About Alternatives

Alternatives is an agency aimed at improving the lives of persons with psychiatric or developmental disabilities. To accomplish our mission, we offer a wide range of superb residential and vocational services. These are designed to provide the skills and support each person needs to lead a satisfying and successful life in the setting of his or choice with maximum use of community networks.

Our residential programs include Group Living, Shared Living and Supported Living. Group residences provide a safe, nurturing home environment for four to six people while shared living allows an individual to be part of a host family. Our third residential alternative, Supported Living, is for those who can live on their own if given necessary support and training.

Through our employment services based at career centers throughout the area, we develop career alternatives geared towards a person's skills, job readiness and preferences. Additionally, we encourage those who are between jobs or work part time to participate in the wide variety of volunteer positions available.

In our Day Services programs, we seek to develop life skills and to offer the therapeutic supports needed for highest daily functioning.

As an agency that strives to enhance community connections for persons with disabilities, we believe it is our responsibility to be a bridge between those who need our services and the community at large. We recognize that strengthening community connections requires creating social ties, fostering frequent interaction between people from all walks of life and developing a sense of mutual obligation toward one another. Through the afore-mentioned programs based in 55 sites in Central Massachusetts, we are working to meet this challenge by providing real homes, real jobs and real relationships for people in need.