Center for Living & Working (CLW)

CONTACT:

484 Main Street, Suite 345
Worcester, MA 01608
508-363-1226
www.centerlw.org

Ann Ruder, Executive Director

DESCRIPTION:

The Center for Living & Working (CLW) was established in 1975 by young adults with disabilities who wanted to create an opportunity for their peers to live as independently as possible, while becoming integral participants in their respective communities. While CLW's primary mission has not changed since its inception, programs and services have evolved to meet the changing needs of people with disabilities. It offers skills training — in areas like finances, nutrition, housing, employment, etc. — to enable disabled persons to take control of their everyday lives. A partnership with Verizon enables CLW to provide deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals with special telephone equipment, either for free or at a fraction of the cost. Over the years, these programs and other services have reached thousands of individuals in over 90 cities and towns in Central Massachusetts. But that’s not all: CLW works hard as an advocate, educating the public and elected officials about the rights and needs of the disabled. For example, it’s “Let Them Ask” program encourages children to satisfy their natural curiosity about how or why disabled individuals became that way; thus knowledge leads to understanding and compassion, and stigmas are removed. CLW is the only client-controlled, multi-program disabilities agency in Central Massachusetts, and it deserves your support.

(1998: HUMAN SERVICES: Health and Aging: Disabilities and Children's Disease)