The Guild for Human Services is one of 17 organizations participating in a work group as part of the Community Life Engagement (CLE) in Action Project.

The Guild for Human Services, which educates, encourages, and empowers individuals with intellectual disabilities, is pleased to announce that it was awarded a $20,000 grant from The Sudbury Foundation. The funds will be used to improve trauma-informed care and emotional well-being for students with intellectual disabilities when they experience distress by expanding access to sensory regulating materials and create sensory-friendly environments in The Guild School.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Guild residents were separated from families, caregivers, and the community for 77 days. During this confusing and scary time, virtual connections became not just common place but vitally important for connection. Many of the individuals living in Guild residences experience congenital or acquired communication disorders associated with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), autism, and multiple disabilities.

The Guild for Human Services was recently awarded a $74,907 federal grant through the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to reduce or eliminate the use of time-out rooms. The funds will allow The Guild School to expand the number of inclusive and welcoming open spaces and enhance the overall learning environment.

Throughout life, families occasionally encounter unexpected situations that curb their plans in ways they can't predict. Raising a child who has been diagnosed with an intellectual and/or developmental disability can be one of these situations. It can take away the ability to control what's next and changes how we envision caring for a child. For some people, this is experienced as a loss or, more specifically, an ambiguous loss. Ambiguous loss is an unclear loss that continues without resolution or closure and can lead to feelings of confusion, anxiety, and chronic sorrow.

This morning, WBZ-TV featured The Guild's inclusive playground on their segment of "It Happens Here." You can watch the video here. A closed caption version is also available on

May 6-10th marked Teacher Appreciation Week! Every day, Guild School education staff create engaging learning opportunities for students tailored to their unique interests and needs. Thanks to these dedicated team members, students have the opportunity to go out into the community for 'Without Walls' lessons, participate in adaptive recreation and athletic activities, learn critical life skills to build independence, and more.

In honor of the week, we highlighted a few of our incredible Guild School staff on our social media channels. Check out the interviews below!:

On a recent weekday in February, Guild School students strolled the aisles of the Market Basket in Burlington for butter, flour, and sugar. They navigated the store with ease thanks to their classroom lesson the day before, which previewed grocery store signs, layout, and other environmental features. Students crossed each item off their list as they went, taking care not to overlook any ingredients for the chocolate chip cookies they’d make that afternoon.

Over the past three years, The Guild has been part of a cohort of select schools chosen by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to improve the individualized education program (IEP) development process. The Guild was selected to participate for its organizational capacity and demonstrated commitment to improving educational and quality of life outcomes for students.

The Guild School, which serves individuals ages 6-22 diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities along with concurrent mental health diagnoses, is now accepting referrals for immediate and upcoming residential openings.