverside-Good Counsel
1970 – Riverside-Good Counsel dedicates the new building in Ft. Wright, offering classes kindergarten through high school
1973 – Home-based developmental services begin for school-age children and young adults
1974 – Campbell Adult Work Activity Center opens at Ft. Thomas Armory
1974-76 – School-age children transition into public school programs
1978 – Home-based services expand to include infants and toddlers with developmental delays
1985 – Riverside-Good Counsel changes its name to New Perceptions, Inc. and the Supported Employment program begins
1990 – New Perceptions moves to present building in Edgewood, bringing all services together in one location
1997 – Adult Life Skills program begins
1999 – Sensory Integration program for children begins; “Project Employ” begins in collaboration with St. Elizabeth Medical Center
2002 – New Perceptions celebrates 50 years of services
2004 – Bridging the Gap program beings
2007 – First “Our Children Achieve” luncheon held to share the stories of our participants with the community
2010 – New logo unveiled; Adult Day Activity and Rising Star Studios programs begin
2015 – The Learning Center program begins, combining Adult Day, Adult Life Skills, and Art Abilities into one program, offering classroom-style education to adult participants
2016 – New heating and cooling systems installed in the Work Center
2017 – New Perceptions celebrated 65 years of service. Total renovation of kitchen. Bathrooms on main floor renovated.
2018 – Received 2 year Medicaid accreditation through the State with no deficiencies.
2019 – Check received as Recipient of Northern Kentucky Area Realtors year long fundraising efforts in 2018.
