Access Services

What started out as an acronym at the first board meeting in 1976, grew to be one of the leading, most innovative social service agencies in Eastern Pennsylvania. ACCESS, Inc., the Association of Concerned Christians for the Enhancement of Social Services, was motivated to fill the gaps in community services for developmentally and emotionally disabled children and adults. In 1977, the landmark court decision involving Pennhurst State School and Hospital deemed that individuals with mental retardation had the right to receive services in a less restrictive setting.

In 1978, ACCESS, Inc., now known as Access Services, immediately opened two group homes in Montgomery County to meet the needs of children moving out of Pennhurst.

When Rob Reid, current executive director, walked through its doors in 1980 as a college graduate, he had no idea that in the year 2001, Access Services would have grown from 15 to 400 employees serving over 1000 people from three offices located in Fort Washington, Bethlehem and Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania.

Recalling his first visit to Pennhurst, Reid says that he did not know this "type of world existed." "We knocked on the door and heard a key unlock it”. Says Reid, “All I heard was the sound of our heels echoing and clicking as we walked down the hall. We went into this huge day room with 30 - 40 very handicapped people and two staff members. I realized at that time the benefits to living in the community. "I knew then that Access Services was all about keeping people with special needs connected to people who care within the local community." Prior to becoming Executive Director in 1998, Reid watched Access Services grow and today, the agency offers services in Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Carbon-Monroe-Pike, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia and Schuylkill Counties.

The mission at Access Services remains the same: To empower and serve children and adults with cognitive, emotional and behavioral disabilities through innovative services, enabling them to live rich and fulfilling lives with positive family and community relationships. Through its Children and Youth, Community Living, Lifesharing, Respite, and In-Home Supports programs, Access Services continues to create better ways to serve people with special needs.

Privacy Practices Policy Statement: Access Services does not use or disclose personal information for marketing purposes without obtaining an authorization from individuals.

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Access Services Celebrates 25 Years of Community Service