“Making Lives Better…One Person at a Time” is the phrase which defines and describes 30 years of work by Road To Responsibility (RTR; http://roadtoresponsibility.org), one of the region’s largest and most successful non-profit organizations which prepares to celebrate its accomplishments and thank the thousands of people along the way who have helped RTR in its ongoing mission.
For Road To Responsibility, the phrase is more than a slogan. It’s the blueprint that has guided Road To Responsibility from its early days in 1988 to present-day, with the Marshfield-based organization supporting over 1,200 individuals from 100 different cities and towns in Massachusetts. And, with a staff of more than 700 human services professionals and an annual budget of $40 million, RTR has built upon its success to become one of the largest developmental disabilities service providers in the state and a major regional employer.
RTR continues to add new programs on an annual basis, especially in the area of Autism services. Christopher White, Ed.D., CEO of Road To Responsibility, says, “We are widely known and respected as a leader in the field and as an organization committed to serving even the most complex and challenging people and doing so effectively. With 48 residences, in addition to co-operative and supportive living apartments through the region, and 9 day-service locations, RTR continues to expand its presence in the market. RTR anticipates opening home number 49 sometime in late 2018 or early 2019. This home will serve 5 women with Autism.
RTR is planning a series of events to commemorate its 30th year, with one major event being its signature Making Lives Better Gala to be held Friday, September 21, beginning at 6 p.m. at Granite Links Golf Club in Quincy. Additional information about the gala is available at roadtoresponsibility.org/events, or by calling 781-536-4509 or emailing sbelo@rtrinc.org.
RTR offers a number of core services to the population it serves:
- Residential Program – housing options to meet the varying needs of individuals, including group homes with 24-hour staffing, independent co-operative living arrangements, and shared living arrangements;
- Employment Services – RTR partners with employers and individuals to create job matches between businesses and job seekers;
- Open Roads Therapeutic Day Supports – RTR provides person-centered therapeutic services for each individual enrolled in the program, and currently has four day habilitation sites;
- Opportunities for Positive Transitional Supports – RTR provides community integration opportunities and operates four OPTS sites.
White added, “As our anniversary year continues, we reflect on how far we have all come, but how much further we need to go. There are so many people and businesses we have to thank for how they have helped us – from providing employment opportunities to volunteering to help us and truly partnering with us in this mission. While we do receive governmental funding, it covers the basics and the private contributions are what make the difference and truly enable us to accomplish our mission.”
He continued, “From the perspective of history, I see an arc highlighting our commitment to serving all people, regardless to complexity, our resilience as an organization and the power of our mission to transform lives in supporting Individuals with I/DD to live rich, integrated lives in the community while investing in the personal development of our employees.”
About Road To Responsibility, Inc.
Celebrating 30 years of making lives better, Road To Responsibility, Inc. (RTR) was established in 1988 with the overarching belief that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities deserve to have full, rich, and rewarding lives in the community, and therefore works to provide the means, the opportunity, and the support necessary to allow citizens with disabilities to take their place as productive members of the community. RTR offers residential, work/employment, day habilitation and other day supports to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. RTR supports individuals with very diverse needs, including those with significant challenges who would otherwise go unserved if not for RTR. It succeeds where other organizations often fail, through the use of an integrated clinical behavioral approach. This model has proven successful and yielded positive results for the organization and the individuals served.
Road To Responsibility offers services to almost all the towns and communities throughout the South Shore and South Coast of Massachusetts, operates 48 residences as well as co-operative and supportive living apartments, and manages nine day-service locations that focus on education, employment, and community enrichment. Road To Responsibility’s main office is located at 1831 Ocean Street, Marshfield, MA. For more information, please visit www.roadtoresponsibility.org.
