Barber National Institute
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

The Barber National Institute (formerly the Barber Center) is a nonprofit, multi-faceted organization that provides services to more than 6,300 children, adults, and families who are faced with autism,
intellectual disabilities Intellectual disability (ID), also known as general learning disability in the United Kingdom and formerly mental retardation, Rosa's Law, Pub. L. 111-256124 Stat. 2643(2010). is a generalized neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by signif ...
, and
behavioral health Mental health encompasses emotional, psychological, and social well-being, influencing cognition, perception, and behavior. It likewise determines how an individual handles stress, interpersonal relationships, and decision-making. Mental health ...
challenges. The institute’s central facility was founded in 1952 and is located in
Erie, Pennsylvania Erie (; ) is a city on the south shore of Lake Erie and the county seat of Erie County, Pennsylvania, United States. Erie is the fifth largest city in Pennsylvania and the largest city in Northwestern Pennsylvania with a population of 94,831 ...
. The Barber National Institute now employs more than 3,000 staff members throughout the
state State may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Literature * ''State Magazine'', a monthly magazine published by the U.S. Department of State * ''The State'' (newspaper), a daily newspaper in Columbia, South Carolina, United States * ''Our S ...
.


History

The Barber National Institute was founded in 1952 by the late Dr. Gertrude A. Barber. An educator and administrator in the Erie City School District in
Erie, Pennsylvania Erie (; ) is a city on the south shore of Lake Erie and the county seat of Erie County, Pennsylvania, United States. Erie is the fifth largest city in Pennsylvania and the largest city in Northwestern Pennsylvania with a population of 94,831 ...
, Dr. Barber, along with a small group of local teachers and parents, opened a one-classroom
school A school is an educational institution designed to provide learning spaces and learning environments for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is sometimes comp ...
in the local
YMCA YMCA, sometimes regionally called the Y, is a worldwide youth organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, with more than 64 million beneficiaries in 120 countries. It was founded on 6 June 1844 by George Williams (philanthropist), Georg ...
for children with
developmental disabilities Developmental disability is a diverse group of chronic conditions, comprising mental or physical impairments that arise before adulthood. Developmental disabilities cause individuals living with them many difficulties in certain areas of life, espe ...
. As programs expanded, the City of Erie leased its former communicable disease hospital to the Barber Center in 1958. The first permanent location for the programs, this site formed what has become the main campus in Erie. Construction began in 1968 for new administrative offices, a medical suite, cafeteria, and
classrooms A classroom or schoolroom is a learning space in which both children and adults learn. Classrooms are found in educational institutions of all kinds, ranging from preschools to universities, and may also be found in other places where education ...
for middle and high school aged students. In 1969, a facility was opened in Corry, Pennsylvania to provide services for individuals in southern Erie County. The Barber Center’s first group homes were opened in 1973, after the downsizing of an institution in Venango County, PA. A satellite center was also opened in Girard, PA to accommodate those living in the western portion of Erie County. The Barber Center expanded to other areas of the state by opening group homes and support services in
Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...
in 1990 and a day support program and residential group homes in the
Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Western Pennsylvania, the second-most populous city in Pennsylva ...
area in 1999.


Current

In 2003, the Barber Center name was changed to what is now the Barber National Institute. It currently serves more than 6,300 children and adults annually in locations across
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...
. The 11th largest employer in Erie County, the Barber National Institute has approximately 3,000 employees. The Institute provides services in a variety of fields including Autism,
deaf Deafness has varying definitions in cultural and medical contexts. In medical contexts, the meaning of deafness is hearing loss that precludes a person from understanding spoken language, an audiological condition. In this context it is written ...
and hearing impairment,
behavioral health Mental health encompasses emotional, psychological, and social well-being, influencing cognition, perception, and behavior. It likewise determines how an individual handles stress, interpersonal relationships, and decision-making. Mental health ...
diagnosis, and
intellectual disabilities Intellectual disability (ID), also known as general learning disability in the United Kingdom and formerly mental retardation, Rosa's Law, Pub. L. 111-256124 Stat. 2643(2010). is a generalized neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by signif ...
.


