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).
CO-OP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals with disabilities 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
July 1, 2022
Dear CO-OP Community,
Since joining Cooperative Production in October 2021, I have been amazed and humbled by the thoughtfulness and compassion our staff, residents, and individuals have shown to each other. Despite the many challenges we have faced over the past eight months, our team remained focused on our mission of providing high-quality care and are excited to move forward together into our new fiscal year.
While we have spent much of the past eight months supporting our consumers and staff through the ongoing COVID surges, we have also devoted time and energy to other initiatives to help guide the important work we do at CO-OP.
These efforts have led to the addition of three new Board Members who share our commitment to the families and communities we serve, two new additions to our Senior Management Team, the successful completion of the CARF and DDS audit/renewal process, various Residential and Day Service facility improvements and the opportunity to recruit amazing new staff members to our programs – which in turn allows us to expand the array of services we provide and enables us to welcome back program participants.
CO-OP was formed in 1972, meaning 2022 marks our 50th year of service to the community. Our outstanding team is excited to reengage with the community and shift our focus into new areas of work and additional pivotal projects. We are revisioning our future through an updated Strategic Plan to guide our work over the next three to five years, which will include deepening our key partnerships, collaborating with community organizations such as Best Buddies and the YMCA, and enhancing our employment training programs to take advantage of the various opportunities available to us due to the relaxed COVID guidelines.
As we move farther away from the height of the pandemic, CO-OP will continue to grow, learn, and evolve, building upon our many recent lessons and accomplishments. These shared experiences will be crucial as we navigate the post-pandemic environment to ensure that we are doing everything possible to provide the most supportive, caring, and responsive community for our Residents, Individuals, and Staff.
I look forward to being part of our journey and can’t wait to share more with all of you in the months to come.
Thank you,
Michael Cancilliere, LMHC, MBA
President & CEO