May Institute Enhances International Reputation for Clinical Excellence in 2017

Randolph, Mass. — In 2017, May Institute further advanced its reputation for excellence in the field of applied behavior analysis (ABA), adding four national experts to its clinical leadership team, and sharing its expertise in ABA on a global level.

It was also a year in which the organization was ranked #17 on The Commonwealth Institute’s list of Top 100 Women-led Businesses in Massachusetts, up from #26 the previous year.

May Institute served 3,278 individuals and families in fiscal year 2017 through its 144 programs and sites across the country. More than 82,000 students in 162 schools were impacted through May Institute’s Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) systems-wide change initiative. Our staff also trained 340 public school educators.

In 2017, Ivy Chong, Ph.D., BCBA-D; Sarah Frampton, M.A., BCBA; Richard B. Graff, Ph.D., LABA, BCBA-D; and Alice Shillingsburg, Ph.D., BCBA-D – all highly esteemed experts in ABA – joined the organization, adding further breadth and depth to a roster of clinical experts that includes 35 doctoral-level staff and more than 80 behavior analysts.

“May Institute remains committed to maintaining the highest standards of clinical excellence, identifying underserved and at-risk populations impacted by autism, and bringing evidence-based services to the point of need,” said President and CEO Lauren C. Solotar, Ph.D., ABPP. “Following the clear direction outlined in our newly launched, five-year strategic plan, we continue to expand the reach of our services. This includes working with the U.S. State Department and the government of Oman to help that country more effectively respond to what it calls ‘a tsunami’ of potential autism diagnoses.”

In addition to providing consultation and trainings about autism and ABA for colleagues in Oman and other countries, May Institute recently entered into a memorandum of understanding to explore the development and operation of a school for children with autism in the United Arab Emirates.

Other memorable milestones for the organization in 2017 included the expansion and relocation of two of its special education schools for children with autism and other developmental disabilities in Massachusetts.

Diversity and inclusion continued to be a strong focus for the organization. In addition to being named one of the top 20 women-led businesses in Massachusetts, May Institute elected Mary Lou Maloney, a pioneer in deinstitutionalization and lifelong advocate for individuals with disabilities, as the first woman to serve as chairperson of the Board of Trustees. With the addition of Joan Goldberg, J.D., women now account for half of the total Board membership.

Other achievements of fiscal year 2017:

• Increased annual revenue to $123.1M
• Earned three-year accreditations from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) for home and school consultation, and adult services
• Raised $815,411 through gifts from individuals, corporations, foundations, and community partners; 90 donors helped fund a splash pad for the May Center School in Randolph
• Provided diversity and inclusion training to nearly 800 employees
• Launched a five-year strategic plan with the goal of becoming the premier global leader in providing innovative applied behavior analysis services to individuals with autism spectrum disorder and neurobehavioral disorders across the lifespan
• Recognition of May Institute’s Shared Living Program participants with a 2017 Community Living Recognition Award at the 24th Annual Shared Living and Adult Family Care Conference
• Earned first place awards for its 60th Anniversary Year Annual Report from both the New England Society for Healthcare Communications and the Publicity Club of New England