3LPlace supports individuals with intellectual and developmental challenges who are on a journey of life-long learning.  Together, we are:

• Exploring community and what it means to be part of one
• Expressing creativity
• Thinking more critically
• Exploring careers
• Supporting job choices and placement
• Becoming more aware of body/mind connections and fitness
• Practicing the life skills we need to live successfully in our choice of housing, and in the community.

Our members include people living with autism, Down syndrome, and various other challenges. Diagnosis isn’t important; what our members have in common is their readiness to grow their abilities and choose a path to a meaningful, gratifying, healthy and connected adult life.

3LPlace offers a ground-breaking and highly individualized  modular programming structure. Our members decide what they want to explore based on their own interests, goals, timing, and budget.

We begin by building a thorough understanding of each individual, particularly about their interests and passions in life. We believe that those personal interests can be harnessed to accelerate self-determination, independence skills, friendships and social behavior.

Our menu of day, evening and weekend programming is based on our unique 3LPlace Curriculum.  The Curriculum, a comprehensive and ground-breaking blueprint for change, was developed by a collaborative writing team guided by experts from Tufts, Lesley and Harvard universities as well as educators, clinicians and agency staff, and people living with disabilities.

3LPlace, located near vibrant Davis Square, in Somerville, MA, came about through the efforts of a group of parents seeking more options for their own maturing children. These parents knew first-hand that for too many young adults with developmental disabilities, reaching the age of 21 means losing the support and services that make continued growth possible.

A new pilot program through the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services may help fund 3LPlace modules. The 3LPlace/DDS Education and Training Pilot is available for families under the participant-directed model.