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History
- 1974: WCI founded in Waltham as The Waltham Committee for Community Residences, Inc. for people with developmental disabilities.
- 1974: WCI opens its first administrative offices on Main Street in Waltham and moves to the 3rd floor of the Christ Church Episcopal, a stone English country styled church building at 750 Main Street, Waltham.
- 1974: First community residence located in a large Victorian home, opens in Waltham for eight (8) Individuals. Six (6) Individuals transitioned from the Fernald Developmental Center and two (2) from private homes due to aging parents.
- 1974-1984: Three (3) Individuals move to their own apartment, minimally staffed (10-30 hours per week). Twenty-two (22) individuals served by the agency with 22 staff and a budget of $400,000.
- 1980: The "Waltham Committee for Community Residences, Inc." becomes, The Waltham Committee, Inc. (WCI).
- 1984: Nancy Silver Hargreaves joins the Waltham Committee, Inc., as Executive Director.
- 1984: All eight (8) original Individuals begin to move to more independent settings.
- 1985: WCI provides more services to Individuals who are turning 22 and graduating from the education system to adult life.
- 1986: WCI opens its first home for Individuals with sensory disabilities (deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf/blind, blind). The Waltham home is a duplex for ten (10) Individuals.
- 1987: WCI moves to administrative offices at 564 Main Street, Waltham.
- 1987: WCI develops another 689 duplex for seven with a Block Grant with the Waltham Housing Authority.
- 1988: Clay Miller, an advocate for Deaf Individuals, asks WCI to form a service division specifically for Deaf Individuals, since these Individuals want to live with their Deaf peers. WCI forms its Deaf Supports Division.
- 1988: WCI opens its first home solely for Individuals who are Deaf. Four Individuals move in (two from the Perkins School, one from WCI and one from another human service agency).
- 1988: WCI hires its first Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing staff. Deaf Supports staff who are hearing are hired, proficient in American Sign Language.
- 1989: WCI develops another 689 Program with the Belmont Housing Authority for eight people moving from the Fernald Center.
- 1990: WCI purchases two townhouse style duplexes in Waltham to develop homes for 12 more Deaf Individuals.
- 1990-1999: WCI provides supports and services to Individuals with dual diagnosis (for example, developmental disabilities coupled with mental health or behavioral challenges).
- 1990-2004: WCI serves 40 Deaf or hard-of-hearing Individuals in 14 homes.
- 1990-2004: WCI customizes services to address Individuals aging issues and medical conditions, Alzheimer's disease, respiratory disease, diabetes and other concerns specific to elders.
- 1992: WCI determines that some Individuals with disabilities require a more specialized employment model that addresses mental health and behavioral issues. In response, WCI forms its Employment Division, with 3 Individuals.
- 1992: WCI supports additional Individuals who have turned 22 years of age.
- 1993-1996: WCI begins several in-house initiatives to provide employment opportunities for Individuals including a landscaping, housekeeping and cleaning crew who maintain WCI properties. WCI Individuals secure a landscaping contract at the Edinburgh Center.
- 1994: The Employment Division initiates an immersion worksite with only Deaf Individuals and staff.
- 1994: WCI opens Absolute Necessities Gift Shop on Lexington Street in Waltham.
- 1994: WCI provides supports to people with serious medical and physical disabilities.
- 1994: WCI assists two women to secure their own condominiums with Baybank.
- 1995: Individuals with disabilities join the WCI Board of Directors.
- 1995: WCI begins a WCI Self-Advocacy Group.
- 1996: WCI assists two men to secure their own condominium with Bank Boston.
- 2000: The Rolland Lawsuit, a class action lawsuit, is settled. The purpose of the lawsuit was to reverse decisions placing Individuals from state facilities into nursing homes rather than in community homes. WCI is a founding member of the Resources Consortium with 11 other agencies to place people in community homes from nursing homes.
- 2000: WCI adapts homes for elder Individuals to include hand holds, wide hallways, doorways, accessible bathrooms, showers and ramps.
- 2000: The Waltham Committee, Inc., is officially doing business as WCI - Work, Community, Independence to better reflect the hallmarks of its mission to Individuals with disabilities.
- 2000: WCI's Self-Advocacy Group renames itself the Waltham Committee Advocates.
- 2001: WCI develops residential supports and a home specifically for Individuals aged 60 or older with medical and physical needs.
- 2001: WCI opens its Community Based Day Supports Program on Rumford Avenue for Individuals with physical, medical and sensory disabilities.
- 2001: WCI assists another man to purchase his own condominium through Bank Boston, now Fleet.
- 2002: WCI creates five divisions (24 Hour Residential Supports, Deaf Residential Supports, Individual Supports, Behavioral Supports, Employment and Community Based Day Supports).
- 2003: The Board of Directors vote to name Nancy Silver Hargreaves, President & CEO, to more accurately reflect her role at WCI.
- 2003: Two Individuals volunteer at WGBH-Channel 2, to prepare mailing projects.
- 2004: Nearly 30 persons live on their own, with minimal staff involvement.
- 2004: WCI's Employment Division supports 60 people in Employment and Day Supports, including Competitive Employment Program and Supported Employment (with job coaches), including enclave work, volunteering and community activities.
- 2004: A partial listing of local companies who employ Individuals with disabilities include: Bentley College, Brandeis University, Bear Spot Farm, Ferguson Industries, Stop & Shop, Star/Shaw's and the Marriott. Typical jobs include landscaping, food preparation, housekeeping, plant care, recycling.
- 2004: 145 people are supported by WCI in single family homes, apartments and condominiums.
- 2004: WCI holds its 30 year anniversary gala at the Westin Hotel in Waltham.
- 2005: WCI changes the name of the Behavioral Division to Social Supports. To serve people who are behaviorally and psychologically challenged.
- 2007: WCI combines the 24 Hour Division and Individual Supports Division into one division.
- 2008: WCI develops a Day Habilitation/CBDS Program at Rumford avenue in Waltham.
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History