Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1090027
78 MARCH 2019 children in need of autism services. They had no experi- ence serving these individuals but were fortunate to meet a dynamic group that did—Peter Troy, Rita Gardner, Frank Bird, and Helena Maguire. With their collective expertise developing programs for children and adults with autism, they convinced the Melmark board to let them establish a school in Massachu- setts. They would incorporate the Krentels' original mis- sion with their ability to provide evidence-based applied behavior analysis services to individuals with complex behavioral and intellectual needs. What started as a small residential school in a Woburn office park has evolved into the Melmark New England of today—a day school with children's residences situated on a beautiful campus, and so much more. Melmark New Eng- land's Cancro Center for Adult Services, named for longtime advocates, supporters, and parents Larry and Luise Cancro of Andover, offers vocational classrooms for older students and an adult day program at its Lawrence site. e organiza- tion has several other group homes for children and adults Rita Gardner is the co-founder of Melmark New England. I N - D E P T H