Who We Are
Our History
In 1972, a small group of local educators and business people came together, committed to providing community-based services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities at Paul Dever State School. These efforts were part of the growing national deinstitutionalization movement, which created a lasting impact on the services we provide today.
Cooperative Production, Inc. was incorporated in 1976. Since then, the agency has expanded dramatically as community services became the norm rather than the exception. Our journey has taken us from one small vocational program to an organization that provides a variety of residential, employment, and day program services. Today, we support more than 300 people throughout southeastern Massachusetts.
We are recognized as an essential local resource for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and brain injuries and their families. We remain committed to supporting the needs of individuals from surrounding communities. Equally important, our services receive the highest levels of licensure and accreditation from the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Disabilities and the Commission of Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).
Cooperative Production is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals with disabilities and brain injuries to become valued members of their communities. Our services are person-centered, embracing each person's vision, interests, and support needs.
President & CEO’s Message
Dear Cooperative Production Community:
I am thankful for the opportunity to reflect on Cooperative Production’s progress and recent accomplishments. While we continued to adjust to the shifts and fluctuations that the pandemic brought, we were fortunate to take significant strides toward some exciting changes and events.
One of the highlights was our highly anticipated 50th Anniversary Celebration and Gala in October 2023. This wonderful event allowed us to express our gratitude to the individuals, families, supporters, and staff who have been instrumental in our success since our founding in 1972. We were honored to receive recognition from Mayor Shaunna O’Connell and other community stakeholders. We also had the chance to acknowledge the longevity of many of our amazing staff, who have played critical roles in our success over the years.
In addition, we have been working closely with our staff, consumers, stakeholders, and Board Members to develop our new Strategic Plan. This plan will help us build upon our core programs, enhance our ability to support our staff, and broaden our engagement within the community. With these three tenets as the focal point of our road map over the coming years, I am excited to see how we will continue to grow as an organization and a community.
Since joining the staff in 2021, I have seen our staff team at Cooperative Production display limitless enthusiasm and deep commitment to the individuals we serve. Every day, they demonstrate the profound impact that dedication and compassion can have on the lives of those around us. This approach is more critical than ever in these times of rapid change, and I could not be prouder to be part of the team here at Cooperative Production.
Thank you,
Michael Cancilliere, LMHC, MBA
President & CEO