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.
PARTNERS IN THE LOCAL AREA
Early Intervention (birth through age 3)
- Criterion Child Enrichment: Heritage Early Intervention Program
- ServiceNet: REACH Early Intervention Program
School Program (Pre-K)
- Northampton Public Schools: Early Childhood Center
- Community Action: Head Start & Early Learning Programs
- Amherst Public Schools: Crocker Farm Early Education Center
School Programs (K-12)
- Holyoke Public Schools
- The May Institute: School for Autism and Developmental Disabilities
- Pelham Elementary School
- Hatfield Public Schools
- South Hadley Public Schools
- Amherst Regional High School – Pathways to Independence Program
School Programs (Transition age 18-22)
- Amherst Regional High School – Connections Program
- Berkshire Hills Music Academy: Residential School
Social and Recreational Programs
College Programs
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
Therapies (OT/PT/SLP)
- Commonwealth Community Services: Related Services
- Comm?nic?re, LLC (Speech, Augmentative Communication, Assistive Technology)
- TDS Center for Communication and Social Learning
Parent Support
- Federation for Children with Special Needs – Parent Training and Information Center
- The United Arc: Family Support Centers & Positive Parenting Resource Center
Camps
- Kamp for Kids (Westfield)
- Camp Shriver (Mount Ida campus, Newton, MA)
- Franciscan Children’s Hospital Adaptive Sports Camp (Brighton, MA)
- Other camp listings
Other
OPTIONS OUTSIDE THE LOCAL AREA
- AbilityPLUS Adapted Sports (West Dover, VT)
- Boston Higashi School (Randolph)
- Realizing Children’s Strengths (Natick)
- CAST, Inc. (Wakefield)
- Boston Higashi School (Randolph)
- Gateway Arts (Brookline)
- Kennedy Day School (Brighton)
- The College Experience (Albany, NY)
- College Internship Program (Lee, MA)
- Grow Associates (Randolph, MA)
- Camp Shriver (Mount Ida campus, Newton, MA)
FIND YOUR OWN INTERNSHIP
See where past students have found internships (you must sign out of your UMass Google account to view this page)