Bethpage-Headquartered ACLD Earns National Accreditation from Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL)

March 13, 2017; Bethpage, NY – In a move that speaks volumes of its commitment to a person-centered approach to ensuring people with autism, learning and other developmental disabilities can pursue enviable lives, Adults and Children with Learning and Developmental Disabilities (ACLD) has been awarded a three-year national accreditation from the Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL).

CQL, an international non-profit leader in the definition, measurement and evaluation of quality of life for people with disabilities, has been dedicated to raising the bar for human services organizations like ACLD for more than four decades. To earn accreditation, ACLD needed to meet CQL’s strict criteria and demonstrate its ongoing commitment to person-centered excellence. Just as CQL expects a provider to value and meet the needs of the whole person/family it supports, CQL reviews an entire organization before granting accreditation, ensuring that its resources are consistently aligned around those they support.

The announcement that ACLD had earned national accreditation followed a three-day visit to ACLD by CQL representatives, a visit that confirmed members of the ACLD team were putting CQL theory into practice.

“It’s critical to us, and those who turn to us for support, that our agency has a firm foundation of organizational systems and practices in place to support health, safety, shared values and a quality of life for each person we support,” said Robert C. Goldsmith, Executive Director of ACLD. “This certification is recognition that we are successfully upholding those ideals.”

ACLD spent much of 2016 reviewing and improving the support and services they provide every day. All agency team members joined together to learn and share CQL’s philosophy regarding the basic assurances every person supported by ACLD has the right to, including dignity and respect, and the staff resources needed to achieve their personally defined goals.

“Our team is proud of what they have achieved by earning this certification, but this is really more of a journey than it is a destination,” said Roseanne Tast, Quality and Person-Centered Project Manager for ACLD. “We expect self-advocates and employees to continue taking the opportunity to share their opinions, exchange feedback, evaluate and critique what we’re doing, help solve challenges and ultimately contribute to the way ACLD moves along the path of continuous quality improvement.”

Founded in 1957, Adults and Children with Learning and Developmental Disabilities, Inc. (ACLD) is a 501(c)3 non-profit agency. Celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2017, the organization continues to provide opportunities for children and adults with autism, learning and other developmental disabilities to pursue enviable lives, increase independence and foster supportive relationships within the community. ACLD employs more than 1,100 people and operates 80 different program sites including group homes and apartment programs across Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Service program include early childhood services, day habilitation, residential alternatives, vocational training and job placement, recreation programs, respite, family support services, Medicaid service coordination, and medical and behavioral health services.

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PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured is Adults and Children with Learning and Developmental Disabilities (ACLD) Executive Director Robert C. Goldsmith (second from left) with members of the ACLD team and representatives from the Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL) celebrating ACLD’s earning of CQL National Accreditation.