20th Anniversary Summation

National Nonprofit Reflects

On 20 Years of Dedicated Support to People with

Developmental Disabilities

Thursday, February 9, 1989 could have been just another day for you, but for hundreds of people with developmental disabilities it was a turning point in their lives. They were given the opportunity to choose a provider agency that was going to depart them from segregated unlawful institutions into inclusive community homes. Thursday, February 9, 1989 was the day that officially marked the opening and incorporation of Community Options, Inc.

Community Options, Inc. (COI) began around the kitchen table of Founder and current President and CEO, Robert Stack in Bordentown, New Jersey. With one wall phone, a couple of chairs, pieces of paper and a plethora of dedication, drive and motivation, Mr. Stack and his Associates opened what we know it as today, the nation’s fastest growing nonprofit organization providing quality supports to people with developmental disabilities in 22 offices across 9 states. For 20 years, Community Options, Inc. (COI) has developed housing and employment opportunities for people with developmental disabilities.

Development started in Mercer County and quickly grew to 18 out of 21 counties in the State of New Jersey. What started as a couple of group homes has grown into 62 current homes throughout New Jersey serving over 200 people with developmental disabilities. Community Options has endeavored to develop unique housing opportunities throughout the country including New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, South Carolina, Texas, New Mexico, Kentucky and Connecticut. Across the country we operate 316 group homes and supervised apartments that promote dignity, independence and inclusivity in local communities. Throughout those 316 homes operated by COI we are supporting 573 individuals with developmental disabilities throughout all 9 states.

Henry Ward Beecher, a social reformer of the 1800’s once said, “The ability to convert ideas to things is the secret to outward success.” The vision and ideas behind the operations of Community Options, Inc. comes from Robert Stack. Robert Stack is the Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Community Options. He has an MBA and has attended University in Friborg, Switzerland, University of Rome and the University of London. Robert also taught at Kent State University where he received the Graduate Student Teaching Award.

It is because of Mr. Stack’s vision and fortitude to stand by the mission of Community Options that the organization has been so successful. Community Options is exclusive in the fact that throughout 20 years, we have not had to deviate from our original mission of developing housing and employment for people with developmental disabilities. We understand that a lot of nonprofit organizations feel the need to deviate from their mission to incorporate new programming options for budgetary reasons however, Community Options has maintained it’s integrity by staying true to the mission set forth on that Thursday in February of 1989. Within this mission, we have been able to witness extraordinary moments.

Community Options was instrumental in the closing of the North Princeton Developmental Center located in Skillman, New Jersey. The North Princeton Development Center, formerly known as the New Jersey State Village of Epileptics, was established in 1898 to provide an appropriate setting for the care and treatment of epileptics. Epileptics were lumped among the “dependent, defective, and delinquent classes,” and many lived in lunatic asylums or alms houses. In 1995, the Commissioner of the Department of Human Services for New Jersey announced that in 1997, the North Princeton Developmental Center would close. And it did.

In addition to being instrumental in closing state developmental centers throughout the country and developing the most innovative housing opportunities for people with the most severe developmental disabilities, we have worked for 20 years to develop entrepreneurial business that positively employ people with developmental disabilities.

Community Options Enterprises has 21 employment programs across New Jersey. We are successfully placing people with developmental disabilities in real jobs –at minimum wage or better. We are increasing the numbers of people with developmental disabilities landing better jobs with better benefits in the competitive marketplace.

Community Options Enterprises has achieved a gold standard three- year accreditation by the Commission for the Accreditation of Rehabilitative Facilities (CARF).

Community Options Enterprises does not employ the belief of setting up large congregate adult training centers as these types of programs are not effective. We believe in smaller, personalized and innovative programs that are designed around the abilities and desires of the individual that is participating.

The Daily Plan It is an office, conference and copy center where each facility employs 10-15 individuals with developmental disabilities are responsible for the daily supervision of the office, and complexes under supervision of their trainers. We have Daily Plan It locations in Princeton, Morristown, Moorestown, NJ in addition to Dallas, Texas.

Presents of Mind is our newest gift store in Flanders, New Jersey that provides employees with relevant experience in a high-end retail environment. Individuals working at the store participate in all aspects of the store operations.

Vaseful is a full service flower shop that is located in New Brunswick, New Jersey and provides employment and job training to individuals with developmental disabilities.

Reflecting on the past 20 years of life changing events can only be adequately explained in one word - freedom.

Why do we advocate for normalization? Why do we de-institutionalize? Why do we believe people with disabilities should live in the community?

Why did Lincoln free the slaves? Did he do if for sound economic reasons? Did he do it because there was money in his budget? Did he do it because it fit a strategic plan? No. Lincoln freed the slaves because he believed that no one who was a member of society who did nothing wrong against society should be enslaved by our society. He did it because it was the right thing to do.

Community Options has been “doing the right thing” for people with developmental disabilities since Thursday, February 9, 1989 and we are devoted to continuing on this journey and wholly dedicated to converting our ideas into outward success.

(To Join us on our Journey please visit us at www.comop.org)