I have been aware of and/or involved with Alternatives Unlimited for several years and I've recently joined the Board. Alternatives provides a full range of services and supports to persons with a significant mental illness and to persons with significant developmental disabilities. In every respect, Alternatives pushes itself to go beyond simply providing services to making a concerted effort to open up opportunities for consumers of Alternative's services to become fully participating and respected members of our communities. Alternatives under the inspired leadership of Dennis Rice, Executive Director has created a headquarters in Whitinsville, MA from an old mill, that has received Leed Gold Certification as a "Green" building and has become a destination in Blackstone Valley where visitors can attend plays and other performances, view fine art in the gallery and/or take lessons in various crafts with persons served by the Agency. In addition they have developed citizen advisory councils to in communities in which they have services to help to open the communities up to their consumers for jobs, volunteer opportunities and friendships. They have also established "Club 21" groups that operate to support one to one engagement between consumers and other citizens in the community.
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- EIN 04-2587863
- info@openskycs.org
- (508) 234-6232
- 4 Mann St Worcester MA 01602 USA
- http://www.openskycs.org
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Nonprofit Overview
Causes: Centers to Support the Independence of Specific Populations, Human Services
Mission: Alternatives provides a wide array of services for adults with developmental and psychiatric disabilities that address their needs for a comfortable and safe home life, meaningful daily occupations, active community participation, and relationships.
Programs: Residential services are provided for both developmental and psychiatrically disabled adults. Services range from twenty four hour supervised setting to providing supports for individuals to live independently in apartments. A total of 1,132 individuals were served in the residential programs.
vocational services and day program services are provided to individuals with developmental disabilities. Programs include focusing on developing skills toward meaningful employment for those individuals able to work. Other aspects of day program are to develop meaningful day activites within their communities. A total of 356 individuals were served in vocational and day program services.
transportation services are provided to meet the transportation needs of the individuals served in the programs above. Daily door-to-door transportation is provided to approximately 141 individuals so they can get to day programs, jobs, and volounteer sites.
to provide six subsidized residential units.