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FERNALD CENTER

PHILOSOPHY

The Fernald Center is distinguished as the oldest publicly-funded institution serving developmentally disabled people in the United States. Fernald services concentrate on allowing each resident to learn and grow by participating in a variety of programs designed to develop both work and daily living skills.

HISTORY

Social reformer Samuel Gridley Howe founded the school in 1848 with a $2,500 appropriation from the Legislature. Records of Dr. Howe and the beginnings of mental retardation services in the United States reside in Fernald’s Howe Library. Under its first resident superintendent, Walter E. Fernald (1887-1924), the school became a model educational facility in the field of mental retardation.

 In addition to developing the school, Dr. Fernald promoted greater public awareness of mental retardation by participating in national conferences, including two World fairs. In 1925, the Legislature passed a bill officially naming the school the Walter E. Fernald State School. Since then, dramatic improvements have taken place in the quality of individual's lives, and in the quality of services they receive. In 1993, due to the concern and lobbying efforts of many Fernald parents, The Fernald Center merged with the Metro Boston Region with a focus on opportunities in the community for individuals to live and work.

RESIDENTS

The individuals who live at Fernald have a range of developmental disabilities. Currently, there are 140 adults residing at Fernald.  Many of the individuals have physical disabilities also, including blindness, deafness, and orthopedic limitations. (In 1980 there were 2,000 residents.) Ages range from 35-93 years. The average age is 57 years. Fernald's residents receive educational and job training in work and program centers on and off grounds.  The Marquardt Nursing Center consists of a 29 bed skilled nursing facility which serves individuals with serious medical needs. l

STAFF

The Fernald School employs staff in administrative, direct care, discipline and support services positions. About 70 percent of the staff is engaged in direct care services. Fernald provides care on a 24-hour basis. Teams of direct service staff and clinical consultants work together to meet the individual needs of the persons who live at Fernald. The teams may include speech, occupational, physical and recreation therapists, direct care staff, psychologists and social workers.

AFFILIATION AND FUNDING

The Fernald Center is an agency of the Department of Mental Retardation. It is located on 186 acres in Waltham, Massachusetts. It is one of the largest State facilities. By meeting Federal Medicaid standards, Fernald is classified as an Intermediate Care Facility under the Social Security Act, Title XIX.  As such, the Fernald Center receives approximately 50% of its budget in Federal reimbursements annually. The Fernald Center is a part of the Metro Boston Region of the Department of Mental Retardation. The Region serves over 3,000 people with mental retardation. Many of these people live in homes or residences operated by private provider agencies. Coordination of planning, training, recruitment and financing is part of these regional networks.

INFORMATION & REFERRAL

The facilities at Fernald include an indoor, handicapped-accessible pool, constructed via funds raised by the Fernald Association, gymnasium, activity center, meeting rooms and a ball field. All are available for people with mental retardation and the general public.

If you would like more information on Fernald volunteer opportunities or tour programs, please see the Volunteer Opportunities section or contact:

Anne Cormier-Kelley
Director of Volunteer Services
The Fernald Center
200 Trapelo Road
Waltham, Massachusetts 02452
(781) 894-2103