In the beginning there was a dark void. The void defined a need. The need shed light upon an idea that was nurtured and developed to maturity over a time span of seven long years when it became a reality, a community residence in Great Neck, New York, for twelve young functionally retarded adult men and women. The success of this endeavor spurned a second home for a new family of six in the neighboring community of Port Washington, New York. How does all this come about? This program is about the ingredients that made it happen.

1. What do people with developmental
disabilities want?
•A Home
•A Job
•Friendships

2. CMA provides life-enhancing
ser vices to adults with
developmental disabilities:
 Homes
 Vocational Programming
 Case management services

3. CMA provides the services that help each person to
maximize their potential.

4. Ordinary tasks can be difficult for
people with developmental disabilities.
Shopping, banking, seeing friends… managing the
details of an ordinary life.
CMA teaches the skills that encourage
independence in every-day life!

5. Everyone’s needs are different – CMA provides individualized
care.

6. “After moving into CMA,
I have begun constructing a new life.
I am beginning to learn new challenges
and continue my adventure towards
independence.”
CMA Resident

7. CMA helps extraordinary people live ordinary lives!

8. “Before CMA, I was not able
to do everyday activities on my own
and now thanks to CMA,
I am living a truly independent life”.
CMA Resident

9. We care for our homes and share household tasks like cooking
dinner!

10. We work hard at our jobs…

11. And we enjoy vacations, weekends and time with friends!

12. Why is CMA special?
 “I am happy for my friends and my job.”
 “I can’t believe I finally have a job that pays!”
 “CMA helps me have an amazing life.”

13. “I can be myself and not someone
that others in the past expected me to be.”

14. “There is always a friend to come home to!”

15. Support from family members:
 “I no longer worry about my son’s future.”
 “I thank God every day for CMA.”
 “Thanks to CMA my sister has her own friends,
her own life…”

16. Heading home after a long day of work…

17. “We love and support one another – we are family!”

18. Thank you for helping extraordinary
people lead ordinary lives!