Accreditations and memberships

*In 2008, was named as a Pennsylvania “School of Excellence” by the National Association of Special Education Teachers *Nationally certified Trauma-Informed Care Community *Approved Private School,
Pennsylvania Department of Education The Pennsylvania Department of Education is the executive department of the state charged with publicly funded preschool, K-12 and adult educational budgeting, management and guidelines. As the state education agency, its activities are directed ...
*Member of the Pennsylvania Early Learning Keys To Quality (Keystone Stars Program)


Services and programs


Infants and children

*An Autism Center for the diagnosis and treatment of Autism *An approved private school, th
Elizabeth Lee Black Schoo
serves children ages 3 – 21 with multiple intellectual and physical disabilities from 24 area school districts.
Bright Beginning
offering early intervention for infants and
toddlers A toddler is a child approximately 12 to 36 months old, though definitions vary. The toddler years are a time of great cognitive, emotional and social development. The word is derived from "to toddle", which means to walk unsteadily, like a child ...
in their homes or child care centers that include physical, occupational, speech, and behavioral therapies
Happy Hearts Child Care and Preschool
featuring “inclusive” classrooms for typically developing children and students with disabilities *A
preschool A preschool, also known as nursery school, pre-primary school, or play school or creche, is an educational establishment or learning space offering early childhood education to children before they begin compulsory education at primary sch ...
br>program for children
who are
deaf Deafness has varying definitions in cultural and medical contexts. In medical contexts, the meaning of deafness is hearing loss that precludes a person from understanding spoken language, an audiological condition. In this context it is written ...
or hard of hearing *
Mental Health Partial Hospitalization Program
which integrates
mental health Mental health encompasses emotional, psychological, and social well-being, influencing cognition, perception, and behavior. It likewise determines how an individual handles stress, interpersonal relationships, and decision-making. Mental hea ...
services into a child’s educational program *
summer camp
for children and teens with
autism spectrum The autism spectrum, often referred to as just autism or in the context of a professional diagnosis autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or autism spectrum condition (ASC), is a neurodevelopmental condition (or conditions) characterized by difficulti ...
disorders


Adults

*Employment services includin
Supported Employment
offering training and placement for adults with disabilities in jobs in the community
Adult Day Services
– Assists in vocational, recreational and social skills
ESO (Expanding Social Opportunities)
– Recreational program in conjunction with typical peers at area colleges *Adult autism service that provides diagnosis, treatment and
medication A medication (also called medicament, medicine, pharmaceutical drug, medicinal drug or simply drug) is a drug used to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent disease. Drug therapy ( pharmacotherapy) is an important part of the medical field and ...
management


Residential services

*Fifty-fiv
community group homes
throughout Erie County, Pennsylvania, as well as 36 homes in the
Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...
area and six homes in suburban
Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Western Pennsylvania, the second-most populous city in Pennsylva ...

Life Sharing through Family Living
a program administered through the PA Department of Public Welfare which enables an adult with a disability to reside with a family provider.


Community services

*Several types of therapies
psychological and behavioral services
for example, it
Behavioral Health Rehabilitation Programfamily based mental health services
and targeted case management for children with autism and their families.


Location and facilities

Facilities are located in Erie, Corry, Girard, and Warren, PA; Residential group homes and adult day services are located in the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh regions.


Locations


References


External links


Intellectual Disabilities & Behavioral Health - Barber National Institute
www.barberinstitute.org (Northwest PA)
Pittsburgh Region - Barber National Institute
(Southwest PA)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Barber National Institute
(Southeast PA)
Autism Spectrum Connection

Home

Autism Speaks

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) , CDC

AAMR.ORG



Donate Today , The Erie Community Foundation
{{authority control Non-profit organizations based in Pennsylvania Organizations established in 1952 1952 establishments in Pennsylvania Erie, Pennsylvania