01/21/25
Randolph, Mass.— May Institute, a national nonprofit provider of services across the lifespan for autistic individuals and those with other special needs, is marking its 70th anniversary this year as the demand for evidence-based care increases.
“With the rising prevalence of autism – now at one in every 36 children – the need for excellent services continues to grow,” says Lauren C. Solotar, Ph.D., ABPP, May’s President and CEO. “Our focus on quality services, training, and research allows us to bring exceptional resources to address today’s challenges and respond to the complex needs of families who seek support, particularly families with profoundly autistic children.”
Dr. and Mrs. Jacques May opened the organization’s first school on Cape Cod in 1955 to provide a supportive environment and progressive treatment for their twin autistic sons. At the time, autistic children were often institutionalized for life. The school, launched with only a handful of students, was a groundbreaking endeavor.
Today, May Institute is among the largest, most respected, and innovative nonprofit organizations in the country, with more than 130 service locations that provide intensive services to nearly 1,800 individuals and families each year. In addition, the organization impacts 50,000 students annually through its Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) services in public schools.
The National Autism Center (NAC) at May Institute has greatly expanded the organization’s reach, providing information to more than 1.2 million people about evidence-based treatment over the last decade. NAC, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, is dedicated to serving autistic individuals by providing reliable information, promoting best practices, and offering comprehensive resources such as guides for families, educators, and practitioners.
NAC will continue to shape the national dialogue about autism with its forthcoming publication, Profound Autism: A Parent’s Guide. It will be released in early 2025 to honor the anniversaries of both organizations. May Institute will also highlight its 70th anniversary year by honoring and celebrating its founders, employees, supporters, and the individuals and families it has served over the decades.
“I am incredibly proud of the talented and dedicated employees at May who have a shared commitment to making meaningful and lasting improvements in the lives of the individuals and families we serve,” continues Dr. Solotar. “We will celebrate our community this year, and the individual and collective impact of our people.”
That impact includes the operation of five, soon to be six, schools in Massachusetts and California for profoundly autistic children, adolescents, and young adults. May also founded a school to serve students with brain injury and neurobehavioral disorders. Other children’s services include early intervention, center-based and home-based programs, and school consultation. Adult programs include over 80 residential group homes and supported living apartments, day habilitation programs, and vocational training.
Learn more about May Institute’s history and the organization today.
About May Institute
May Institute is a nonprofit organization that is a national leader in the field of applied behavior analysis and evidence-based interventions, serving autistic individuals and those with other developmental disabilities, brain injury, neurobehavioral disorders, and other special needs. Founded 70 years ago, we provide a wide range of exceptional educational, clinical, and rehabilitative services across the lifespan. For more information, call 800.778.7601 or visit www.mayinstitute.org.