In 1975, New York State's approach to providing for adults with developmental disabilities was to institutionalize those individuals. In January of that year, at the same time, a group of volunteers from the Alden and Lancaster area started a community-based, family-oriented center to provide services to adults with developmental disabilities.

By the 1980's, the State began moving these adults out of institutions and into the community, without taking the measures necessary to ensure the proper support and resources that these individuals would need to make the transition from public to private.

By contrast, during the 1990's, the program started by the group of volunteers in 1975 had grown into the Southeast Community Work Center, Inc., now known as Southeast Works and was providing a wide variety of support services to over 400 adults.

Through the years, Southeast has expanded its scope of programs and services as well as expanded the number of consumers and their families. As a result we have initiated opportunities for people, even when government money was not available.

Examples of the non-government funded services are: our recreation program, our cafeteria, our self-advocacy program, and our family support association. All of these areas are considered high-quality, consumer-driven and are funded by private, individual and group donations.