Internship Sites
Set up your internship by contacting the listed contact person at any of the following agencies. You will be assigned a supervisor at the site. Together, you will decide on your internship responsibilities and a project that will help you work toward your own educational goals.
An agency internship is meant to be an educational experience for you. Agencies who have been approved as internship sites have agreed to have student interns because they are committed to your education and to your professional development. They are willing to spend time and energy to make this the best possible learning experience for you. They understand that you are there to further your own educational development, not primarily to assist the agency. You should never have sole responsibility for a client, nor should you transport a client in your own vehicle unless an agency staff is also present, you have the appropriate auto insurance, and you feel comfortable doing it. You should always feel free to ask for help or to decline assignments that make you feel uncomfortable.
Be mindful that the safety and well-being of clients may dictate your agenda for the day. For that reason, it’s recommended that you build in some extra time now and then in anticipation of days when clients’ needs necessitate that you leave early or not attend.
DDHS PARTNERS IN THE LOCAL AREA
Day Programs
Baroco: Day Habilitation (Hadley)
Baroco: Day Habilitation (Springfield, West Springfield)
The May Institute: Adult Services
Riverside Industries: Day Services
ServiceNet: Enrichment Center
The United Arc: Adult Services Program
Residential Programs
Behavioral Health Network: Residential/Individual Support
Nonotuck Resource Associates: Residential/Shared Living Programs
Pathlight: Intensive Residential
Pathlight: Residential and Day programs
ServiceNet: Residential Programs
School Program (Pre-K)
Northampton Public Schools – Early Childhood Center
Community Action: Head Start & Early Learning Programs
Crocker Farm – Early Education Center
School Programs (K-12)
Holyoke Public Schools: Special Education
The May Institute: School for Autism and Developmental Disabilities
Pelham Elementary School
School Programs (Transition age 18-22)
Berkshire Hills Music Academy: Residential School
Recreation/Enrichment Programs
Pathlight: Whole Children and Milestones
Therapeutic Equestrian Center
The Achieve Collective, Inc.
College Programs
College Steps
Massachusetts Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Initiative (UMass)
Therapies (PT/OT/Speech)
Commonwealth Community Services: Related Services
Commūnicāre, LLC (Speech, Augmentative Communication, Assistive Technology)
Early Intervention
Criterion Child Enrichment – Heritage Early Intervention Program
ServiceNet: REACH – Early Intervention Program
Parent Support
Federation for Children with Special Needs – Parent Training and Information Center
The United Arc: Family Support Centers & Positive Parenting Resource Center
Other
DDHS PARTNERS OUTSIDE THE LOCAL AREA
Recreation/Enrichment Programs
AbilityPLUS Adapted Sports (West Dover, VT)
ABA services
Behavioral Connections (Bridgewater)
Confidence Connections (Needham)
Realizing Children’s Strengths (Natick)
School Programs
Boston Higashi School (Randolph)
Realizing Children’s Strengths (Natick)
Research Internships
CAST, Inc. (Wakefield)
Laboratories in Cognitive Neuroscience (Boston)
Boston Higashi School (Randolph)
Day Programs
FIND YOUR OWN INTERNSHIP
See where past students have found internships (you must sign out of your UMass Google account to view this page)
Resources
Massachusetts Directory of Resources for Families of Children and Youth with Special Needs
Early Intervention programs in Massachusetts
Listing of private special education schools in Massachusetts