The Institute’s first residential programs in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts opened in the fall of 1986. At the request of the Commissioner of Mental Retardation, our initial projects were developed to serve individuals with the most challenging behavior, as the commonwealth had few alternatives at that time for people with intense behavioral needs. Because of our success in supporting such individuals, our specialized service array grew rapidly over the course of the next few years. During this period of time, we also expanded the scope of our services to include more varied support options for people with diverse needs.

During our twelve years in the Commonwealth, The Institute has grown to become one of the leaders in residential and day services for people with disabilities and challenging behaviors. Presently, we are one of the ten largest providers of those agencies holding contracts with The Department of Mental Retardation. In addition, we have service contracts with the Departments of Mental Health and Social Services, The Massachusetts Commission for the Blind, various public school systems and private pay parties.