Lifelong Access was established in the year 1955 by families with children with disabilities. At a time when children with disability in America were often banned from public schools, these families formed a support system of parents with similar children.

The founding of the initial non-stock corporation occurred on the 18th of November, 1955, and was established as MARC. It became known as Marc Center in 1980, Marcfirst in 2007, and Lifelong Access in 2023.