The Community Center, housed within a remodeled turn-of-the century mill, is located at 55 Middlesex Street in No. Chelmsford, MA., 01863. The Community Center provides day habilitation, therapeutic & medical supports, and recreation & education activities to adults with developmental disabilities who are 22 years old and older, year round. The program operates Monday through Friday from 8:15 am – 2:15 pm. The Center is primarily funded by Medicaid and participants must be eligible for Massachusetts Medicaid.

The center operates much like a high school program. Participants arrive at the center in the morning and are assigned to a homeroom. The homeroom supervisor is responsible for ensuring that the participant’s daily needs are met (i.e. lunch, medication, activity schedule and therapies, etc). The homeroom supervisor assigns direct support staff to help participants attend classes and provide extra support during lunch, toileting, and at other times, as needed. Participants attend classes and activities offered throughout the day. An instructor teaches each class; he/she ensures that each participant will be challenged to learn new skills and maintain existing ones. Class selection is a team effort which includes the participant, family, and staff. Selection is based on the individual’s developmental needs and wishes. Annually the Individual Support Plan team meets to evaluate progress and develop new goals. As an individual’s Individual Support Plan goals change, modifications to the individual’s daily schedule may be made to support goal achievement. The center’s Rehabilitation staff provides physical, occupational and speech and language therapies; behavioral supports; and medical and nursing care to individuals who participatne in the program.

The Community Center has the capacity to serve 130 individuals whose disabilities range from mild to profound level of cognitive impairment and may be accompanied by concurring medical, physical and/or behavioral challenges. Adults with developmental disabilities require diversity in learning and recreation in order to feel their best and continue developing. On-going staff development and training ensures that the therapeutic, recreational, and educational activities offered in classroom and community settings maximize each individual’s ability to live, volunteer, learn, and socialize in the community.

Tours are held on Tuesday mornings and may be arranged by contacting the Director of Program Services at 978.459.6179 extension 637 or via email at cmidey@lifelinks.ws . Service is available to any person with developmental disability over the age of 22 who is eligible for Massachusetts Medicaid and would benefit from services offered. If interested in applying for services, a referral packet must be prepared and reviewed by LifeLinks’ Intake team. The assessment process typically includes center staff visiting the individual referred, in their home and/or Day Program; having the individual referred, visit the Community Center for assessment at the center. Acceptance is contingent upon the Community Center being able to provide the supports and services that the individual needs. If the Community Center is operating at full capacity (130), an individual’s name may be placed on a waiting list. A typical “intake” may take 60-90 days.

The photo shows the front door of 55 Middlesex Street, Chelmsford, MA.