12/3/09
Randolph, Mass. – May Institute’s educational services for students with special needs have received a three-year accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). These comprehensive services include four schools for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and related disabilities, one for students with brain injury, and more than a dozen community-based homes.
May Institute is a nonprofit organization that provides a wide variety of programs and services to individuals of all ages with special needs, including those with ASD and other developmental disabilities, brain injury, mental illness, and other behavioral health needs.
CARF accreditation is only granted to organizations that exhibit the highest level of compliance with and fulfillment of standards established by the Commission. Accreditation of May Institute’s educational services is a result of a rigorous peer review process and a demonstration of the highest quality, measurability, and accountability.
The CARF accreditation report had high praise for May Institute staff members, noting, “The staff members who provide direct services to children are dedicated, compassionate, skilled, and passionate about their jobs. They often provide services that go above and beyond their official job responsibilities.”
The Institute received special commendation for its “highly effective” strategic planning process; its commitment to the collection and use of data as a means to actively measure the impact of individual programmatic services; and its commitment to providing staff members with access to state-of-the-art training and support that enables them to develop “extremely sophisticated and effective behavioral support plans.”
Four May Centers for Child Development earned accreditation. These special education schools for students with ASD and other developmental disabilities are located in Randolph, West Springfield, and Woburn, Mass., and Santa Cruz, Calif. Accreditation was also granted to the May Center for Education and Neurorehabilitation in Brockton, Mass., the Institute’s school for children and adolescents with brain injury. Thirteen associated Massachusetts community-based group homes also received three-year CARF accreditation.
“I am very proud of our organization and its employees,” said Walter P. Christian, Ph.D., ABPP, May Institute’s President and CEO. “This accreditation is a well-deserved recognition of the dedication of May employees who work tirelessly to provide exceptionally caring and compassionate support to each and every individual in their care.”
All of May Institute’s programs that have been through the CARF accreditation process have earned three-year accreditation. This constitutes one of the largest and most comprehensive accreditations CARF has ever awarded for a network of behavioral programs.
About May Institute
May Institute is a nonprofit organization that provides educational, rehabilitative, and behavioral healthcare services to individuals with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities, brain injury, mental illness, and other behavioral health needs. Since its founding more than 50 years ago, May Institute has evolved into an award-winning national network that serves over 25,000 individuals and their families annually. For more information, call 800.788.7601 or visit www.mayinstitute.org.