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Posted by

Paul T.

Director of Communications and Marketing

Our mission

MAB Community Services has been working in Massachusetts communities for more than 100 years. Founded in 1903 as the Massachusetts Association for Promoting the Interests of the Adult Blind, MAB was the first social service agency in the United States dedicated to serving individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Today, MAB's mission has expanded to address the needs of adolescents and adults with cognitive and developmental disabilities. We work with individuals with disabilities to eliminate barriers and create opportunities so that they can live independent, full and satisfying lives. Our motto: “With the right support anything is possible!”

What we do

MAB’s three core program divisions include:
-Adult Disability Services (ADS) has offices in Allston where we offer an array of vocational and day supports to more than 100 adults with developmental disabilities. ADS also provides residential support; 18 group homes are located throughout Boston and surrounding communities, including a special residence for five young adults who live independently in the community.

-The Ivy Street School in Brookline provides educational, clinical and residential services to approximately 45 adolescents a year who are diagnosed with autism, traumatic brain injury, or who have other neurological or behavioral disorders, helping them to gain the educational, functional and vocational skills necessary to successfully transition to adult life. Our small size means that students and families receive personalized, in-depth attention from our educators, clinicians, and staff. Ivy Street is licensed by the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and is a Chapter 766-approved private special education program.

-The Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (MABVI) works across the state, with offices in Brookline and Worcester. MABVI primarily serves older adults, the most vulnerable and fastest-growing group of people who are losing their vision. As the baby boomer generation ages, the number of people with uncorrectable vision loss is expected to double by 2030. MABVI offers a robust set of vision rehabilitation services including: access to specialized low vision eye clinics through formal partnerships with eye physicians; in-home occupational therapy and training; orientation and mobility training; peer empowerment support groups; 1:1 personalized volunteer assistance; adjustment counseling referrals; and an innovative assistive technology training program. MABVI has a proven record of addressing the role of vision loss and vision rehabilitation in helping seniors retain their independence with a goal of remaining in their own homes. Services are especially important for those older adults who have recently acquired vision loss, and can benefit from learning adaptive strategies and coping skills so they can continue to live safe, independent and active lives.
MABVI also has expertise in athletic programming for individuals who are blind or visually impaired (B/VI), having managed one of the largest B/VI teams for 25 years. As part of our efforts to raise funds for MABVI through the Boston Marathon, we coordinate race services for B/VI athletes, recruit/train sighted running guides, coordinate a junior race program for youth who are B/VI, and consult on a local and national level to create more B/VI race divisions. An outgrowth of this work is: United in Stride (www.unitedinstride.com), a tool for pairing B/VI runners and sighted guides. For individuals who are blind or visually impaired, finding the right running partner can be challenging, but incredibly rewarding. This unique website enables athletes to register and search anywhere in North America for guides.