- Massachusetts Office on Disability
Since 2023, The Special Commission on State Institutions (SCSI) has studied the history and continuing impact of Massachusetts’ state institutions, which housed people with intellectual, developmental, and mental health disabilities since the mid-1800s. The Commission was tasked with making recommendations for how Massachusetts can recognize this difficult history and respect the memory of the thousands of people who lived there by properly caring for the cemeteries and records produced.
The Commission, aided by the detailed research of UMass Chan Medical School’s Center for Developmental Disabilities Evaluation and Research (CDDER), has completed its work and produced its final report, the Special Commission on State Institutions Overview and Recommendations.
The Special Commission on State Institutions Reports page includes this final report as well as the following related documents:
- Research Report to the Special Commission on State Institutions: A 366-page report outlining the detailed research performed by CDDER.
- CDDER Research Report to the Special Commission on State Institutions - Plain Language Summary: A plain language overview of the detailed research performed by CDDER.
- Special Commission on State Institutions Report Letter from Barrett and Representative Garballey: A letter from Senator Barrett and Representative Garballey about the Commission’s work.
Massachusetts Office on Disability
We help people understand their disability rights and obligations, how regulations apply to the specifics of their situation, and practical steps they can take to assert their rights and comply with the law.